Recent Jobs at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights, capacity development and the empowerment of women.

We invite applications from suitably qualified candidates to fill the position below:

Job Title: Chief Technical Advisor – Rule of Law, Access to Justice, Security and Human Rights

Job ID: 25504
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension

Background 

• Promoting the rule of law, access to justice, security and human rights is fundamental to sustainable development, as well as, achieving peace in the aftermath of crises and conflict. UNDP promotes effective, responsive, accessible and fair justice systems, security and human rights as a means for ensuring sustainable peace and stability which are critical to National Development Agenda of a country. National development and progress, as well as, stabilization efforts in crisis context are undermined where access to justice, security and human rights is not guaranteed to all.
• Nigeria faces several challenges that have significant effect on its development and social progress with devastating consequences for the civilian population and the government.  These include respect and observance of rule of law, limited access to justice especially by the indigent citizens, human right violations, Boko Haram insurgency, kidnapping and other violent crimes, escalating clashes between herdsmen and sedentary farmers in the Middle Belt; agitation by Indigenous People of Biafra, and persistent protests by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) over the detention of their spiritual leader, all pose unique problems to the people and government of Nigeria. These have also contributed to radicalization among the population due to a largely securitized response by the Government that is seen as counterproductive and not addressing the root causes.
• As a result, the country has witnessed widespread and grave human rights violations in, at least, four of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. These include killings, sexual and gender-based violence, recruitment of children for armed conflict, forced disappearances and slavery. Further, a sense of impunity is pervasive and has become a key driver of conflict. Government responses to these challenges have fallen short of achieving the desired objectives of decapitating the capacities of the actors, strict law enforcement and promoting peace and advance economic progress.  The democratic institutions remain weak and have not done enough to deter criminals and their collaborators or intending criminals.
• Currently, about 8.5 million of the affected population need urgent humanitarian assistance worth several millions of Dollars including 2.5 million displaced and half of which severely food insecure in the North East. The ongoing counter-insurgency measures have led to improvements in security and humanitarian access to some areas, but access remains a key challenge in the most insecure zones of all affected countries. In similar vein, the farmer-herder crisis in the North Central and the adjourning states of Kaduna and Taraba has resulted in thousands of casualties, wanton destruction of property and community left in disarray with mass of the population living in IDP camps.  International Crisis Group report indicates that recent escalation of the crisis from early 2018 has claimed six times the number of live compared to that of Boko Haram insurgency within the same period.  Other parts of the country like the South West (considered to be relatively peaceful; the South East and the erstwhile militant haven of the South-South) are not left out of the menace.  Reported cases of kidnapping for ransom with accompanying cases of sexual and gender-based violence, such as, rape awash daily news.
• Accordingly, the Access to Justice and Security project (2017 – 2020) has helped to respond to the crisis in the North East of Nigeria as an integral part of the support provided by UNDP. The project provides the framework for bridging the existing gaps by contributing to providing immediate access to justice as part of stabilization and early recovery from conflict. The project focuses on four interrelated areas (i) Justice and Security Institutions re-established to increase service delivery in all accessible areas (ii) Comprehensive community security (iii) Access to Justice at community level increased for all, especially, women, girls, and boys (iv) Government Institutions and civil society capacity strengthened for more effective human rights oversight and promotion.
• Considering the impact of these crises, UNDP Nigeria will strengthen its capacity to be able to scale up its support to rule of law, security and human rights work as part of overall stabilization efforts, as well as, its contribution to strengthening rule of law, access to justice and improve human rights environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

• The Chief Technical Advisor (CTA), Rule of Law, Justice and Security will work under the supervision of and report to the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Programmes. In close collaboration with UNDP Senior Management and the Team Lead, Governance, Peace and Security (GPS), the CTA shall provide high-level policy advice to the relevant national counterparts, provide programmatic oversight, lead policy advocacy, and liaise with UN Agencies, Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society in the areas pertaining to the Rule of Law, Justice, Security and Human Rights portfolio.
• S/he will also assume responsibilities for the management of the UNDP Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights portfolio, strategic planning and technical oversight to the strategy and ensure coherence and coordination with other relevant UN entities and international partners. The CTA will further assure coordination and close collaboration with UNDP’s HQ and Addis Ababa Regional Hub Units in the respective areas. S/he will perform the quality assurance role for the justice and security projects, ensuring coordinated work-plan development and delivery. S/he will coordinate and develop a Rule of Law, Access to Justice, Security and Human Rights Programme for Nigeria in close consultation with national partners, the DRR Programme, Team Lead, GPS and the programme team.  Guide and support resource mobilization for the programme.

Functions / Key Results Expected
Strategic guidance and advice for the implementation of the Joint Rule of Law Project focusing on a coordinated approach to access to justice, justice reform; community security, reform of the police and civil defence, as well as, overall capacity development of rule of law institutions (including judiciary) and actors focusing on achieving the following:

• Provide strategic guidance and advice to national justice sector institutions and actors on policy issues; strategic planning, research and monitoring and evaluation, including key performance indicators, strategic plans for various organizations and research into various issues which impact on institutional performance;
• Provide strategic guidance and advice to UNDP Senior management on the ongoing support to the justice and rule of law sector, on strategies and responses to changes in the rule of law area, oversee rule of law programming approach;
• Provide advice on identifying entry points to achieve a mixture of short-term, medium-term and long-term results which produce tangible improvements to restoring basic justice and security functions and improving access to justice and security at local and national level;
• Ensure the integration of cross-cutting issues, such as, gender and SGBV, peace building, PVE and human rights into programme/project design, monitoring and evaluation;
• Ensure that technical work undertaken across projects is adapted to the local context and in line with international good practice; and
• Contribute to building a strong understanding of the political dimension of the rule of law sector to identify the drivers and blockers of change and develop strategies to ensure that project implementation achieves impact.

Strategic Planning, Quality Assurance of the Strategic and Results framework of Rule of law and Access to Justice projects including joint projects and coordinate the day to day management and achieve the following:

• Provide advice and guidance for the strategic planning and the implementation of the programmes/projects under the rule of law portfolio, including joint projects and workplans, ensuring appropriate coordination and integration with the country programme components and stabilization efforts;
• Ensure the results specified in the annual work-plan of the Programmes/Project meet the required standard of quality, in a coordinated way and within the specified constraints of time and cost;
• Coordinate day to day management and guidance of the rule of law, access to justice, security and human rights portfolio;
• Supervise and support the work of the UNDP Project Managers and their teams in the area of responsibility;
• Advise UNDP Country Office on the overall implementation of the Rule of Law and Access to Justice, Security and Human Rights Project and supervise the team accordingly;
• Develop and maintain an effective monitoring and evaluation system of the project and report on progress, including reporting to UNDP, UN entities, development partners and national stakeholders on progress;
• Facilitate and ensure quality assurance of reports including Progress Reports, Financial Reports, Annual Progress Reports, etc. and ensure timely completion of technical reports for the Programme/Project portfolio in the area of responsibility;
• Facilitate and lead the coordination mechanisms put in place with UN entities to ensure coherence and coordination on issues pertaining to rule of law, access to justice, security and human rights.

Resource mobilization and partnerships across the Rule of Law sector (justice, security and human rights) focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Engage in dialogues with development partners and donors, identifying funding opportunities and endeavor to ensure sufficient resource mobilization for the programmes/projects in close consultation with Senior Management and be responsible for reaching the annual resource mobilization targets.
• Support UNDP efforts for resource mobilization for current and envisaged programmes/projects in the rule of law, access to justice, security and human rights portfolio;
• Liaise regularly and forge close linkages with other UN programmes, agencies, funds, as well as, other international and national stakeholders concerns with or providing assistance on justice, access to justice, security and human rights issues.
• Coordinate programme activities with other UNDP initiatives, as well as, other United Nations agencies, donors, and other international partners, to develop inter-agency synergies and build complementarities with other programs;
• Advocate for UNDP work in the area of responsibility and raise visibility of the Rule of Law Project through knowledge sharing and well -developed communication materials;
• Develop pilot initiatives for functional partnerships between justice and security sector stakeholders and non-governmental organisations, local media and the public;
• Support joint communication efforts.
• Ensure high-quality and timely reporting to donors and other partners involved in the programmes/projects;
• Contribute to harnessing effective partnerships for implementation of UNDP programmes/projects, and promote joint programming, and collaborate effectively in established frameworks for UN and other international coordination.

Ensure knowledge management focusing on achieving the following results:

• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned from the programme/project area for organizational sharing and learning, as well as, external information;
• Active participation in UNDP knowledge networks and taking advantage of best practices and lessons learned that are available in the region and globally, and encouraging project staff to do so by creating a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
• Promoting the participation of UNDP Nigeria in regional programmes and regional activities related to the project area as appropriate; and
• Supporting capacity and knowledge building of national counterparts

Impact of Results:

• The Rule of Law, access to Justice, Security and Human Rights portfolio will enable UNDP, in partnership with the Government, justice and security institutions, human rights institutions, civil society organizations, communities, and the main target groups – women, youth and vulnerable populations – to contribute to sustainable development goals 5 and 16, with indirect impact on goals 3 and 10 and enhance accountability, transparency, the effectiveness and efficiency of institutions to respond to citizens’ expectations for rule of law and justice, more effective services, and overall stabilization.

Competencies
Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work.

Functional Competencies
Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Promotes knowledge management;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Ability to engage with high ranking UNDP Managers, Government Officials and international donor community and provide policy advisory services;
• Ability to identify opportunities, conceptualize and develop project reports;
• Ability to effectively lead strategic planning, and contribute to results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to lead planning, results-based work and reporting;
• Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of topically relevant projects and external resources mobilization;
• Ability to work with donor organizations, present and receive funding for project proposals;
• Ability to understand main concepts of budgeting and budget management
• Good knowledge of the Results Management Guide and Toolkit;
• Implementation of new systems and procedures and assist affected staff in Country Offices to achieve the required behavioral/attitudinal change.

Management and Leadership:

• Builds strong relationships with beneficiaries, focuses on impact and result for beneficiaries and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work;

Client Orientation
Meeting long-term client needs:

• Anticipates constraints in the delivery of services and identifies solutions or alternatives
• Proactively identifies, develops and discusses solutions for internal and external clients, and persuades management to undertake new projects or services
• Advises and develops strategic and operational solutions with clients that add value to UNDP programmes and operations.
• Ability to establish and maintain productive relations with clients;
• Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions;
• Keeps clients informed of progress and setbacks in the project;
• Meets timelines for delivery of products or services to clients.

Communication:

• Capable of writing clearly and concisely, with excellent oral communication skills;
• Exhibits interest having two-way communications;
• Demonstrates openness with sharing information and keeping people informed.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise
Expert knowledge of own discipline:

• Possesses expert knowledge of advanced concepts in primary discipline, a broad knowledge of related disciplines, as well as an in-depth knowledge of UNDP organizational policies and procedures
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
• Demonstrates expert knowledge of the current programme guidelines and project management tools and manages the use of these regularly in the work assignment
• Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals
• Influencing global and national initiatives
• Applies a broad knowledge of best management practices; defines objectives and work flows, positions reporting relationships in such a way as to obtain optimum effectiveness for the unit/branch
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself personally
• Advocates for increased priority given to human development issues internationally and in national planning frameworks
• Advocates for increased resources at international and national level.

Building strategic partnership:

• Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships.
• Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise

Rule of Law, justice and security:

• Knowledge of Rule of law, Justice and Security concepts and principles and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.
• Women’s access to justice
• Knowledge of Women’s Legal Rights and Access to Justice (RoL) issues and concepts and ability to apply in strategic and/or practical situations.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Master’s degree in the areas of Law, Political Science or related discipline.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in rule of law, access to justice and democratic development related fields;
• Experience of working in a technical advisory, policy development and capacity building;
• Demonstrated programme management skills including: results-based orientation, preparation of work plans, monitoring and evaluation;
• Strong knowledge/ experience in results-based management and results oriented approach to project implementation;
• Excellent analytical and interpersonal skills including oral and written communication;
• Excellent team player with an ability to work in a multi-cultural team split across multiple locations;
• Experience with UN/UNDP programmes in the area of rule of law, access to justice, security, and stabilisation is an asset
• Previous experience in conflict affected areas is an asset;
• Experience in managing and supervising programmes and projects aimed at enhancing rule of law, developing the capacities of the justice sector;
• Experience working with all of the major actors of the justice sector is required;

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English, including excellent writing skills.

Deadline: 1st September, 2019.

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