Gender and Law Consultant (National)

ABOUT IDLO

The International Development Law Organization (IDLO) enables governments and empowers people to reform laws and strengthen institutions to promote peace, justice, sustainable development and economic opportunity. We contribute to creating stable and inclusive societies where every person can live free from fear and want, in dignity and under the rule of law.

To learn more about IDLO, please visit our website www.idlo.int or follow us on Twitter @IDLO.

BACKGROUND

Gender equality is among IDLO’s core values and guiding principles. IDLO’s Strategic Plan specifically states that IDLO is “committed to promoting gender equality through non-discriminatory gender responsive laws, and institutions, enhancing women’s access to justice and increasing their legal empowerment to achieve sustainable development”. In this framework, IDLO is implementing a Project which supports the elimination of discriminatory laws in Sierra Leone, aligning to the “Equality in Law for Women and Girls by 2030: A multi-stakeholder Strategy for Accelerated Action” led by UN Women. The overall goal of the project is to facilitate elimination or reform of laws that discriminate against women and girls. The first step of this initiative aims at undertaking a legal analysis of national laws from a gender perspective, a joint initiative with UN Women, and to this goal IDLO intends to engage the services of a local Gender and Law Consultant.

THE ASSIGNMENT

Under the supervision of the Regional Program Manager Africa and in coordination with the Program Coordinator Africa, and in consultation with IDLO’s Senior Legal Advisor on Gender, UN Women Policy Adviser, Rule of Law and the UN Women Country Representative in Sierra Leone, the consultant will provide a comprehensive mapping of the legal landscape of Sierra Leone. Specific areas/topics of focus to be agreed upon in an inception report.

Specifically, the consultation will be responsible for the production of a comprehensive assessment of laws through a gender perspective. The assessment report will contain an analysis of:

• Legal, political, social, economic and cultural contexts;

• National commitments to global, regional and sub-regional treaties, conventions and frameworks to advance gender equality and gender justice;

• Extent to which commitments above have been translated into domestic law;

• An analysis of the Sierra Leone Constitution with a gender lens as the basis of legal Jurisprudence;

• An analysis of sectoral laws and their impact in the achievement of gender equality and gender justice; An overview of the role that formal, informal and semi-formal courts have played in: (a) advancing gender equality; (b) reinforcing gender inequality or (c) both;

• An overview on the role of justice mechanisms – formal and informal in advancing and/or hampering gender equality;

• An overview of the Concluding Observations and Recommendations of UN Treaty Bodies (e.g. CRC, CEDAW) and UPR in relation to discriminatory laws; the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol), the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and relevant ILO Conventions.

• An annex will be attached to the report containing a table with the following specific information: (a) a list of laws reviewed (titles and dates); (b) specific legal provisions/ sections that are directly or indirectly discriminatory; (c) gaps in the law; (d) basis for arriving at conclusions; and (e) a medium-term roadmap to the legislative reform process as recommended actions to Parliament/ The legislature.

• The assessment will ensure that all forms of discrimination – direct and indirect - are considered. The report will also support the design of a roadmap to guide the legislative reform process, which will consider existing legal reform initiatives, aligned with the legal assessment recommendation.

• For purposes of the assessment, the following will be considered: constitution, statutes, legislative instruments, executive orders, administrative regulations, case laws, jurisprudence and other relevant government texts. The legal texts in question must cover legislation that is specifically related to women and girls, as well as other fields and sectors.1

Within this framework, the consultant will be responsible to undertake the following:

• Draft an inception report outlining the proposed content and methodology of the legal analysis, with a work plan indicating clear milestones and timelines.

• Consult with relevant Government institutions, international/development organizations and institutions, professional, non-governmental and CSOs actors working on gender, justice, law and development, academic institutions and relevant international organizations.

• Participate and present in stakeholders’ meetings and consultations to confirm support and buy-in. The consultations will be held, not only in the capital, but - where possible - in other locations, considering various groups of women experiencing intersectional forms of discrimination.

• Draft the comprehensive assessment report, as described above. The assessment will also incorporate all the relevant feedback from IDLO, UN Women and, peer reviewers, if any, and the different stakeholders involved in the consultation and stakeholders’ meetings.

• Develop a roadmap to the legislative reform process (to be annexed to the assessment report). The roadmap should support existing legal reform initiatives aligned with the legal assessment recommendations.

• Participate and present in a national multi-stakeholder policy dialogue to discuss the findings of the legal assessment and the proposed process of legislative reform.

• Based on the report findings, prepare a Briefing Report to the Executive on recommended actions to the Legislature.

• Submit a final draft report, inclusive of an Executive Summary, recommended actions on each law, and a conclusion.

KEY DELIVERABLE AND TIMELINE

Key deliverable and timeframe for the assignment are as follow:

KEY DELIVERABLE

DUE DATE

Submission of workplan and inception report

November 6, 2020

Participation and presentation in consultative meetings and events with relevant stakeholders

Submission of first draft of the assessment report and road map

November 27, 2020

Submission of second draft of the assessment report and road map

December 11, 2020

Participation and presentation of findings in national multi-stakeholder report validation forum

Final Report providing legal analysis, recommendations and road map for the execution of reforms

December 18, 2020

Submission of a Briefing Report to the Executive on recommended actions to the Legislature

December 18, 2020

IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE

Education

An advanced degree (Masters or Equivalent) in Law, Gender or Development studies from a recognized university is required.

Work Experience

• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in the area of gender and law, rule of law development with a gender focus and ideally a combination of these disciplines;

• Proven ability to conduct comprehensive mapping and assessment of laws through a gender assessment

• Excellent research and writing skills; proven experience in conducting assessments or evaluations that address gender equality, and ideally the elimination of discriminatory laws and practices;

• Proven knowledge of national governmental and non-governmental institutions as well as experience in providing advice to such institutions in the area of gender-responsive legal reforms.

Language

Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

Specific Technical & Behavioral Competencies

• Excellent legal writing, strong technical drafting and editing skills with attention to detail especially when working under pressure.

• Ability to work under limited supervision with a high degree of accuracy and attention to quality and detail in a busy and complex environment.

• Proven ability to see through tasks set and deliver results.

• Excellent analytical competence and interview skills.

• Strong coordination, communication, and organization skills; proven ability to work as part of a team.

• Keen sense of ethics, integrity and commitment to IDLO's mandate.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

For this locally recruited position, candidates should prove their ability to work and travel in Sierra Leone. The consultant will be Home Based in Freetown and will be required to travel to other regions in the country to conduct consultations with key stakeholders. The estimated start date for the assignment is November 1, 2020. IDLO reserves the right to hire more than one consultant depending on workload and available resources. Please note that this is a local consultancy, hence it is open to Sierra Leone nationals only. Deliverables should be submitted according to the timeframe enclosed in this Vacancy Announcement, and the consultancy fee will be paid out on a deliverable’s basis.

IDLO is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in all areas of its operations. We welcome and encourage diverse applications.

DISCLAIMER AND CLOSING DATE

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 is not 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.

Application deadline is the 19th of October 2020 (23:59hrs Rome time).

Please apply through the following link attaching Resume and Cover letter.
https://www.impactpool.org/jobs/639935