International Legal Consultant

Background

Access to Justice is a key cornerstone to enforce human rights granted to women and girls. Although there is a global trend to adopt legislative measures for implementing CEDAW obligations, women and girls still face numerous obstacles in pursuing their legal rights and holding justice systems accountable.

The fragility of achieves to advance Women’s Access to Justice has become apparent during the COVID-19 crisis when the dispute resolution mechanisms around the world came to a standstill. Efforts to shift cases to virtual platforms were often inconsistence and gender-neutral, and protection services for the increased rate of domestic violence victims were insufficient.

A comprehensive approach to justice and a long-tern vision to advance women’s rights is needed to eliminate any form of discrimination, to encourage active citizenship of women and to mobilize a critical mass of the population to advocate for change.

In this context, the UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific will hire a consultant to support the development of a regional Women’s Access to Justice strategy and a new Women’s Access to Justice programming phase through legal research, analysis and advice and the establishment of working relationships with formal frontline justice actors and women law associations.

Duties and Responsibilities

To support legal analysis, research and relationship building to develop a regional Women’s Access to Justice strategy for the Asia-Pacific region.

Roles and responsibility

UN Women seeks the services of a consultant to support the “Enhancing Access to Justice for Women in Asia and the Pacific” project to support the development of a long-term Women’s Access to Justice strategy for the Asia-Pacific region.

Under the supervision of the Programme Specialist - Access to Justice ROAP, the consultant will be responsible for the following:

1. Conduct legal research with focus on 10 priority countries on the status of access to justice including, access to justice for women.

· Analyze the policy and development framework related to Access to Justice, Rule of Law and Gender Equality of 10 priority countries in Asia and the Pacific

· In collaboration with UN Women country offices and UN sister agencies, collect and analyze national data related to the formal justice systems impacting access to justice including women’s access to justice.

· Support the A2J team to integrate research results into the regional Women’s Access to Justice strategy and the concepts and programme documents.

2. Establish and maintain working relationship with formal justice providers and support the A2J team with consultations and conferences on Women’s Access to Justice.

· Support and co-facilitate a regional Access to Justice conferences covering Asia and the Pacific

· Establish relationships and facilitate at least 3 national exchange meeting/ conferences for formal justice providers (police, prosecution, solicitors, law associations)

· Support consultations with at least 4 UN sister agencies at regional and national level (priority countries) to adopt a regional women’s access to justice strategy and align programming efforts

Contract period and work location

From 30 June 2022 – 30 April 2023. The consultant will be based in Bangkok, Thailand and is expected to conduct regional missions as required. For travel on mission, travel costs and Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) will be provided by UN Women. Travel Authorization will be granted to the consultant prior to the travel date.

Deliverables

Tasks

Deliverables

Targeted Date

1st

In partnership with the A2J team, develop a research outline for policy, development frameworks and data related to Access to Justice, Rule of Law and Gender Equality in 10 priority countries in Asia and the Pacific
Review and provide input (in track-changes) on the Access to Justice vision paper and Access to Justice zero draft strategy with specific focus on GBV and prevention of VAW and legal issues.

1st

· Research outline including timeline, indicators and mission plan.

· Written input to the zero draft regional Access to Justice strategy and vision paper.

20 July 2022

2nd

Commence research on policy, development frameworks and date to be included in the A2J strategy and new programming phase for at least 3 priority countries.
In partnership with A2J team, donor and UN sister agencies develop a concept note for a regional Access to Justice conference scheduled for November 2022.
Reach out to formal justice providers in priority countries to arranged for initial communications/ meetings.

2nd

Progress report including

research report including draft analysis of at least 3 priority countries.

Concept paper for regional Access to Justice conference
Progress report/update on outreach to formal justice providers.

15 August 2022

3rd

· Commence research on policy, development frameworks and date to be included in the A2J strategy and new programming phase for additional 3 priority countries.

· Support the A2J team and partners to arrange a regional Access to Justice conference scheduled for November 2022.

· Set up meeting (virtual or in person) with formal justice providers from at least 3 priority countries

3rd

· Progress report including research report including draft analysis of at least 3 priority countries.

· Concept for regional Access to Justice conference

· Update on outreach to formal justice providers.

20 September 2022

4th

· Finalize draft research report on policy, development frameworks and date to be included in the A2J strategy and new programming phase for all 10 priority countries.

· Support the A2J team and partners to arrange a regional Access to Justice conference scheduled for November 2022.

· Conduct meeting (virtual or in person) with formal justice providers from at least 3 priority countries

4th

· Progress report including research report including draft analysis of at least 3 priority countries.

· Update on regional A2J conference (confirmed sessions, communication, invitations and other logistic issues)

· Meeting reports with justice providers from at least 3 priority countries.

25 October 2022

5th

· Attend, co-facilitate and supervise the development of a workshop report and outcome document of the regional Access to Justice conference.

· Review the updated draft Access to Justice Strategy and include research findings and data

5th

· Progress report including workshop report and outcome document of regional Access to Justice conference

• Integration of research findings in draft A2J justice strategy and new programme document

30 December 2022

6th

· Set up follow up meeting with formal justice providers to validate the Conference outcome document and discuss the entry points for country-specific implementation of A2J strategy.

· Support A2J team to set up meetings with UN sister agencies and donor community to validate the conference outcome document and set priorities for joint UN programming.

6th

· Progress report including meeting reports of follow up meetings (after regional conference) with formal justice providers to validate the outcome document and discuss adoption of the A2J Strategy.

• Meeting minutes of follow up meetings with UN sister agencies and donor to validate the A2J outcome document and the programming to implement the A2J strategy.

15 February 2023

Final

· Provide technical assistance to A2J programme team to develop a new A2J programme framework) programme document aligned to research findings, discussions with formal justice providers and country office priorities.

· Support and co-facilitate consultation meetings with formal justice providers and UN sister agencies to validate the A2J programme framework (2023- 2027).

Final

· Progress report including progress on UN Women regional programme document development integration country priorities, conference outcome document and A2J strategy priorities.

• Progress on formalizing partnerships with formal justice providers and UN sister agencies

15 April 2023

Competencies

Core Values

Respect for Diversity.
Integrity.
Professionalism.

Core Competencies

Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues.
Accountability.
Creative Problem Solving.
Effective Communication.
Inclusive Collaboration.
Stakeholder Engagement.
Leading by Example.

Functional Competencies

Knowledge of Women’s Access to Justice, Human Rights and Gender equality
Ability to pragmatically apply in-depth knowledge and experience of issues and practices in the fields of judiciary systems; legal reform; gender equality,
Strong skills and experience in presenting evidence and ideas for policy and programme.
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.
Strong communications skills (written and oral)
Demonstrated experience in gender, legal and development-related research.
Leadership and skills to work with autonomy and initiative.
Knowledge of gender equality and women’s human rights in the Asia-Pacific region.
Strong knowledge of the UN system.

Required Skills and Experience

Master’s degree (or equivalent) in law or bachelor’s degree with 2 additional years’ work experience.
Minimum of 7 years relevant and geographically diverse experience in the development sector with focus on Access to Justice, Governance and / or Gender Based Violence.
Minimum of 5 years’ experience in working on gender analysis, legal and/ or women’s rights research and programme development preferably link to women’s rights.
Demonstrated working experience on providing technical advice in the areas of Access to Justice, Rule of Law and accompanying services in the Asia- Pacific region.
Previous work experience with UN Women is an advantage.
Proficiency in English.

Payments

Each payment will be issued upon acceptance and approval of a monthly delivery report showing progress on deliverables stipulated in the table below by the Programme Specialist - Access to Justice - Governance, Peace and Security, ROAP. The expected deliverables will be done in close collaboration/supervision of UN Women personnel.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis.

Technical Qualification (100 points) weight; [70%]
Financial Proposal (100 points) weight; [30%]

A two-stage procedure is utilised in evaluating the applications, with evaluation of the technical application being completed prior to any price proposal being compared. Only the price proposal of the candidates who passed the minimum technical score of 70% of the obtainable score of 100 points in the technical qualification evaluation will be evaluated.

Technical qualification evaluation criteria:

The total number of points allocated for the technical qualification component is 100. The technical qualification of the individual is evaluated based on following technical qualification evaluation criteria:

Technical Evaluation Criteria

Obtainable Score

1. Education

Master’s degree (or equivalent) in law or bachelor’s degree with 2 additional years’ work experience.

10%

2. Experience and knowledge

Minimum of 7 years relevant and geographically diverse experience in the development sector with focus on Access to Justice, Governance and / or Gender Based Violence.
Minimum of 5 years’ experience in working on gender analysis, legal and/ or women’s rights research and programme development preferably link to women’s rights.
Demonstrated working experience on providing technical advice in the areas of Access to Justice, Rule of Law and accompanying services in the Asia- Pacific region.
Previous work experience with UN Women is an advantage.

80%

3. Language and report writing skills

Proficiency in English

10 %

Total Obtainable Score

100 %

Financial proposal
A cover letter with a brief presentation of your consultancy explaining your suitability for the work.

Items

Amount (USD)

1.Lump Sum fee (equivalent to daily fee x no. of days)

1st Deliverable:

Research outline including timeline, indicators and mission plan.
Written input to the zero draft regional Access to Justice strategy and vision paper.

2nd Deliverable:

Progress report including research report including draft analysis of at least 3 priority countries.
Concept paper for regional Access to Justice conference
Progress report/update on outreach to formal justice providers.

3rd Deliverable:

Progress report including research report including draft analysis of at least 3 priority countries.
Concept for regional Access to Justice conference
Update on outreach to formal justice providers.

4th Deliverable:

Progress report including research report including draft analysis of at least 3 priority countries.
Update on regional A2J conference (confirmed sessions, communication, invitations and other logistic issues)
Meeting reports with justice providers from at least 3 priority countries.

5th Deliverable:

Progress report including workshop report and outcome document of regional Access to Justice conference
Integration of research findings in draft A2J justice strategy and new programme document

6th Deliverable:

Progress report including meeting reports of follow up meetings (after regional conference) with formal justice providers to validate the outcome document and discuss adoption of the A2J Strategy.
Meeting minutes of follow up meetings with UN sister agencies and donor to validate the A2J outcome document and the programming to implement the A2J strategy.

Final deliverable:

Progress report including progress on UN Women regional programme document development integration country priorities, conference outcome document and A2J strategy priorities.
Progress on formalizing partnerships with formal justice providers and UN sister agencies

2. Other (please provide details as applicable)

Total Financial Proposal