Rule of Law and Access to Justice Technical Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN's global development network, established to advocate for change and connect countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build better lives. UNDP operates in over 170 countries and territories, focusing on governance, poverty reduction, crisis prevention and recovery, energy and environment, and sustainable development. The UNDP's Palestinian Programmatic Framework (PPF) 2023-2025 aims to ensure that all Palestinians can live dignified lives and achieve their aspirations for a unified, peaceful, and free society. The framework emphasizes 'Transformative Resilience' and is structured around three pillars: cohesive Palestinian identity, self-reliance, and ownership and leadership. UNDP/PAPP aligns its efforts with Palestinian national development plans and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), working across three priority areas: democratic governance and quality services, inclusive economic opportunities, and sustainable natural resources management. The UNDP/UN Women/UNICEF “Sawasya III” Joint Programme is a flagship initiative aimed at promoting the rule of law, justice, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, and human rights in Palestine, focusing on enhancing the efficiency, equity, and accountability of justice and security services in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem since its inception in 2018.

Job Overview:
The Rule of Law and Access to Justice Technical Specialist will play a pivotal role in supporting UNDP/PAPP’s efforts to strengthen the rule of law, improve access to justice, and promote effective and inclusive governance in the State of Palestine. This position will involve providing technical expertise, managing programmes, specifically the UNDP component of the Sawasya III programme, and building partnerships to address access to justice and rule of law challenges in a complex and dynamic context. The incumbent will be expected to adopt a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve strategic goals. This role requires collaboration across various units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provision of Policy Advice and Programme Development: Provide technical expertise and policy advice to Palestinian institutions, UNDP/PAPP, and other stakeholders on rule of law and access to justice issues, focusing on local challenges and context-specific needs. Lead the design and formulation of UNDP/PAPP programmes and projects related to rule of law, justice, and security, ensuring alignment with national priorities and UNDP’s strategic goals. Conduct assessments and analyses of governance and rule of law challenges in the State of Palestine, identifying opportunities for intervention and innovation. Support the integration of gender equality, human rights, and inclusion principles into rule of law and access to justice programming.
• Lead Programme Implementation and Management: Lead the implementation and management of UNDP's Rule of Law and Access to Justice programmes, ensuring alignment with overall objectives, deliverables, and compliance with UNDP rules and regulations. Coordinate closely with UN Women, UNICEF, national stakeholders, and other partners to ensure synergy, integration, and effective collaboration across all programme components. Oversee the development of work plans, budgets, and monitoring frameworks, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery of results and adherence to financial and operational guidelines. Provide technical guidance and support to implementing partners, project teams, and government counterparts to ensure effective and high-quality implementation of activities. Monitor and evaluate programme performance, preparing regular progress reports for donors, partners, and the Joint Programme Steering Committee, and identifying areas for improvement. Manage financial resources, including budgeting, expenditure tracking, and reporting, to ensure efficient and transparent use of funds. Facilitate knowledge-sharing and collaboration among Sawasya III partners and other stakeholders, ensuring that lessons learned and best practices are documented and disseminated. Represent UNDP in Sawasya III coordination mechanisms and other relevant forums, advocating for UNDP's priorities and contributions to the programme.
• Building Partnerships and Resource Mobilization: Build and maintain strategic partnerships with Palestinian institutions, civil society organizations, UN agencies, donors, and other stakeholders to advance rule of law and access to justice objectives. Mobilize resources for UNDP/PAPP’s rule of law and access to justice portfolio, including preparing funding proposals and engaging with donors. Represent UNDP/PAPP in national and international forums, conferences, and working groups related to rule of law and access to justice.
• Lead Knowledge Management and Capacity Development: Lead the development of knowledge products, including policy briefs, case studies, and toolkits, to share best practices and lessons learned. Provide capacity-building support to Palestinian counterparts, including training, mentoring, and coaching on rule of law and governance issues. Promote innovation and the use of technology to enhance rule of law and access to justice outcomes. The incumbent performs any other duties agreed to within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Required Qualifications:
An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Law, Political Science, Public Administration, International Development, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the above-mentioned fields of study, combined with an additional two years of qualifying experience, will be considered in lieu of the advanced university degree. Minimum of five (5) years (with a master’s degree) or seven (7) years (with a bachelor’s degree) of professional experience in rule of law, justice, governance, and human rights programming, preferably in the State of Palestine or similar conflict/post-conflict settings is required. Proven track record of strong understanding of the Palestinian legal and governance systems, as well as international human rights standards is required. Demonstrated experience in the rule of law and human rights, especially on access to justice and capacity building of security and justice institutions is required. Experience working with government institutions, civil society, and international organizations in the State of Palestine is required. Proven experience and sound knowledge of UNDP's programming, financial, and operational procedures, rules, and regulations is an asset. Demonstrated experience in leading projects and programmes is an asset. Experience in resource mobilization is an asset. Experience in monitoring and evaluating programme performance, preparing regular progress reports for donors and partners is an asset. Experience in managing financial resources, including budgeting, expenditure tracking, and reporting, to ensure efficient and transparent use of funds is an advantage. Proven experience in designing and managing development programmes, with a focus on rule of law and access to justice is an asset. Familiarity with UN joint programming and operational procedures is desirable.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Law, Political Science, Public Administration, International Development, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the above-mentioned fields of study, combined with an additional two years of qualifying experience, will be considered in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in rule of law, justice, governance, and human rights programming with a master’s degree, or seven (7) years with a bachelor’s degree. This experience should preferably be in the State of Palestine or similar conflict/post-conflict settings, demonstrating a strong understanding of the Palestinian legal and governance systems, as well as international human rights standards. Proven experience in leading projects and programmes, resource mobilization, and managing financial resources is also essential.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic languages is required. This bilingual proficiency is crucial for effective communication and collaboration with various stakeholders, including Palestinian institutions, civil society organizations, UN agencies, and donors. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The position is a full-time role with responsibilities that may require the incumbent to manage and supervise various team members, including an ICT System Expert, Programme Manager, Project Analyst, Administrative Assistant, Gaza-based civil society coordinator, Admin Officer, and Driver. The role may involve a probationary period for new UNDP fixed-term appointments, and UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. The organization values diversity and encourages qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply, ensuring that employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role without discrimination. UNDP is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to the mission.