Vacancy Announcement
Project Title: Justice System Programme
Position Title: National Legal Researcher
Duty Station: Dili, Timor Leste
Type of Contract: Service Contract
Level: SB-3
Duration: 6 months (with possible extension)
Expected Start date: February 2010
Organizational Unit: UNDP, Governance
Entitlement/Benefits: Please obtain from Human Resources Unit
Background:
The Justice System Programme
“Strengthening the Justice System in Timor-Leste” (Project no. 00014955)
The “Strengthening the Justice System in Timor-Leste” Programme was launched in 2003. This project was revised and a new project document was signed in December 2005, focused on institutional capacity development of the justice sector, including the Courts, Prosecution Service, Public Defenders Office, and the Ministry of Justice. Overall project management responsibility was entrusted to a Council of Coordination, consisting of the President of the Superior Council of the Judiciary, Prosecutor-General and the Minister of Justice. The crisis of April-May 2006 and its aftermath drastically altered the domestic environment, unduly burdening this project which, as the most comprehensive vehicle of support to the justice sector, was called upon to respond to emergency needs for crisis response and recovery. In July-August 2007, an independent, external evaluation of the project made recommendations for far-reaching changes in the structure, scope and size of the project. In light of those recommendations, this project was revised in 2008, with significant changes in scope, structure, and size, including a new focus on the ‘demand’ side of justice. The revised project commenced in 2009 and provides for a strengthened Programme Management Unit, with five revamped programme units: Capacity Development, Justice Decentralization, Prosecution, Corrections and Access to Justice.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the overall supervision of UNDP Senior Justice Advisor and Deputy Programme Manager, and the direct supervision of the International Access to Justice Specialist, the Legal Researcher shall perform the following duties:
· Research, revise and systematize materials (legal documents, social studies, field research documents, etc.).
· Prepare, organize and systematize local and national consultation workshops/ meetings/ seminars.
· Preparation and translation of written materials from/ into Tetum/ English or Portuguese/ or other national language, according to his/her specific language skills.
· Interpretation at meetings and workshops from/ into Tetum/ English/ Portuguese/ or other national language, according to his/her specific language skills.
· Coordination with different governmental and non-governmental organizations, logistic support or direct execution of interviews, field research, focal groups and other means of research and consultation.
· Write reports and drafting.
· Provide general support for the project.
Qualification and Professional Experience:
· Professional profile: Lawyer (strongly preferable), or political sciences graduate with major in legal institutions
· Academic profile:
§ Sound knowledge of Timorese legal framework.
§ Studies in human rights or justice, preferable.
§ Sound knowledge of social and cultural reality of Timor-Leste.
§ Knowledge of the situation of administration of justice, local customs and/or customary law, preferable.
· Language skills:
- Tetum (preferable mother tongue, and able to write).
- Fluent in Portuguese (written and spoken).
- Knowledge of English an advantage.
- It would be an asset to have experience in translation/ interpretation of legal issues.
- It would be an asset to speak another national language.
· At least 3 years of working experience in the following:
- Legal Research in relation to justice systems.
- Social research with experience in field research.
- Legal defense or promotion of human rights.
- Legal education.
- Drafting reports or drafting legislation.
- Translation/interpretation in the legal field.
- Any other related field.
Personal competencies:
· Good interpersonal skills
· Ability to work under pressure.
· Able to work in multi-cultural environment.
Please submit your applications together with your curriculum vitae, including a list of references and relevant supporting documents (including academic qualifications) to the following address:
Human Resources Unit
United Nations Development Programme
Obrigado Barracks Compound, Building 11
Caicoli Street
Dili, Timor-Leste
Fax: +670 3313534
The deadline for submitting applications is 20 January 2010
Only short-listed candidates will be notified. Women candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
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