Consultants (UNODC Policy and Legislation Activities) at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) - 5 Positions

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We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Consultancy for Facilitators for UNODC Policy and Legislation Activities

Location: Lagos,Anambra, Benue, Cross River and Yobe
Type of Contract: Individual Contract
Post Level: National Consultant

Background
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is the United Nations Agency entrusted with the mandate to assist Member States in their efforts against corruption, illicit drugs, crime and terrorism. As part of its mandate, UNODC has been providing technical assistance in the area of justice sector reform globally and in Nigeria specifically for several years and has built up a knowledge base of successful practices in all the areas of crime prevention and criminal justice reform, including with a strong focus on sectoral approaches to such reforms.

UNODC also has strong relationships with national and international counterparts in the region and the capacity to mobilize its global network for efficient delivery of its mandate.  It is therefore well placed to assist the Government of Nigeria (GoN) to improve its justice system as a necessary means of enhancing good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law.

 The European Union (EU) and the GoN have entrusted to UNODC the responsibility to implement Project NGAV18 – “Support to the Justice Sector in Nigeria”. The project is currently being implemented at the Federal level and in nine (9) pilot States namely Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Imo, Osun, Katsina, Lagos and Yobe.

The project’s expected outcomes include supporting the efforts of the Nigerian Government to improve justice delivery through  the effective coordination and cooperation among justice sector institutions, with improved legal and policy framework, enhanced operational structures and capabilities of officials in the sector and Increased access to justice and respect for human rights and the rule of law, especially for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.

It will also improve mechanisms for accountability and engagement of civil society with justice institutions, thereby enhancing respect for human rights and public trust in the justice system.

The consultancy is designed to assist the states in finalising/rolling out their state action plans, achieve better coordination and implementation of the project at the state level as well as dissemination of information on the project in line with the midterm evaluation recommendation, thus increasing the capacities of the reform teams, justice sector institutions and the European Union funded interventions in the States’ justice sector to achieve its objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Project coordinator and National Project Officer Coordination and in direct consultation with the project team, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

• Act as a contact point  and facilitate the communication between UNODC and its national partners in the state;
• Support the States to finalize and formally adopt their State action plan for implementation;
• Facilitate the smooth implementation of Justice project activities in the state;
• Provide expert advice and guidance to beneficiary institutions with respect to legislative reform, institutions building, inter-agency operational and institutional collaboration, and policy formulation in relation to the justice sector;
• Facilitate quarterly reform team meetings and advocate for allocation of budget in support of the implementation of activities in the action plan in the concerned State institutions;
• Support the committee to advocate and pursue the state level adoption and implementation of laws and policies passed at national level such as the ACJA, VAPP Act, the Prosecutors Policy, Guidelines and Code of Conduct as well as Sentencing Guidelines;
• Represent UNODC at UNDAP and other reform related events where UNODC’s inputs are required;
• Develop, maintain, and intensify contacts with Government institutions and authorities, local representatives of other United Nations organizations, NGOs, civil society organizations, resource persons and the media regarding project activities and advocate for inclusion of activities in the State Budget;
• Organize  and facilitate regular meetings (at least quarterly) to review action plan implementation and coordination.

The consultant will be expected to undertake and submit reports on the following:

• Support the States to finalize and formally adopt their State action plan for submission to the State government and relevant bodies (Budget office, Attorney General, House of Assembly etc) for implementation;
• Organize and facilitate regular meetings of the reform team (at least quarterly) to review action plan implementation and coordination;
• Support the development and adoption of a revised State action plan for justice sector reform indicating the priorities of the State with budget, time lines and expected outcome;
• Submit report of five advocacy activities relating to the passing of legislation and policies on justice sector reform in the state;
• Organize and facilitate five activities for the adoption and implementation of the prosecutor’s policy, guidelines and codes of conduct and sentencing guidelines at the State level.repare and submit quarterly reports and a final report containing all the activities implemented as well as the support given by the State government and the judiciary to reform the justice sector.

Competencies
Functional Competencies:

• Excellent communication, facilitation and presentation skills in English;
• Strong organizational awareness, client orientation and government advisory skills;
• Excellent experience in issues affecting human rights especially in developing nations;
• Strong awareness in the latest in the admisistration of criminal justice law and reforms;
• Strong drafting and reporting skills in English.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• A post graduate degree in Law, Criminology, Political or Social Science, Criminal Justice, International Relations, Public Administration or related field
• A first level-University degree in related fields in combination with additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced University degree.

 Experience:

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in the Justice Sector especially familiarity with reforms;
• Proven experience and knowledge of the Nigerian criminal justice system and residence in the State of the assignment;
• Good drafting and report writing skills;
• Previous experience with the United Nations System, European Union funded projects or other international organizations would be an asset;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages;
• Have Good drafting and reporting skills.

Language:

• Strong skills in communication in English (both oral and written) is required

Application Closing Date
22nd February, 2016.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidate should:
Click here to apply online