Lead Consultant on Gender, Diversity and Justice

Background

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Rule of Law (RoL) Unit is seeking experienced consultants to conduct a needs assessment on gender, diversity and justice (GDJ) which will be used to guide future policy and legal reforms in that area.

ODIHR’s Rule of Law Unit is part of the Democratization Department and is tasked with supporting OSCE participating States in fulfilling their OSCE commitments in the area of trial monitoring, criminal justice reform, judicial independence, gender, diversity and justice and administrative justice.

In many OSCE participating States the trust in the judiciary is very low. Judges and prosecutors are perceived as a “closed club” where ordinary citizens do not have access, and ODIHR expert discussion in 2016 confirmed that women and minorities across the OSCE region continue to experience barriers to access to justice and equal representation and effective participation in the justice system, including in the judiciary. This is particularly acute in cases of intersectionality (e.g. Roma or Muslim women), where individuals face multiple barriers to access justice and participate in legal professions. Equally, the judiciary and policy makers have limited understanding of why diversity is needed and that relevant legislation does not fully promote diversity among the judiciary.

On the basis of its mandate, ODIHR organized an expert meeting on gender, diversity and the judiciary in Warsaw in October 2016 which confirmed the existence of significant needs in this area and has sparked subsequent ODIHR activity on gender, diversity and justice. ODIHR will therefore conduct a needs assessment from June to end of October 2017 to identify remedies to enhance gender equality and respect for diversity in the justice systems of OSCE participating States.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Chief of Rule of Law, the Lead Consultant will:

• Prepare a methodology for the needs assessment. The desk-based needs assessment will focus on how gender equality and respect for diversity are ensured within the judiciary, the prosecution and the justice system in the OSCE area, gathering information and providing recommendations to guide future policy and legal reform efforts in that area and highlight technical assistance needs.

The assessment will cover: a. the extent to which diversity is ensured among judges and prosecutors and in existing processes for selection, evaluation, promotion and discipline; b. how such existing processes might affect diversity in the judiciary and the prosecution, c. what are the potential measures to improve gender equality and diversity at different levels, and d. the existence of challenges to equal access to justice in the form of bias and prejudice against justice actors or participants related to their gender and diversity backgrounds during court proceedings, depending on information available, and e. possible legal and practical solutions. The methodology should define information sources and analysis methods, and the geographical target area for the study, and will take into account expert input on gender or diversity from the second consultant, reflecting relevant approaches, analysis, sources, etc. as appropriate.

To support the implementation of the methodology developed, the Lead Consultant will propose a work plan, outlining the stages of the research and key deadlines, including the inputs and stages of work required from the second expert on gender or diversity.

• Conduct the needs assessment following the approved methodology and timeframe.
• Participate in the Expert Meeting in October 2017 in Warsaw, present the needs assessment, take note of the feedback shared by the participants and prepare the final version of the needs assessment report.
• Develop a short policy paper on key findings and recommendations from the needs assessment report targeted at justice professionals and relevant policy-makers across the OSCE region, as well as relevant academics and civil society.

To complete these tasks the Lead Consultant will receive support provided by a second consultant (Supporting Consultant) with complementary expertise on gender or diversity, contracted for the same period, whose responsibilities will be to support the Lead Consultant and to provide inputs to the tasks above in accordance with the work plan agreed with ODIHR.

Necessary Qualifications, Experience and Skills:

• At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in the field of law and/or sociology, preferably with a minimum BA degree in legal studies;
• Strong record of research in this field, preferably including academic research;
• Good managerial and co-ordination experience and experience of working in teams;
• Thorough knowledge of justice systems and impact of gender and/or diversity on the administration of justice (diversity would include but not be limited to minorities rights, ethnic diversity, rights of persons with disabilities, LGBT rights);
• Thorough knowledge of international standards and human rights applicable to gender and/or diversity and the administration of justice;
• Excellent analytical and writing skills;
• Good presentation and communication skills;
• Professional fluency in English;
• The ability to work within tight deadlines and to rapidly implement suggestions proposed;
• Publication of articles or specialized literature on gender or diversity and justice strongly desirable;
• Professional fluency in Russian or Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian desirable.

Remuneration and duration of assignment

Remuneration will depend on the selected consultant’s qualifications and experience and be in accordance with OSCE established rates. Travel expenses for attendance at briefings and events will be covered by ODIHR according to OSCE travel policy.

A maximum of 62 working days are envisaged for this assignment, starting in June 2017.

Location:
Home-based and Warsaw, Poland

As part of the application process, interested candidates are required to submit an updated CV and motivation letter by email to recruit@odihr.pl.

In addition, please prepare and send along with your CV the following:

1. A note outlining the methodology you would recommend for this assignment, composed of:
   • a description of the different information sources you propose (including geographical focus), the procedures you will undertake to collect and analyse information and data, and the proposed steps in chronological order with a timeline, how indicatively the assignment will be shared between the two consultants and a timeline of the implementation of the main steps (max 2.5 pages); and
   • a one-page document listing key stakeholders engaged in the field of GDJ and relevant specialised resources of use for this assignment.

2. A writing sample of your work on GDJ of 5 pages max, possibly of a published text with full publication references.

3. And an offer for your daily consultancy fee and an estimate of the number of working days needed to complete the assignment.

ODIHR will review the above documents and select the most suitable candidates for the positions based on OSCE rules and policies.

Applications without the attached note, writing sample and offer will not be considered.

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.