Senior Local Expert to review constitutional case-law guide

Background:

Through this project, the OSCE Presence in Albania (hereinafter “the Presence”) aims to further enhance transparent, efficient, and accessible constitutional justice in Albania and contribute to strengthening the rule of law in the country in line with the international standards and OSCE commitments. The intervention of the Presence through this project directly builds on the progress made in developing capacities and resources of the Court since 2020 through the Presence’s Project “Support to the advancement of the rule of law in Albania”, and is in line with the Court’s strategic document 2021-2023, and the renewed strategic plan 2024-2026.

The Project is assisting the Court to prepare Guides on its case-law organized by theme or by rights/principles, alike the European Court of Human Rights similar tools.  The Guides will serve the judicial staff to improve their research capacities, meanwhile will help standardize decisions, given that the Court is the only court following precedents. The Guides will also serve to lawyers, legal professionals, law practitioners and scholars to efficiently search the Court’s case-law.  Further, they will enhance the quality of individual complaints, thus contributing to an increased citizens’ access to the Court and a better protection of their fundamental rights and freedoms. During the course of 2023, the Project supported drafting and publication of the first Guide  related to fair trial rights.

The Project will continue to support development of the Part II of the Guide, for which external local expertise is required. Indeed, a senior local expert, with distinguished expertise in constitutional law, will support the drafting team with a peer-review during development of the Part II of the Guide, focused on principles of fundamental rights and freedoms, separation of powers, extraordinary measures, etc. Part II of the Guide will follow the same methodological approach as Part I, stipulating standards and precedents interpreted in the Constitutional Court’s jurisprudence.

The peer-review to the drafting process of Part II of the Guide is envisaged between June – December 2024. Once produced, the final text of the document will be presented to and approved by the General Meeting of Judges of the Constitutional Court. 

To this end, the Presence plans to contract a Senior Local Expert to conduct peer-review during the drafting process of the Part II of the Guide on the Constitutional Court case-law. 

For the purpose of the contract at hand, the Senior Local Expert will be contracted to:
    Conduct peer-review during the process of drafting of the Part II of the Guide on Constitutional Court case-law.
    Conduct peer-review during the process of reflecting recommendations from the Constitutional Court by the team of expert drafters. 

 

Objective of Assignment: 
The Senior Local Expert will conduct peer-review during the drafting process of the Part II of the Guide on Constitutional Court case-law.

 

Duration of Assignment:
This consultancy is envisaged to be completed during a period of 6 months, starting potentially from July 2024.

 

Tasks and Responsibilities:

1.    Conduct peer-review during the process of drafting of the sections of the Part II of the Guide on Constitutional Court case-law pertaining to principles of fundamental rights and freedoms, separation of powers, extraordinary measures, etc.  
2.    Conduct peer-review during the process of reflecting recommendations from the Constitutional Court by the team of expert drafters in the Part II the Guide on Constitutional Court case-law.  

Deliverables:

1. Submit to the expert drafters, Project Manager and the Constitutions Court the peer-review assessment to the draft Part II of the Guide on Constitutional Court case-law, by 30 November 2024.

2. Submit to the expert drafters, Project Manager and the Constitutions Court the peer-review assessment to the revised Part II of the Guide on Constitutional Court case-law, by 31 December 2024.

 

Necessary Qualifications:

•    University degree in law or human rights;
•    Solid and strong knowledge of constitutional law and more specifically of the Albanian Constitutional Court’s case-law, as well as ECHR case-law;
•    At least 20 years of demonstrated experience on constitutional law, either in state institutions and local organizations, or private law firms, where preferably provided senior legal expertise and/or advice;
•    Engagement in activities, initiatives and projects, aimed to strengthen and promote constitutional law, would be an asset;
•    Excellent drafting skills demonstrated through written publications/articles/research on legal matters, including on constitutional law/matters;
•    Computer literate with practical experience in Microsoft applications and familiarity with online platforms such as Zoom. 

 

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will be based on the selected consultant’s/expert’s qualifications, experience, the tasks and deliverables for this position and in accordance with the OSCE established rates.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE’s online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

 

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.

 

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

 

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization. 

 

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

 

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.