Rule of Law & Access to Justice Officer

In recent years, despite the overall progress in Viet Nam, the Judicial Reform Strategy to 2020 recognizes that social and economic achievements have to be sustained through deepening democracy and building a substantive “rule of law” state. The need to promote legal empowerment and ensure justice to all, and vulnerable groups in particular, remains strong and is an utmost national priority especially when Viet Nam is experiencing rapid changes as a newly emerged middle-income-country. To further support Viet Nam in the implementation of the Strategy for the Development and Improvement of Viet Nam’s Legal System to 2010 with a Vision to 2020 (Resolution 48) and the Judicial Reform Strategy for the Period until 2020 (Resolution 49), the Justice and Legal Empowerment Programme (the Programme) has been developed to meet the most urgent need as results of recent reviews of the implementation of these important Strategies to identify key priorities for law and judicial reforms in 2016-2020. The Programme is funded by the European Union and consists of two parts - a co-delegation agreement (PAGoDA) to provide targeted capacity building to institutions and evidence-based research and a basket fund for small grants for civil society organisations called the Justice Initiative Facilitation Fund (JIFF). The PAGoDA mechanism is co-funded by UNDP, UNICEF and is implemented by UNDP and UNICEF in partnership with Ministry of Justice of Vietnam. Under the PAGoDA mechanism, the Programme will strengthen the rule of law through a more reliable, trusted and better-accessed justice system. Specifically, it aims to focus on those population groups which, according to dependable data, face the greatest obstacles in using the justice system to invoke their rights, and on improvement of mechanisms for rights protection, legal services including advice, assistance and representation. The four targeted results of the Justice and Legal Empowerment Programme are:

Increased public awareness and understanding of rights and how to invoke those rights according to principles enshrined in Vietnamese law, mechanisms and procedures for how to use the law, and options for seeking legal advice, assistance and representation.
Increased access to legal advice, assistance and representation in both civil and criminal matters.
Improved enabling legislative and regulatory framework for legal empowerment and access to justice
Enhanced integrity and transparency in the justice sector

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Team Leader of the Programme, PAGoDA mechanism, UNDP, Assistant Resident Representative, Governance & Participation, the Rule of Law and Access to Justice Officer is responsible for providing technical implementation of the PAGoDA’s component within the area of rule of law and access to justice. The Rule of Law and Access to Justice Officer acts as quality assuror vis-à-vis programme activities within his/her portfolio, ensuring an integrated approach to programming, liaise with technical counterparts and implementation partners of UNDP, and will be responsible for providing inputs for UNDP’s contributions to annual workplans, progress and final reports. The Rule of Law and Access to Justice Officer works in close collaboration with the operations team, programme staff in UNDP and other UN Agencies and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful project implementation. Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

Ensuring effective implementation of PAGoDA’s component on the thematic area of rule of law and access to justice
Strategic partnership building and management
Provision of top quality policy advice services to the Government, facilitation of knowledge building and management

1. Ensures effective implementation of PAGoDA’s component within the thematic area of rule of law and access to justice focusing on quality control from formulation to implementation achieving the following results:

Ongoing analysis and research of the political, legal and social situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs to research and other documents produced on the thematic areas assigned
Design and formulation of the Programme activities within the area of responsibility, translating the Programme’s priorities and Programme description into interventions.
Identification of areas for support and interventions within the thematic/sectoral areas assigned
Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results. Substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of problems, development of solutions.
CO business processes mapping and preparation of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Results Management.
Evaluation of the programme/project impact. Monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, timely readjustments in portfolio.
Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies and other international partners including with other UN agencies. Introduction of performance indicators/ success criteria, cost recovery and resource mobilization, targets and milestones.

2. Ensures creation of strategic partnerships in cooperation with the management support and Governance & Participation Team focusing on achievement of the following results:

Development of partnerships with government institutions, relevant donors, UN agencies, private sector, civil society active in the specific thematic areas based on the Programme description.
Analysis and research of information on partners, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new interventions, active contribution to the overall office effort in partnership building.

3. Ensures provision of top quality policy advice services to the Government, facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

Provides technical and substantive support to the delivery of high quality and measurable PAGoDA’s component results by monitoring and reporting results achieved in the implementation of the thematic areas assigned
Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme country policy goals.
Development of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners. Active contribution to UNDP/UN advocacy on SDGs and governance.
Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
Sharing information, organization of trainings for the CO staff on the thematic areas assigned.

Competencies

Core:

Innovation Ability to make new and useful ideas work	Level 4: Adept with complex concepts and challenges convention purposefully
Leadership Ability to persuade others to follow	Level 4: Generates commitment, excitement and excellence in others
People Management Ability to improve performance and satisfaction	Level 4: Models independent thinking and action
Communication Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform	Level 4: Synthesizes information to communicate independent analysis
Delivery Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement	Level 4: Meets goals and quality criteria for delivery of products or services

Technical/Functional:

Advocacy and Activations Ability to design and implement strategic short/long term campaigns and carry out customized activations to highlight UNDP's position and support issue based advocacy.	Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise
Results-based Management Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results	Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise
Partnerships Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships	Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise
Innovation Ability to manage organisational resources and deployment in pursuit of innovative approaches and initiatives	Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise
Resource Mobilization Ability to identify and organize programmes and projects to implement solutions and generate resources (definition is unclear and not well linked to the stated competency)	Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise
Knowledge Management Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge	Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise
Knowing your audience Ability to use a range of techniques and intelligence to develop and implement customized initiatives to target varied audiences to meet UNDP's objectives.	Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise
Strategic thinking/Visioning Ability to analyse the organization’s value proposition and shape visionary/long term plans. Use insight to identify target audiences and partners and to inform communication objectives, messages and solutions.	Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Required Skills and Experience Education: Master’s Degree or equivalent in Law. Experience:

Minimum 5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing policy research/advisory/advocacy services and programme management including partnership building in the area of rule of law and access to justice.
Hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation and management of development projects; sound knowledge of international best practices, national policies, legal and institutional frameworks in rule of law and access to justice.
Good analytical, conceptualization and communication skills; ability to work as team member in a multicultural environment.
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Language Requirements: Excellent command of both spoken and written English and Vietnamese, including excellent drafting skills. Disclaimer Important applicant information All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment. 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. Workforce diversity UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. Scam warning The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.