RULE OF LAW ADVISOR
Location : Monrovia, LIBERIA
Application Deadline : 27-May-13
Additional Category Crisis Prevention and Recovery
Type of Contract : FTA International
Post Level : P-5
Languages Required : English
Starting Date (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) : 01-Jul-2013
Duration of Initial Contract : Twelve Months
Expected Duration of Assignment : Twelve months, Renewable
Application Deadline : 27-May-13
Additional Category Crisis Prevention and Recovery
Type of Contract : FTA International
Post Level : P-5
Languages Required : English
Starting Date (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) : 01-Jul-2013
Duration of Initial Contract : Twelve Months
Expected Duration of Assignment : Twelve months, Renewable
Background
There is a strong recognition that significant weaknesses in governance,
justice and security institutions of Liberia were key factors in causing the
crises that beset Liberia over the past two decades. Civil war, widespread human
rights abuses and mismanagement resulted in immense human suffering, the
deepening of poverty, and the erosion of the rule of law. Likewise, Liberia’s
Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) 2008-11 recognizes that while important gains
have been made since the end of the war in 2003, the country continues to
suffer from an absence of justice, weak public institutions, corruption, and a
lack of human capacity to quickly remedy these deficiencies.
There is a strong recognition that significant weaknesses in governance,
justice and security institutions of Liberia were key factors in causing the
crises that beset Liberia over the past two decades. Civil war, widespread human
rights abuses and mismanagement resulted in immense human suffering, the
deepening of poverty, and the erosion of the rule of law. Likewise, Liberia’s
Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) 2008-11 recognizes that while important gains
have been made since the end of the war in 2003, the country continues to
suffer from an absence of justice, weak public institutions, corruption, and a
lack of human capacity to quickly remedy these deficiencies.
Through the PRS, the Government of Liberia (GoL)
has expressed its resolve to address the weaknesses of the state that have
driven poverty, instability and conflict. Importantly, the Government has
highlighted the significance of the rule of law for consolidating peace.
Effective and accountable legal and justice institutions, access to justice,
and the protection and promotion of human rights are not only essential for
sustainable peace-building, but are underpinning many of the PRS objectives in
general. This is fully commensurate with the UN’s analysis and strategy in Liberia.
Weak justice systems were identified as a pivotal conflict factor in the 2006
Common Country Assessment (CCA) for Liberia and strengthening the rule of law
has thus been included as an important objective in the United Nations
Development Assistance Framework 2008-11 (UNDAF) for Liberia.
has expressed its resolve to address the weaknesses of the state that have
driven poverty, instability and conflict. Importantly, the Government has
highlighted the significance of the rule of law for consolidating peace.
Effective and accountable legal and justice institutions, access to justice,
and the protection and promotion of human rights are not only essential for
sustainable peace-building, but are underpinning many of the PRS objectives in
general. This is fully commensurate with the UN’s analysis and strategy in Liberia.
Weak justice systems were identified as a pivotal conflict factor in the 2006
Common Country Assessment (CCA) for Liberia and strengthening the rule of law
has thus been included as an important objective in the United Nations
Development Assistance Framework 2008-11 (UNDAF) for Liberia.
To support the GoL in the achievement of priorities
and outcomes described in the PRS and UNDAF, the Liberia Peace-building
Programme was formulated. The Liberia Peace-building Joint Programme (LPP) is a
three year programme concluded between the Government of Liberia, the United
Nations and international partners in May 2011. The programme builds on the
Peace Building Commission’s (PBC) Priority Plan for Liberia which was concluded
on 26 January 2011. The programme will benefit from financial support from the
peace-building fund (PBF), but the scope of the programme goes beyond that
which can be directly funded under a financial allocation from the
Peace-building fund and rather aims to respond to all the key Peace-building
gaps in Liberia that fall under the rubric of security sector reform, rule of
law and national reconciliation; the three priorities for PBC engagement in
Liberia.
and outcomes described in the PRS and UNDAF, the Liberia Peace-building
Programme was formulated. The Liberia Peace-building Joint Programme (LPP) is a
three year programme concluded between the Government of Liberia, the United
Nations and international partners in May 2011. The programme builds on the
Peace Building Commission’s (PBC) Priority Plan for Liberia which was concluded
on 26 January 2011. The programme will benefit from financial support from the
peace-building fund (PBF), but the scope of the programme goes beyond that
which can be directly funded under a financial allocation from the
Peace-building fund and rather aims to respond to all the key Peace-building
gaps in Liberia that fall under the rubric of security sector reform, rule of
law and national reconciliation; the three priorities for PBC engagement in
Liberia.
It is envisaged that the UN member states associated with the PBC
Liberia configuration can assist in leveraging support for the implementation
of those parts of the programme not covered by the PBF. Such support from UN
member states and other international partners is expected on the grounds that
the actions outlined in this joint programme are fully in keeping with the
Liberia Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) and aim to directly build on what is
already been undertaken by the Government of Liberia with support from
international partners.
Liberia configuration can assist in leveraging support for the implementation
of those parts of the programme not covered by the PBF. Such support from UN
member states and other international partners is expected on the grounds that
the actions outlined in this joint programme are fully in keeping with the
Liberia Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) and aim to directly build on what is
already been undertaken by the Government of Liberia with support from
international partners.
This innovative approach in linking PBF support to
other budgetary instruments to deliver a holistic and integrated response to
Peace-building challenges is the first of its kind and represents a step change
in international engagement in post conflict countries on the PBC agenda. The
LPP is divided into two sections, which are strategically linked. Component 1
focuses on joint justice and security programming, while Component 2 focuses on
national reconciliation programming. Component 1 is the key component, given
that SSR and rule of law are fundamental to enabling UNMIL transition and
fundamental to helping Liberia address the challenges it faces today. This
component represents a Joint Justice and Security Programme between the
Government of Liberia and the UN with a core outcome to enhance access to justice
and security at regional and county level in preparation for UNMIL transition.
other budgetary instruments to deliver a holistic and integrated response to
Peace-building challenges is the first of its kind and represents a step change
in international engagement in post conflict countries on the PBC agenda. The
LPP is divided into two sections, which are strategically linked. Component 1
focuses on joint justice and security programming, while Component 2 focuses on
national reconciliation programming. Component 1 is the key component, given
that SSR and rule of law are fundamental to enabling UNMIL transition and
fundamental to helping Liberia address the challenges it faces today. This
component represents a Joint Justice and Security Programme between the
Government of Liberia and the UN with a core outcome to enhance access to justice
and security at regional and county level in preparation for UNMIL transition.
The LPP provides for effective multi-actor and
multi-donor programming in line with the Paris Principles on Aid Effectiveness
and in the spirit of the UN Delivering as One Agenda. It is intended to be a
strategic, prioritized and achievable document, addressing the activities and
support to be provided in the justice, security and reconciliation sectors. It
is expected that the Government of Liberia will lead in delivering the
activities in full cooperation with the UN system, international partners and
civil society actors.
multi-donor programming in line with the Paris Principles on Aid Effectiveness
and in the spirit of the UN Delivering as One Agenda. It is intended to be a
strategic, prioritized and achievable document, addressing the activities and
support to be provided in the justice, security and reconciliation sectors. It
is expected that the Government of Liberia will lead in delivering the
activities in full cooperation with the UN system, international partners and
civil society actors.
The Justice and Security Joint Programme (JSJP) proposes a catalytic initiative
to enhance access to justice and security at the regional and county levels
with the development of five regional justice and security hubs, in addition to
the provision of justice and security services that are urgently required. The
vision behind the hubs is to provide a decentralized and holistic approach to
security and justice service delivery and a means by which national agencies
can provide effective security in preparation for UNMIL’s transition. The
holistic approach to the hubs envisions a balanced strengthening of justice and
security institutions – law enforcement, the courts, state prosecution and
defence, and corrections – both in terms of capacity and infrastructure; the
enhancement of linkages between these institutions; and the development of
relationships between the institutions and the communities they serve. Each of
these aspects is seen as a complementary component of the hubs. Each of the
five hubs will be strategically situated, to enhance justice and security
throughout Liberia. The five regional hubs will service three counties each
providing more effective operational control and proximity for staff
deployment, communication and service delivery. The Government of Liberia has
already demonstrated its commitment to the hubs by agreeing to provide the land
for the five hubs and also agreeing to deploy staff to work within the hubs.
It is envisaged that four core outputs will be delivered under the outcome on
justice and security, including:
Infrastructure, equipment, and other logistics for
the effective performance of the regional hubs put in place
Justice and security service providers able to provide fair and accountable
professional services
Justice and security service providers are responsive to community concerns
Legal and policy frameworks in place that enable national authorities to better
perform their duties in the justice and security sector
the effective performance of the regional hubs put in place
Justice and security service providers able to provide fair and accountable
professional services
Justice and security service providers are responsive to community concerns
Legal and policy frameworks in place that enable national authorities to better
perform their duties in the justice and security sector
Under the leadership of the Deputy Special
Representative of the Secretary General – Rule of Law, the United Nations
Country Team (UNCT) and UNMIL have undertaken steps to coordinate and position
the UN’s support to key rule of law areas in light of UNMIL transition. This
project will enable UNDP to be strong partner for UNMIL and the UNCT and
gradually increase UNDP’s support capacity as the Drawdown decreases UNMIL’s
capacity on the ground.
Representative of the Secretary General – Rule of Law, the United Nations
Country Team (UNCT) and UNMIL have undertaken steps to coordinate and position
the UN’s support to key rule of law areas in light of UNMIL transition. This
project will enable UNDP to be strong partner for UNMIL and the UNCT and
gradually increase UNDP’s support capacity as the Drawdown decreases UNMIL’s
capacity on the ground.
Further, in September 2012, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
appointed the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the Global Focal Point (GFP) for
Police, Justice and Corrections areas in the rule of law in post-conflict and
other crisis situations.
This new policy is an important part of a reform process that will strengthen
the United Nations’ ability to fill critical civilian capacity gaps in the
aftermath of conflict by joint efforts. Liberia was chosen as a priority GFP
country, on which UNDP and DPKO will be required to report progress through
joint interventions in the area of rule of law.
In close collaboration with UNDP Liberia’s Senior
Management, the, Rule of Law Advisor provides high-level policy advice to the
relevant counterparts, provides programmatic oversight, leads policy advocacy,
and liaises with UNMIL and UN Agencies, Government officials, technical
advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society in the
areas pertaining to the project. The Post will be based in Monrovia.
Management, the, Rule of Law Advisor provides high-level policy advice to the
relevant counterparts, provides programmatic oversight, leads policy advocacy,
and liaises with UNMIL and UN Agencies, Government officials, technical
advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society in the
areas pertaining to the project. The Post will be based in Monrovia.
For more information, please visit: http://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=37661