Project Analyst

The Caribbean region has a strong tradition of democracy and the application of the rule of law, and the protection of human rights is enshrined by all Caribbean National Constitutions. In addition, most countries in the region are party to major international instruments governing access to justice, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). These legal provisions offer a framework for the promotion and protection of human rights and the consistent application of justice to all citizens.

Moreover, Caribbean countries have endorsed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which include Goal 16 on peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. SDG16 provides the guidelines for the equitable administration of justice with a specific target on ‘promoting the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensuring access to justice for all.’ 
 

Caribbean governments, including Guyana, have identified justice sector improvement as a core priority, and it is a key element of the CARICOM Strategic Plan. Also, the CARICOM Crime & Security Strategy (CCSS) 2013 stresses the importance of a strengthened criminal justice sector. Over the past two decades, countries in the Caribbean have made notable progress toward enhancing citizen security and access to justice. Nonetheless, several critical challenges to ensuring that national and regional justice systems are accessible, equal, and consistently deliver efficient justice, remain. 

A Judicial Needs Assessment of 9 Caribbean Countries released by UNDP in 2020 (hereinafter referred to as the NAR) revealed that efficient access to justice is being undermined across the region by delays within several key stages of the criminal justice process, resulting in major backlogs of cases. The identified backlogs have been occasioned by pervasive human and technological resource and capacity constraints which, in turn, have contributed to massive bottlenecks in the work of the investigators, public prosecutors and courts. As a result, these backlogs directly contribute to the worryingly high levels of prisoners on remand for extended periods and serve to increase overall incarceration rates in the region which are already among the highest globally.

More broadly, the resource constraints have also resulted in gaps in the provision of support to survivors of violent crimes and for offenders re-entering society. The COVID19 pandemic has also underscored the need to respond to these challenges. Preliminary analyses have pointed to an increase in certain crimes which put further pressure on the already strained justice systems of the Caribbean.

Some countries have already launched efforts to reduce these backlogs, including the introduction of specialized courts, introduction of judicial procedures and increases in the number of court personnel. However, many of these have focused on civil matters and results have been mixed. An urgent approach that confronts and addresses the underlying causes of bottlenecks and case backlogs within the context of criminal cases is therefore needed to improve the functioning of the judicial system and promote equitable access to justice in the region.

UNDP, with funding from the European Union, has developed a project to address the pressing need for backlog and bottleneck reduction in eight Eastern Caribbean countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.)  The project will focus on reform interventions in the criminal system that will reduce caseloads, including development and operationalization of effective criminal procedures, plea bargaining and other pre-trial settlement mechanisms. In parallel, the project will deliver improvements to court and case management systems and modernization of procedures, deployment of information and communication technology, training of police, prosecutors, judges and court staff and enhanced coordination across the justice sector. 

The Project Analyst for Guyana will coordinate activities on behalf of the UNDP country office and be the main point of contact between the regional project team and the country office. 

• Supports the processes of planning, development, and implementation of the CARIBBEAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SECTOR REFORM PROJECT overall work-plan and implementation timelines for Guyana.
• Ensures timely implementation and update of the project work plan focusing on the reduction of backlogs in the criminal justice system, in close consultation with beneficiary institutions, the regional project team and UNDP Guyana office and other team members to ensure full coordination and synergies.
• Advises the regional project team of local considerations and realities for proper and effective implementation of activities under the project, as well as on ways to strengthen partnerships with beneficiary institutions.
• Supports follow-up communication with beneficiary institutions, including official letters, requests for technical assistance, and the process of identification of participants and national experts, for activities under the project.
• Researches, analyses, and presents information gathered from diverse sources; prepares various knowledge products, e.g., draft background papers, analysis, concept notes, inputs to publications, etc.
• Provides substantive support to consultative and other meetings and conferences, training workshops, seminars, to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents, makes and delivers presentations, etc.
• Participates in or leads in country missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, project staff, drafting mission summaries, and participant in other missions in other countries where required.
  

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 
 

• Business Direction & Strategy – Effective Decision Making:
  • Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources
• Business Development –  Knowledge Generation:
  • Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
• Business Management –  Project Management:
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Business Management –  Partnerships Management:
  • Ability to 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
• Business Management –  Communication
  • Ability to 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
• Business Management  – Monitoring:
  • Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results
    
• 2030 Agend Peace -Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights:
  • Rule of Law, Justice and Security

• Advanced university degree (Master´s degree or equivalent) in law, criminal justice, governance, political science, sociology, international/sustainable development or related field is required, OR
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s Degree) in law, criminal justice, governance, political science, sociology, international/sustainable development or related field in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.

• Up to 2 years (with Master´s degree) or minimum 2 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of of progressively responsible experience in project management, in the areas of access to justice, criminal justice reform, or closely related area.
• Experience in results-based management, project monitoring and evaluation, and reporting is required.

Required Language(s) 

• Fluency in English is required

• Good understanding of the justice sector, with specific knowledge on criminal justice in the country context is an asset.
• Experience in working and liasing with governments partners, civil society organisations  and non-governmental organisations, donors, multi-lateral/bi-lateral partners, trusts and foundations is an asset.
• Experience in case management in the legal system and in the context of the rule of law is an asset.
• Previous work experience in a UN agency/within the UN Common System and particularly UNDP is an asset.
• Knowledge of other UN official languages is an asset.