Nat ROL and Gender Justice Off (Only for Myanmar National)

Myanmar has embarked on major transitions towards democracy, market style economy and peace which are occurring in a complex development context where: high concentrations of poverty in rural areas contrast with accelerated development in urban centres; a ceasefire agreement has been reached with some but not all ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), but armed conflict is still occurring in some parts of the country; and frequent natural disasters pose an increasing risk.

Within this context, the resumption of intercommunal violence and conflict in northern Rakhine at the end of August 2017, is expected to have repercussions on the Government’s transition towards peace and democracy and affect recent progress made in advancing the country’s rule of law process. The spates of violence have impacted upon the Muslim community and women in particular who are the majority community in northern Rakhine State. Combined with widespread acceptance of gender inequality, normalization of gender-based violence and extensive socio-cultural norms and structural barriers, the space and capacity for women’s participation, including in local peace process and social cohesion activities, is limited.

Rakhine state is the second poorest state in Myanmar with 45.7 percent of the population living below the poverty line. The high poverty level is a result of multiple factors, including but not limited to, high level of social and gender inequality, lack of livelihoods opportunities and low skill levels, poor infrastructure, inter-communal conflict, limited control over natural resources, and weak civil engagement in sub-national governance. The majority of the population are ethnic Rakhine Buddhists with a significant Muslim population estimated between 30 and 35%.

Against this background, the UNDP Country Office in Myanmar is a key interlocutor and advisor to the union government on rule of law, institution building and accountability issues, and expanding its programme at the state, region and township levels in order to ensure stronger institutions at all levels of government as well as broader civic engagement as part of the effort to build and sustain peace. Following the implementation of the first ever UNDP Country Programme during 2013-2017 and as a key development partner of the government of Myanmar, UNDP will implement a new UNDP Country Programme for the period 2018-2022, striving to strategically deliver on a large and relevant programme portfolio that is responsive to the main development challenges facing the country, including Rakhine State.  

In early 2018, UNDP and UNFPA were awarded funding from the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) for an initiative aiming to support local programs to strengthen women’s access to justice and participation in peace processes, and to promote local efforts for social cohesion in and between communities in Rakhine.

The “Overcoming barriers to strengthen the voices of all women in Rakhine State for social cohesion and peace” project has been designed within a women’s peace and security rights-based framework to address the social and structural barriers that often discourage women’s participation in both the formal peace process and in bottom up peacebuilding efforts by fostering social cohesion and respect between communities in Rakhine.  The IUNV will work with UNDP Myanmar, and will support delivery of this PBF-funded project, which is one of a number of initiatives contained within the broader “Strengthening Accountability and Rule of Law (SARL)” Project.

The SARL Project aims to strengthen institutional frameworks and capacities for accountability, on the supply side, while empowering and engaging citizens in accountability mechanisms, on the demand side, as well as to improve adherence to rule of law principles thus increasing public trust in government. The project aims to address more effectively corruption through institutional strengthening of key government institutions; supporting Parliaments, at both Union and State and Regional level, to conduct stronger oversight across government; and supporting increased citizen outreach and empowerment to demand stronger accountability through engagement in mechanisms to hold institutions and service providers to account.

The National Rule of Law and Gender Justice Officer works under the direct supervision of the SARL Project Manager, and works closely with the International UNV Rule of Law Officer.

UNDP Myanmar is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

• Provision of high quality technical assistance to counterparts, including legal aid providers, the Rule of Law Centre 
• Support to the Rule of Law Officer to oversee legal aid, awareness, outreach and community-based initiatives 

• Support delivery of the project activities in Rakhine State including conducting monitoring, and reporting on the project interventions in Rakhine, and contributing to all routine quarterly and annual results reporting
• As part of outreach activities, facilitate and implement workshops, seminars, capacity building training, local policy advocacy initiatives with stakeholders as necessary
• Coordinates implementation support to ensure timely and high-quality delivery of technical assistance, by leading planning and organization of agreed activities.
• Coordinates with counterparts to implement technical activities including, for example, drafting correspondence, identifying timelines, and designing concept notes, terms of reference, approaches, methodologies, etc.
• Monitors issues and risks related to project implementation, identifies mitigation measures, and implements agreed actions. 

• Provides technical assistance to the Rakhine Coordinating Body for the Rule of Law Centre and Justice Sector Affairs 
• Supports data collection of justice institutions to inform stronger formal justice responses for survivors of GBV
• Oversee the implementation of the ROLC including monitoring, reporting and evaluation of its interventions
• Supports the development of a curriculum on rule of law, human rights, SGBV, and other issues Rakhine context specific to be delivered to rule of law actors by advising on local justice issues and providing contextual information of the area 
• Delivers trainings/workshops for justice officials on gender equality, SGBV, rule of law, fair trial, due processes of law, etc. 

• Support ROLC’s and LCM’s outreach activities such as community forums/discussions and mobile trainings 
• Facilitate communication, information sharing, and coordination support between national level women and youth networks and IDP women in Rakhine through facilitation of coordination with and between Government, Rakhine Women’s Union, Alliance for Gender in the Peace Process and local organizations 
• Provides capacity development support to local CSOs and NGOs, bar associations and women legal aid providers, especially on gender and conflict sensitive mediation, dispute and conflict resolution etc.

• Creates effective advocacy strategies
• Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses

• Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work
• Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration
• Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation

• Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues
• Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders

• Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things

• Analyzes information/databases on potential and actual donors

• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches
• Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for UNDP’s goals for a variety of audiences

• Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
• Self-development, initiative-taking
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
• Creating synergies through self-control
• Managing conflict
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Informed and transparent decision making

• Masters or Bachelor Degree in Law, Public Administration/Policy, International Relations, Political Science, Development Studies, or other relevant discipline.

• Minimum of 2 years with Bachelor degree or 1 year with Master’s degree of experience in the implementation of peace and social cohesion programmes and projects. 
• Experience in coordinating with wide range of stakeholders, including government, development partners, academia/think tank, civil society, I/NGO, parliament, etc.
• Solid knowledge of project management principles and best practices.
• Project management experience, preferably within UNDP or another UN agency is an asset. 
• Computer literacy – MS office applications, web-based management information systems. 
• Demonstrated strength in interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work well in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams.

• Fluency in English and Myanmar