Background
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UNDP in The Gambia is working to strengthen and provide a broad response to the people of The Gambia’s aspirations for a transparent, accountable, and responsive transition to democracy. Increasing citizen engagement and, in particular, the active participation of women and youth is an important focus, including the Gambian diaspora, considering its substantial technical and financial contributions to good governance and national development. UNDP works to ensure equal access to justice, particularly for women and marginalized groups across the country, working in close collaboration with a range of partners and Stakeholders and justice sector institutions. The objective of “The Gambia’s Responsive and Accountable Democratic Transition Project (EU-UNDP GREAT initiative)” is to enhance The Gambia’s democratic system. This is rooted in national priorities and political willingness, as demonstrated by a strong commitment to the post-TRRC process and the White Paper published in May 2022. When former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh went into exile on January 21, 2017, he left a legacy of grave human rights abuses spanning 22 years.
In response, the government initiated a comprehensive transitional justice and reform agenda in January 2017 to address past violations, divisions, and inequalities. This agenda seeks to create conditions for security, democratic progress, and socio-economic transformation. Drawing on past experiences and lessons learned, this project aims to contribute to The Gambia’s democratic transition through three specific objectives: (i) Supporting constitutional and legislative reforms to strengthen checks and balances and safeguard human rights, including those of minorities and vulnerable populations. (ii) Enhancing the ongoing transitional justice process, rule of law, and human rights. (iii) Strengthening the effectiveness of local governance structures.
Overall, this initiative responds to the aspirations of The Gambian people for a more transparent, accountable, and responsive transition to democracy with a key focus on increasing citizen engagement, particularly the active involvement of women and youth. This initiative aligns with SDG 16, which promotes peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, access to justice for all, and the establishment of effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. The project also aligns with the NDP Strategic Priority 1, which aims to restore good governance, respect for human rights, and the rule of law and empower citizens through decentralization and local governance. Additionally, it supports UNDP’s Strategic Plan Outcome 2 by ensuring that citizen expectations for voice, development, the rule of law, and accountability are met through stronger democratic governance systems.
Duties and Responsibilities
Provide technical advisory support and mentoring in Rule of Law, Access to Justice, and Human Rights
- Guide the conduct of in-depth policy analysis related to transitional justice, rule of law, and human rights mechanisms, and stay abreast of national and international developments in these areas to provide informed insights and recommendations;
- Provide strategic advice to project teams and stakeholders on how to enhance the effectiveness of transitional justice mechanisms. Offer guidance on best practices and innovative approaches to achieve the desired outcomes;
- Provide policy dialogue through effective engagement with relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, and international partners, to foster collaboration and coordination in implementing transitional justice initiatives;
- Engage in capacity- and confidence-building with non-governmental rule of law actors, including consultative and participatory processes with national stakeholders, including women’s networks and legal professionals;
- Perform quality control functions over project activities, including assessing impact and effectiveness, tracking outputs and results, and ensure timely and efficient delivery of project outputs through a client-satisfaction approach;
- Contribute to technical assessments and strategic planning.
Facilitate knowledge building, knowledge sharing and capacity building relevant to the project.
- Coordinate capacity development support and provide technical advice on Rule of Law, Access to Justice and Human Rights to target institutions and project beneficiaries in area of responsibility, ensuring alignment with national reform agenda and processes around rule of law and access to justice;
- Contribute to knowledge management on Rule of Law/Justice/Security/Protection;
- In close collaboration with other team members, monitor the performance of UNDP’s GREAT project on Rule of Law, including measuring impact on beneficiaries and recipient through a results-based approach;
- Contribute to knowledge management. Provide support for collating, analyzing, consolidating, and disseminating lessons learned and best practices directly linked to the project implementation;
- Monitor and report on the rollout of national reform agenda in target area of responsibility, operations of rule of law institutions, law enforcement and security services and provision of legal aid and related access to justice issues in the target region/areas;
- Substantively contribute to the preparation of high-quality monthly, quarterly, and final progress reports for donors, UNDP, and other stakeholders.
Ensure project execution with policy analysis and advice.
- Advise and support the Project Manager in the development of project initiatives for strategic and optimal result-oriented project opportunities;
- Advise and support the Project Manager in the preparation of annual work plans, project presentations and other project-related documents and correspondence as may be required;
- Contribute in mobilizing human and financial resources to support timely and adequate interventions in the agreed project activities;
- Advocate for UNDP justice /rule of law work and represent UNDP Gambia with national authorities, UN agencies the donor community, and international financial institutions;
- Liaise regularly and forge close linkages with other UN programmes, agencies, and entities, as well as other international and national stakeholders concerned with or aiding justice/rule of law issues in The Gambia.
Ensure effective monitoring on project activities and reporting on project implementation.
- Collaborate with project team members and stakeholders to develop and implement monitoring plans for the EU-UNDP GREAT project;
- Prepare periodic reports on project implementation progress, highlighting achievements, challenges, and recommendations for improvement;
- Facilitate discussions with stakeholders to address any issues or concerns raised in reports and collaborate on developing solutions;
- Conduct regular site visits to monitor progress against planned milestones, identify challenges, and propose corrective actions where necessary;
- Review and coordinate the submission of partners’ financial and narrative reports;
- Collect, analyze, and present information for monitoring and evaluation of project implementation against project targets as well as for audit purposes. Identify gaps in implementation and provide support in bridging those gaps in consultation with supervisor and partners;
- Provide technical support to project partners and beneficiaries, based on the assessment of capacity development needs.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
- The National Rule of Law Analyst will work closely with the national rule of law institutions, key civil society partners, and other stakeholders, under the overall supervision of the EU-UNDP GREAT Project Manager.
Competencies
CORE
- 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
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: Results-based Management:
- Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
2030 Agenda: Peace
- Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights
- Rule of Law, Justice and Security
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
Business Management: Project Management
- Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.
Business Management: Operations Management
- Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversees the Organization’s business process in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner. Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms
Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking
- Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Political Science, Law, International Relations, Human Rights, or other relevant field is required. Or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in law, justice, human rights, or relevant related field is required;
- Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), and web-based management systems, and up-to-date, advanced knowledge of data management tools and database packages;
- Professional experience in rule of law and/or security affairs, with some specific focus on legal and judicial institutions reform, law enforcement, governance or capacity development of justice and security institutions (formal and informal) is desirable;
- Experience of work or collaboration with major actors/partners in rule of law, justice, development and/or humanitarian sector is desirable;
- Previous experience in project/programme management in the same field of expertise is desirable;
- Previous experience with UNDP or other International Agencies is desirable;
- Knowledge/experience of People-Centered Approaches to access to justice and human security is an asset;
- Excellent experience and understanding of Monitoring, Evaluation processes and principles is desired;
- Excellent knowledge/experience of the functioning of the justice sector, particularly the chain of criminal justice and professional experience in most of these areas: justice sector reform, access to justice, gender justice, capacity building, security sector reform and related issues is an asset;
- Experience/Deep knowledge and understanding of human rights and gender issues, including in their socio-political and economic dimension is desired;
- Experience/knowledge of The Gambia’s justice related legal and policy framework and institutional environment is an asset.
Language Requirements
- Fluency in English required;
- Working knowledge of one of the Gambian local language is desired. (Mandinka, Wolof and/ or Fula)
Disclaimer
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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