Strengthening accountability and tackling corruption are essential pre-requisites for Iraq’s long-term stability, economic recovery, and development. Both Iraqi and regional Kurdishgovernments have recentlyinitiated steps to drive an ambitious anticorruption agenda. However, significant gaps remain in legislative and strategic framework, investigation and adjudication, enforcement and recovery of stolen assets. Funded by the EU, UNDP Iraq launched the “Support to Justice Initiatives Curbing Corruption and Promoting Commercial Dispute Resolution” Project (hereinafter, Anti-Corruption & Arbitration Initiatives (ACAI) in May 2021 to support public partners at federal and the Kurdistan Regional Government to improve their capacity and legal framework to combat corruption and conduct commercial litigation. The project works closely with the Prime Minister Office and supports directly the Commission of Integrity, the Higher Judicial Council and the Legal and Integrity Committees of the Council of Representatives, in addition to key civil society and investigative media organizations.

The project has the following specific outcomes: (1) Improved Legislative and Strategic Framework for Anti- Corruption Reforms; (2) The justice sector, lawyers and Commission of Integrity are better equipped to process corruption offences due to (2.1) improved technical skills relevant for corruption investigation, prosecution, adjudication and (2.2) improved integrity rulesof the justice sector; (3) Improved capacityand legal framework to conduct commercial litigation through (3.1) better legal framework and capacity building for arbitration and (3.2) further development of the commercial court;(4) Create a climate of support in Parliament for anti-corruption reforms; (5) Increased transparency and public accountability.

The Trial Monitoring programme falls under outcome 2 and focuses on monitoring of grand corruption cases in Iraq, at the federal level as well as Kurdistan Region of Iraq.  His/her main task is to monitor criminal proceedings of high-level cases in the governorates and review casefiles of high-level corruption cases. The Trial Monitoring Analyat will be recruited by UNDP and seconded to UNAMI HRO to which she/he will report to, under the supervision of the Senior Trial Monitoring Specialist (Team Lead). The Trial Monitoring Analyst will be based in Basra and covering grand corruption cases in the Basra Governorate.

Scope of Work

The Trial Monitoring Analyst will implement the trial monitoring programme in Basra Governorate and undertake the following specific tasks:

1. Monitoring trials, investigative hearings, and Data collection: 

• Gather and verify information using a variety of tools including interviews with investigators, prosecutors, judges, lawyers, media reports, verdicts, warrants etc. and all that enable better case identification, selection and tracking in cases’ records.
• Attend all relevant investigation and trial hearings and document courtroom observations,
• Enter, store and safeguard the data into the TM Information Management System.
• Ensure compliance with trial monitoring guidelines and methodology and the strict adherence to code of conduct and principles of integrity of the trial monitoring programme.

2. Analysis, Assessment and Reports: 

• Support the Trial Monitoring Specialist in conducting the preliminary assessment existing conditions of trial monitoring programme regarding grand corruption cases in the governorate,
• Undertake first-hand analysis of courts’ proceedings, verdicts, casefiles, judicial orders and relevant legal texts,
• Contribute to analysis of findings, preparation of presentation and writing of regular and annual reports internally and externally.

3. Stakeholder engagement:

• Liaise with and maintain strong relationships with justice institutions, notably the judiciary to ensure their cooperation, buy-in, access, and support for the implementation of the trial monitoring activities.
• Build trust, communicate and work closely with all the stakeholders of the trial monitoring programme;
• Enlist the cooperation of non-governmental entities such as bar associations, legal representatives’ union and CSOs,
• Identify the appropriate levels of interaction with stakeholders and advise the project management on sustaining dialogue and cooperation with them.

4. Facilitation of workshops and conferences: 

• Support the organization of workshops, conferences and public events including logistics, design, clerical support, and translation.
• Contribute to identify the participants, speakers, presenters, and moderators and support with taking the minutes during the workshops, documenting for communication, M&E and reporting purposes.
• Support with the procurement, administrative and financial processes to ensure timely holding of workshops and conferences.

5. General management support: 

• Ensures timely implementation of the project work plan.
• Ensures timely and adequate reporting against plans, including timely and articulate progress reports.
• Manages day to day administrative matters for the project with coordination with administrative team.
• Support translation of legal documents such as verdicts, project documents, letters, and reports, and with interpretation during meetings with stakeholders.

Institutional Arrangement

The Trial Monitoring Analyst shall report directly to the Trial Monitoring Specialist – Team Lead.