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Qualifications

Purpose of consultancy

To provide technical expertise to the work of the Office of the Legal Counsel, and specifically to the International Administrative Law Unit (LEG/IAL).

Background

LEG/IAL defends the Organization against complaints brought by staff members before the ILO Administrative Tribunal (ILOAT) contesting final administrative decisions alleging non-observance of their terms of appointment. Legal advice and support is also provided upstream to offices within the organization on requests for administrative review and internal appeals as well as on a range of other administrative law matters, including changes to the regulatory and policy frameworks. LEG/ IAL requires support on preparing pleadings to address the complaints before the ILOAT and, as required, general legal advice on legal issues that may arise.

Deliverables

• Deliverable 1: Provide technical expertise to the work of LEG/IAL with the provision of legal briefs, replies, surrejoinders and other submissions in relation to complaints filed before the ILOAT by WHO staff members (and by staff of WHO-related entities, such as UNAIDS and UNICC).
• Deliverable 2: Facilitate the work of LEG/IAL with the preparation of legal advice and research on policy changes and international administrative law topics, such as on questions of due process, investigations of misconduct and harassment.
• Deliverable 3: Provide technical expertise to the work of LEG/IAL through the provision of summaries of judgments of ILOAT sessions, including trends in the case law.
• Deliverable 4: Provide advice to LEG/IAL on complex disciplinary or harassment cases.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Advanced level university degree in law.

Desirable:

• Specialization in international administrative law.

Experience

Essential:

• Over 10 years of relevant experience in international administrative law various areas of work, in particular on staff litigation before the ILOAT and complex case of misconduct and/or harassment.

Desirable:

• Experience in or with a legal office of a UN entity, or as a lawyer in the HR Department of a UN entity.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Strong expertise and skills in international administrative law.
• Knowledge of the UN legal framework and ILOAT case-law.

Languages required:

Essential:

Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

Intermediate knowledge of French.

Location

Off site: Home-based

Travel

The consultant is not expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level C – USD 10,000 – 12,500 per month

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

11 months.

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
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• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of short-listed candidates.
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• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.
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For roster VNs:

The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) upon conclusion of the selection process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.