Gender and Access to Justice Expert

THE ASSIGNMENT

For over 15 years, IDLO has been assisting Afghanistan to develop a more inclusive, accessible, and professional justice sector. While significant progress has been made, many challenges remain. These challenges are frequently perceived to be rooted in the ongoing conflict, the impact of insecurity, and the public’s fear for their safety. In partnership with its partner institutions in the justice sector and civil society, IDLO aims to assess the current state of the justice sector, study the impact of insecurity on the development of the justice system, and identify interventions that can ameliorate this impact. Existing research also indicates that security concerns continue to hamper women’s professional participation in Afghanistan’s justice sector, with very few specific strategies in place to protect them. The goals of this exercise are to expand access to justice in unsafe, rural, or remote areas, continue improving the capacity of justice sector professionals, and advance women’s meaningful participation in the justice sector.

As part of this assignment the Gender and Access to Justice Expert is expected to:

• Coordinate with the program team, work with the research team, partner institutions, civil society, and outside experts to set the parameters, design, and methodology of the research project with a focus on gender aspects.
• Assist in the development of a workplan, manage the research schedule, and help manage the research team to meet their goals on time.
• Advise internal and external stakeholders on gender justice and women rights related issues.
• Contribute to the development of research tools such as questionnaires, interview guidelines, checklists, workshop exercises, focus group discussion topics and guidance, etc.
• Participate and lead consultation and validation workshops.
• Liaise with the IDLO Gender Team.  
• Train and prepare the research team to conduct field work and ensure ethical standards are met
• Possibly travel for field work and data collection.
• Analyze and present collected data.
• Based on the collected data, develop and validate interventions that will advance women’s meaningful participation in the justice sector consistent with the IDLO Gender Strategy, and expand access to justice in unsafe, rural, or remote areas.
• Participate in the drafting of the study/assessment and a workplan for a subsequent implementation phase.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Education

• Master’s degree or higher in law, political science, international affairs, sociology, gender studies, or similar field.

Work experience

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in rule of law development with a focus on gender issues and access to justice in fragile and conflict environments
• Must have previously published research reports and/or assessments individually or as part of a team focusing on gender and access to justice issues.
• Must have previously conducted field research and data collection
• Prior experience working in Afghanistan or in a similar context is an advantage.

Languages

• Must be fluent in speaking, reading and writing and an excellent communicator in English.
• Dari and/or Pashto language skills strongly preferred.

Technical competencies

• Proven experience in development of research tools and methodologies.
• Proven experience of program development, management, monitoring and reporting on gender and access to justice.
• Expertise on access to justice, and accountability for gender-based violence, including in situations of conflict and fragility and where legal pluralism exists.
• Demonstrated skills on gender integration across a varied range of law, justice, security and development issues.
• Must have a firm grasp of the ethics and standards of social science research.
• Strong research and writing skills.

Behavioral competencies

• Solid interpersonal skills and works effectively across and within IDLO organizational boundaries;
• Proven ability to see through tasks set and deliver results;
• Ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines, flexibility and an entrepreneurial spirit;
• Ability and willingness to travel within Afghanistan, security permitting.  
• Self-motivated and dynamic with a willingness and ability to use initiative to assist the organization to achieve its objectives; and
• Keen sense of ethics, integrity, and commitment to IDLO’s mandate.

HOW TO APPLY

We reccoment to apply as soon as possible as we review applications on a rolling basis. 

DISCLAIMER

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the Contractor assigned to this work. This may not be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities.

The Director-General of IDLO reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities or even to cancel the recruitment to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

IDLO is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in all areas of its operations. We welcome and encourage diverse applications.  Kindly attach only Curriuculum and Cover letter when applying.