Rule of Law Officer

Posting Title: Rule of Law Officer, P4

Job Code Title: Rule of Law Officer

Organization: United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia

Duty Station: Mogadishu, Somalia

Posting Period: 27 June 2023 - 30 August 2023

Job Opening Number: 23-Rule of Law-UNSOM-208941-R-Mogadishu (R)

Staffing Exercise: N/A

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is based in Mogadishu and is located in the Rule of Law and Security Institutions Group (ROLSIG) of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM). The Rule of Law Officer will report to the Director of the Rule of Law and Security Institutions Group (ROLSIG).

Responsibilities

With delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the Director of the Rule of Law and Security Institutions Group (ROLSIG), the Rule of Law Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Contributes to the development and implementation of rule of law programmes, including the overall strategy and policy framework for the development/reform of legal and judicial systems.
• Liaises with national authorities, civil society, and international partners to facilitate the delivery of capacity building and technical/expert advice.
• Prepares or assists in the preparation of administrative and policy outputs, including thematic or analytical reports and assessments, policy documents and guidelines.
• Fosters coordination and maintains close working relationships with relevant mission components (Office of the DSRSG, Office of the Chief of Staff, Human Rights and Political Groups) as well as with all ROLSIG's components (police, justice and corrections, DDR, DSR and SSR), UN agencies, OROLSI and other international and national partners.
• Assists the Director on management issues such as the recruitment of staff and preparation and defense of budgetary submissions, and the development of policy and procedural guidelines for ROLSIG's effective management.
• Drafts/coordinates and /or review substantive correspondence as well as edit and clear analytical and/or situation reports, code cables, reports of the Secretary-General to the Security Council, briefing notes, talking points, meeting notes, notes for the file and presentations.
• Conveys requests for inputs to ROLSIG's components, follows up on their timely delivery and reviews inputs received for content.
• Ensures timely follow-up to the Director's guidance, including the effective dissemination of information.
• Manages the planning and organization of the Director's official travel, including the timely preparation of official travel files and background documents.
• Oversee the effective running of the ROLSIG Director's Front Office.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Demonstrated understanding of a range of issues related to judicial,
prosecutorial and legal systems, reform, capacity building, etc. Knowledge of criminal law,
relevant international human rights standards, etc. Ability to identify issues and judgment
in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems. Show pride in work and
in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter;
is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with
difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of
women and men in all areas of work.

• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly
interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and
exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to
match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits
input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places
team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group
decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for
team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

• Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; -
Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; -Allocates
appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; -Foresees risks and allows for
contingencies when planning; -Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary, -Uses
time efficiently.

Education

Master's Degree or equivalent in a rule of law related field (such as political science, international relations and security, security sector reform, policing, public policy, governance, social or development sciences, public administration, judicial reform, law, or
human rights). A first level degree with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Certification or other qualifications in project/programme management is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in one or
more of the following fields: rule of law, political affairs, security sector reform, development, implementation and monitoring/evaluation of joint rule of law or security programmes in conflict affected societies, public administration governance or policing, is required.

Experience in drafting/coordinating and/or reviewing substantive correspondence as well as
editing and clearing analytical/situation reports, code cables, reports of the Secretary-General
to the Security Council, briefing notes, talking points, meeting notes prepared, notes for the
file and presentations is desirable.

A minimum of five years of professional experience in a transitional, developmental, or post conflict setting in the Horn of Africa coordinating international or regional efforts is desirable.

Experience in providing support and advice to senior UN officials on the management of
multi-disciplinary teams, including on workforce planning and programme management,
inter-agency coordination and resource mobilization is desirable.

A minimum of one year of experience providing technical assistance for the development or reform of legal and judicial institutions in a transitional, developmental or post-conflict setting, outside the applicant’s country of nationality is desirable.

Experience as a practicing lawyer, prosecutor, judge, legal academic, legal consultant, or adviser in the field of justice is required;

Experience providing services in the field of Rule of Law or related areas to or in a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the
position advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

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