Electoral Legal Advisor (Part-time 40%, home-based)

The NAIG Project aims to support key democratic institutions in Nauru which are responsible for ensuring effective, inclusive and accountable political governance, the National Parliament and the National Elections Commission (NEC), and implementing specific programming directed at promoting the more informed and active participation of the general public in Nauruan governance and politics, and targeted work to promote gender equality ensure that women of all ages are more engaged in politics and public life.

The project has four outputs:

1. Output 1: Strengthen Electoral Commission processes and capacities
2. Output 2: Strengthen Parliament capacities to ensure inclusive, accountable governance
3. Output 3: Strengthen the engagement of women and girls in politics and public life
4. Output 4: Pilot and roll out national civic education initiatives

The Pacific Elections Program (PEP) has been designed to maximise the utility of UNDP’s global elections experience by developing a dedicated office and focal point for UNDP electoral support in the Pacific.

The program focuses on three region-specific outputs:

1. Electoral institutional capacity deepened, through the provision of technical assistance to EMBs and national governments upon request, needs assessment, and funding agreement.
2. Robust electoral decision making strengthened through the provision of dedicated information exchanges and the development of knowledge products specific to the PICs.
3. Understanding of electoral norms and processes broadened and the professional development of national democratic institution stakeholders augmented, through the promotion of multilateral cooperation and coordination and supporting Pacific-contextualised civic education.

Under the supervision of programme manger and the electoral  advisor, the electoral legal advisor will assist the NEC throughout the legal reform process, electoral processes and will focus on institutional capacity building as an integral element of all activities through the following tasks:

• Provide assistance and impartial technical advice on electoral law reform proposals with particular attention to international human rights standards and electoral best practices. This is expected to include legal analysis, in particular regarding supporting the electoral reform processes.
• Provide technical support to the NEC in regulation development and formulation.
• Assist the NEC in the review of the regulatory framework.
• Assist the NEC officials and staff in the development of policy papers, position documents and legal analysis on all elements of the electoral process as required.
• Assist the NEC and when requested with government officials to ensure coordination in relation to legal reform and assist in the consultation process.
• Support the development and implementation of a comprehensive legal capacity building strategy for the NEC in light of is legislative authority/mandate and duties.
• Undertake a thorough analysis of all the Election observation mission reports findings and produce a comprehensive recommendation reports summarizing and consolidating all issues and commentary necessitating electoral act and constitutional amendments if and when applicable;

Core competencies: 

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
• Act with Determination:  LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Legal

• Legal analysis skills: The ability to digest a large amount of information and facts in order to frame and understand an issue, apply the legal framework to the particular set of facts and present a coherent and comprehensive analysis of the situation presented in order to deliver practical and meaningful advice. This skill includes the ability to provide an objective assessment of the case, the organization's best arguments for proceeding and a recommended course of action. It also includes the capacity to think creatively and flexibly, within the applicable legal framework.
• Legal advocacy and presentation skills: The ability to articulate and present legal analysis orally, both in a persuasive and objective format and for a variety of different audiences (e.g. the governments, administrative tribunals, arbitrators, management, donors, and other partners). This skill requires an ability to identify lines of argument, anticipate counter-arguments, interact in a dynamic and engaging way about legal issues, as well as the ability to think on one's feet and strategically, in a solution-oriented manner, when confronted with new facts or issues within the context of a discussion or presentation.
• Managing client relations: The ability to interact with different levels of management and across different agencies and offices to obtain information, develop legal approaches and resolve issues, this skill includes liaison with counterparts and determining the best sequence in which to pursue an issue, where information, particularly for UNDP, may be across different independent UN agencies.

• Master’s degree in law, political science, or related subject.

• At least 10 years of work experience legal  and/or electoral fields with a Master’s degree
• Electoral legal reform experience.
• Advisory capacity to election management bodies
• Strong legal drafting skills
• Experience in the Pacific would be an advantage
• Experience in electoral dispute resolution
• Experience working with electoral management bodies and election events

Required Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English language required.