The long military and sociopolitical crisis in Côte d'Ivoire went through during the past ten years, punctuated by the 2010-2011 post-election crisis, led to serious humanitarian consequences, undermined the foundations of the public administration and created deep fractures in the Ivorian society. Public services, including the justice sector, are no longer references for a large part of the population.

Since the return to normality and the establishment of democratic institutions (Government, National Assembly, etc.), the country has embarked on the road to the recovery of public services across the country, the revival of economic activity and national reconciliation in particular through the establishment of the Commission Dialogue, Vérité et Reconciliation - CDVR (Truth, Dialogue and Reconciliation Commission) and commitment to promote access to fair and independent justice for all.

To continue the CDVR’s efforts, the President has created a national commission for reconciliation and victims compensation’s which is called “Commission nationale pour la réconciliation et l’indemnisation des victimes (Conariv)”. This commission is lead by a priest, Mgr Paul Siméon Ahouana, who is in charge of the repairing and the compensations for the post crisis conflict victims. The National Programme of Social Cohesion is the body designated for the implementation of the reparation programme.

However, despite the efforts made, many challenges still lie ahead both in terms of security (fight against the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons -SALW, Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration - DDR, Security Sector Reform - RSS) justice and in regard to community recovery and national reconciliation for a transition to a more sustainable development.

To better meet the changing needs and priorities of the government following the post-election crisis and support the implementation of the Plan National de Development 2013-2015 (PND), UNDP has adapted its national programs. Thus, support for strengthening the rule of law has been identified as a new area for ??UNDP’s intervention in Côte d'Ivoire. A support that is highly requested in the light of the closing of the Rule of Law Section in UNOCI.

In this area, the Ministry of Justice designed a strategic sectorial policy document for the reform of the judiciary and corrections center in order to deliver a better quality of service to litigants. This document includes 21 objectives grouped around five themes: (i) increase the judicial and penal system, (ii) promote independent and impartial judiciary, (iii) facilitate equitable access to justice for all, (iv) ensure quality justice while improving the treatment of vulnerable persons and (v) ensure the moralization of the judiciary.

In view of the urgent need to restore the rule of law, transitional justice and ensure access to justice for vulnerable groups, including women and children in three priority regions of western Côte d'Ivoire (Cavally, Tonpki and Guemon), UNDP, in close cooperation with UNOCI and UNICEF, have developed a joint project to improve access to justice in the West. The project has been extended over the whole territory with significant financial support from the European Union.

The joint project to improve access to justice has three specific objectives:

• Increase the awareness of the citizen on their rights and improve access to justice for vulnerable groups, through the establishment of legal clinics to ensure access to legal aid;
• Strengthen the capacity of the institutions (formal and informal) responsible for the implementation of the law (justice, police, traditional leaders, local elected officials and community committees) to provide effective and coordinated services to the population;
• Ensure that national legislation and practices in the area of ??legal aid are conform to the international standards by supporting the revision of the legal provisions and reinforcing the capacity of the lawyers.

In addition, some important rule of law issues and in particular transitional justice issues are of key importance to ensure social cohesion and reconciliation, which will have to be addressed in order to ensure resilience to community conflicts. A concrete example is the land issues, which is at the origin and at the heart of many conflicts in both rural and urban areas. There are ongoing discussions at the national level to which UNDP would like to contribute strategically.

To assist the Country Office in these activities, UNDP is recruiting an expert in transitional justice and issues related to transitional justice, such as access to justice, institutional reforms, judicial proceedings related to the postelection crisis through the Special Investigation Cell (CSEI), Exhumations Cell, victim/witness support, social cohesion and reconciliation, and land dispute resolution.

Under the general supervision of the Resident Coordinator/Resident Representative and direct supervision of the Country Director, the Technical Expert will work closely with other members of the programme to allow UNDP to make its contributions to the reform of the justice sector and land issues.

The Technical Expert will work closely the government, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), other development partners including UN agencies, UNOCI, the Delegation of the European Union and ICTJ.

The expert will through his/her technical expertise assist with the work on the preparation, review and evaluation of the UNDAF, CPD, CPAP, as well as other UNDP programme tools.

• Coordinate the strategic planning, formulation and monitoring of programmatic issues with the UNDP senior management and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR);

Acts as the key senior policy advisor to the Ivorian Government on the following issues:

• Transitional justice related concepts, principles and international standards governing transitional justice;
• In support of the establishment and implementation of a community network on transitional justice;
• The implementation of the national strategy on reconciliation and social cohesion;
• Land reform, land management and land dispute resolution;
• Supporting the Government with mapping human rights violations, development of database and/or case management tool, capacity development on addressing victim/witness protection;
• Capacity building of justice institutions and law enforcement agencies;
• Clarifying criminal law issues related to transitional justice and prosecution including assessing existing legal framework related to prosecution.
• Provide intellectual leadership and strategic thinking in the area of transitional justice through identification of key policy and programme issues;
• Develop alliances for policy reform amongst national and international development institutions;
• Act as key senior advisor to national counterparts in the implementation of the DTRC’s recommendations especially those related to institutional reforms, memorial and reparations to the victims;
• Provide intellectual/substantive contribution to the transitional justice process through the reinforcement of access to justice and legal aid mechanisms (in particular for victims and witness protection);
• Provide strategic and technical advice to the senior management of the CONARIV institution and the National Programme for Social Cohesion (PNCS);
• Act as key senior advisor to the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Human Rights, the implementation unit of the reform of the justice sector, as well as all relevant stakeholders including the civil society in matters related to justice and justice sector reform;
• Lead the technical support to national counterparts in the promotion of justice sector reform, the establishment of an effective access to justice and legal aid system including the revision of the legal provisions and the fight against impunity;
• Assess programme development challenges and highlight key transitional justice issues; provides policy advice based on best global experiences and practices including the integration of gender in the implementation of the transitional justice mechanisms;
• Supervise the capacity building efforts and increase general knowledge of UNDP Country Office, national partners and other relevant stakeholders in the justice sector reform, including access to justice, transitional justice processes and land dispute resolution in order to respond effectively to the challenges of the country;
• Lead the coordination of justice activities in general (access to justice), andspecifically transitional justice and look on the complementarity between ICC procedures and national judiciary procedures, land dispute resolution etc. between national and international counterparts;
• Document and share best practices, including concepts, strategies and implementation approaches through analytical reports (national, regional and global knowledge sharing networks);
• Provide advices and recommendations on how UNDP, OHCHR and UN can further strengthen and support the transitional justice process;
• Ensure mainstreaming of gender in key policy and strategic documents and development processes;
• Map on consistent basis the development in transitional justice, covering the situational and strategic opportunities in the form of professional papers and reports. Coordinate and provide strategic guidance on preparation of bulletin on Transitional Justice issues on a regular basis;
• Contribute to a strong understanding of the social, political, economic and cultural drivers of conflict in Cote d’Ivoire that influences the justice, reconciliation and social cohesion process;
• Develop country-based intelligence on the country situation in the subject area, opportunities, interest and prospects covering the government, UNDP and other major development stakeholders;
• Undertake mapping of good practices on the ground and globally, and made them accessible eventually through Sous-South cooperation;
• Contribute to the production of reports and publications, and serve as peer reviewer;
• Provide guidance and advise to the RC in order to UN resource mobilization on Transitional Justice;
• Lead the building of effective partnership in order to support mobilization of financial resources and establish communications with key donors;
• Provide strategic advice to the Global Focal Point for Rule of Law, Justice and Security (GFP);
• Oversee regular reporting, both narrative and financial to the UNDP Country Office and BPPS/UNDP/NY;
• Ensure synergies of the activities in the justice and land sector with other initiatives in the field of reconciliation and social cohesion;
• Coordinate programme activities with other UNDP initiatives as well as other United Nations agencies and other development partners, to develop inter-agency synergies and build complementarities with other programmes;
• Participate in various thematic groups on justice sector reform, transitional justice and land disputes;
• Undertake any other duties and functions as required by the Resident Coordinator.

Impact:

• The institutional reform of access to justice is effective in the context of the implementation of the justice sector reform developed by the national actors;
• A coordinated and appropriate response is provided to the challenges of transitional justice in partnership with all key partners of these sector.

Corporate Competencies:

• Show integrity by putting forward the values and morals of the United Nations;
• Show flexibility and adaptation to differences related to culture, gender, religion, race, nationality and age.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Good knowledge of the country and/or region of assignment, including the political, economic and social dimensions, and their relation to the main engines of instability and conflict;
• Sound knowledge and exposure to a wide range of post-conflict, peacebuilding, good governance, human rights and development-related issues;
• Ability  to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
• Ability to advocate and provide timely policy advice;
• Ability to identify issues and to use sound judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Ability  to  establish  and maintain  contacts with  senior-level  officials  of  the  host  government required;
• Excellent interpersonal skills are essential part of the job.  Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, for effective advocacy and influence on policy makers;
• Ability  to  perform  a  variety  of  specialized  tasks  related  to  Results-Based  Management, including  support  to  design,  planning  and  implementation  of  programme, managing  data, reporting;
• Good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to reintegration, recovery and development issues, peace and security and sound knowledge of the institutions of the UN system;
• Ability to analyze is required to obtain, evaluate and interpret factual data and to prepare accurate and complete reports and other documents;
• Ability to develop a strategic planning, the management based on achievement and reporting;
• Ability to formulate, implement and ensure the monitoring and the evaluation of projects / programs of development and resources mobilization;
• Ability to formulate and manage budgets, contributions and investments, and transactions;
• Solid knowledge and experience in programme management and financial resources management. 

Management and leadership:

• Develop strong relationships with customers, focus on results for the customer, respond positively to the feedback;
• Develop a work approach with energy and a positive and constructive attitude. Ability to implement new systems and have a positive impact on the change of the staff attitude;
• Excellent communication (spoken and written) skills, including the ability to draft/edit a variety of written reports and communications and to articulate ideas in a clear and concise style;
• Ability to plan own work, manage conflicting priorities and work under pressure of tight and conflicting deadlines;
• Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications;
• Very good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations;
• Very strong leadership capacities to guide a multi-cultural team in difficult circumstances. Demonstrates openness to the change of ability to manage complex situations.

Education:

• Minimum of Master degree in law, human rights, political science, international development or related field.

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years of working experience with transitional justice mechanisms such as designing of strategies and working with national and international counterparts as well as experience in developing, managing, advising and implementing programmes related to rule of law, transitional justice and reconciliation processes;
• Experience in coordination and strategic planning, through linking transitional justice to related areas such as a wider rule of law engagement;
• Work experience in the area of  conflict prevention/resolution or housing, lands, properties issues and disputes resolutions;
• Previous experience with the United Nations and, in particular UNDP in crisis and post-crisis settings is desirable;
• Track record in promoting and mainstreaming gender issues;
• Knowledge of project management procedures in the context of UN agencies is an advantage;
• Have a positive attitude to work and be able to work under pressure in a multicultural environment;
• Good computer skills;
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of national and regional socio political context.

Language:

• Perfect command of French (working language) and very good knowledge of English.