Legal Consultant for E-Transactions and Trust Services Law

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA) is a regional arm of the United Nations established in 197

• Its mission is to support the economic and social development of its member states through research, policy analysis, and capacity-building initiatives. UN-ESCWA operates in 18 member countries across the Arab region, focusing on various areas including sustainable development, social justice, and economic integration. The organization employs a diverse team of professionals dedicated to fostering regional cooperation and addressing the challenges faced by member states in achieving their development goals.

Job Overview:
The position of Legal Consultant for E-Transactions and Trust Services Law involves providing specialized expertise in the development of legal frameworks governing e-transactions and trust services, particularly in the context of Yemen. The consultant will be responsible for drafting a comprehensive report that includes a suggested law based on national needs, gap analysis, and international best practices. This role is crucial as it supports the Yemeni government in modernizing its legal infrastructure to facilitate digital transactions and enhance trust in electronic communications. The consultant will engage with national stakeholders, conduct situational analyses, and ensure that the proposed legislation aligns with international standards and regional best practices. The consultant's work will contribute to the broader legislative package that includes Access to Information Law and Personal Data Protection Law, ensuring coherence across these legal instruments.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will undertake a variety of tasks, including:

• Benchmarking and Best Practices: Reviewing current national laws related to digital technologies in Yemen and analyzing regional and international best practices in e-transaction law.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Identifying key national stakeholders, conducting interviews, and documenting findings.
• Situational Analysis: Analyzing existing legislation and conducting a comprehensive gap analysis.
• Law Development: Drafting a suggested law that addresses key elements such as legal recognition of electronic records, classification of electronic signatures, and regulation of trust services.
• Validation and Consultation: Presenting the draft law to national entities and updating it based on feedback.
• Finalization: Delivering a final report that summarizes activities and provides implementation recommendations. Throughout the process, the consultant must ensure that gender considerations and youth dimensions are integrated into the research and writing.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in law or a related field, with a Ph.D. being desirable. They should have at least 5 years of demonstrated experience in drafting or assessing e-transactions legislation, electronic signature law, or trust service regulation. Familiarity with Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) frameworks and the Yemeni legal system is advantageous. Previous experience in delivering research papers is also desirable, indicating a strong background in legal analysis and writing.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in law or a related field is required for this position. A Ph.D. degree is considered an asset, indicating a higher level of expertise and research capability in the relevant legal areas. Candidates must submit proof of their educational qualifications as part of the application process, as incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in the field of e-transactions legislation, electronic signature law, or trust service regulation. This experience should demonstrate the candidate's ability to draft legal documents and provide advisory assessments effectively. Familiarity with the legal frameworks in the Arab region, particularly the Yemeni legal system, is beneficial, as it will enhance the consultant's understanding of the local context and legal requirements.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English is mandatory for this position, as these are the working languages of ESCWA. Knowledge of French is also beneficial but not required. Fluency is defined as being able to speak, read, write, and understand the language at a high level, while knowledge indicates a confident ability in at least two of these areas.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to be remote and has a duration of approximately 16 weeks. The consultant will be required to submit all deliverables in Arabic, ensuring professional quality and clarity. The final report must adhere to specific formatting guidelines, including a table of contents and proper referencing of sources. It is important to note that the content generated during this consultancy will be the sole property of ESCWA, and any publication or discussion of the report's content requires prior authorization from ESCWA. Additionally, the United Nations does not charge any fees during the recruitment process, ensuring a transparent and equitable hiring practice.