Office/Unit/Project Description:

Security and justice institutions are facing unprecedented challenges in the current Lebanese context, characterized by a multidimensional crisis that has exacerbated people’s vulnerabilities, devastated the national economy, pushed thousands into poverty, and deeply affected stability throughout the country. These challenges are eroding women and vulnerable groups’ protection space and increasing the risk of human rights violations.

The economic and financial downward spiral has dramatically impacted the security and justice sectors' operational capacities and affected personnel's availability at a critical time when further pressure is being put on the country´s stability. Such a trend is contributing to worsening the security context - actual and perceived - fueling further distrust in the State and translating into an erosion of State authority.

The effective, accountable and inclusive functioning of security and justice institutions is a sine qua non condition for creating and maintaining a conducive environment for implementing the reform agenda, laying the groundwork for the needed redefinition of the social contract, while safeguarding the rights of an increasingly embattled population, especially women. 

In response UNDP is putting forward an integrated three-track approach which aims at safeguarding, reforming and transforming security and justice service delivery for crisis affected populations in Lebanon.

• Track 1: Preventing the collapse of security and justice institutions by safeguarding their effective functioning and gender-responsive service delivery, through targeted and punctual support.
• Track 2: Supporting the comprehensive development and implementation of the reform of security and justice institutions, with a strong focus on oversight, accountability and gender-inclusion. 
• Track 3 Consolidating and expanding the ongoing people-centered and gender transformation of security and justice institutions as an instrument of social cohesion and stability.

In this regard, the Access to justice and judicial reform and officer will provide the necessary support for the project to guarantee the implementation of the activities in a timely matter.

Scope of Work

a) Support the Planning and Coordination of Project Activities: 

• Support in designing, planning, coordinating, implementing and monitoring the judicial reform and access to justice related components of the project, including the administrative and operational dimensions of each activity.
• Assist the CTA in monitoring project progress against the annual work plan for activities related to judicial reform and access to justice.
• Contribute to the preparation of project progress and final reports against set targets and indicators, including donor narrative. Ensure quality and consistency of internal reporting.
• Formulate and expand judicial reform and access to justice work streams.
• Provide technical guidance on and support the production of guidance material to national and international stakeholders, and implementing partners on topics related to judicial reform and access to justice.
• Foster a working partnership with the relevant justice institutions and government (national and local) counterparts to facilitate implementation of the project, and develop where needed relevant coordination mechanisms.
• Prepare/update project briefs for the judicial reform and access to justice work stream.
• Support in maintaining and developing partnerships and coordination mechanisms with UN entities and other relevant international stakeholders, including UNHCR, UNODC and the European Union.

b) Support the Operation and Monitoring of Project Activities: 

• Undertake regular field visits to monitor the ongoing activities and provide written reports and other information as required by the CTA.
• Monitor and track the consultants’ work/deliverables as per contractual agreement.
• Assist in performing analysis of situations and contribute to the formulation of institutional responses.
• Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the areas of judicial reform and access to justice.

Institutional Arrangement

The selected incumbent will be working under the overall guidance and supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor.

Competencies:

Core : Full list of UNDP Core Competencies can be found here 

Achieve Results:

LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements 

Learn Continuously:

LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility :

LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible 

Act with Determination:

LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner:

LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships 

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area: Business development (Knowledge generation)

• Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. 
• Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

Thematic Area: Business Management (Communication)

• Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. 
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Thematic Area: Business Management (Partnership management)

• Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

Thematic Area: 2030 agenda: peace (Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights)

• Effective Justice Sector Institutions
• Safeguarding human rights and protecting vulnerable groups
• Legal aid and Legal Empowerment
• Access to Justice and Security for Women and Girls

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA

Min. Education requirements:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in  Law, Political Affairs, International Relations, or other related field; or
• A first level University degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the related fields with additional 2 years of relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master’s degree.

Min. years of relevant Work experience:

• Up to 2 years (with Master´s degree) or minimum 2 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of progressive relevant experience in the field of Law, Political Affairs, International Relations.

Required skills:

• Professional experience in the area of access to justice and judicial reform
• Work experience on the provision of legal aid services;
• Strong and demonstrated knowledge of the Lebanese justice system, framework and institutions;
• Demonstrated experience in drafting legal documents in Arabic.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

• Previous experience with UNDP and/or UN or other internationally funded development projects is an asset
• Knowledge of legislative efforts related to judicial independence 
• Knowledge of the LRP and 3RF frameworks

Required Language(s):

Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic is required. French is an asset.

Professional Certificates: Not Applicable.