National Legal expert on Environmental Crimes

Background:

The OSCE Presence in Albania (hereinafter “the Presence”) is implementing an Extra Budgetary project on “Enhancing environmental governance and security in Albania”. The project aims at (i) strengthening institutional and operational framework at the central and local level: (ii) enhancing technical capacities, skills and resources of law enforcement authorities, and (iii) increasing wider society commitment toward environmental governance and security. 

The Presence is collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders and institutions dealing with environmental crime, including law enforcement chain in Albania that is a pivotal partner in the promotion of environmental law compliance and enforcement. Therefore, enhancing the capacity of inspection, police, prosecutors, and judges is critical to effectively address environmental enforcement.  

To this end, the Presence will support the School of Magistrate to develop a comprehensive curriculum  supported by respective  course modules pertaining to environmental crime, environmental law enforcement  and current response; developing effective prosecution of environmental crimes; interagency co-operation, jurisdiction issues, developing and trying cases (civil versus criminal lawsuits); duty of care and attitude of prosecutors, the attitude of Judges; EU directive on environmental crime. The new curriculum will be introduced to the initial training program of the School of Magistrates. The modules shall be designed and tailored in alignment with the national context of environmental crime, legal framework and institutional set-up.
 

Objective of Assignment: 

The Governance in Economic and Environmental Issues Department seeks to engage the services of one national administrative legal expert to support the development of a new syllabus and course modules on administrative environmental legislation and procedures for the School of Magistrates of Albania.

Duration of Assignment:

The selected expert shall be working for a period of six (6) months from April to September 2023.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of National Program Officer on Local Government and Environmental Governance, the consultant will perform the following tasks:

Task no. 1: Identify and analyse the quality and content related to administrative components of environmental law taught in the Albanian education system for magistrates and prosecutors. The expert will conduct a desk research of the current themes related to administrative components of environmental law covered within the School of Magistrates, or basic education within university system in Albania. The analysis shall cover: environmental assessments (EIA, SEAs), administrative enforcement mechanisms, regulatory landscape, procedures aspects, standing of parties, environmental compliance and offenses, measures of punishments applied in environmental legal framework for principal areas like: waste, biodiversity, forestry law, pollution rimes, and corporate/industrial crimes. The national expert will work together with a team of international and national experts to combine his work and inputs into the new syllabus. This activity shall be completed within the first month of the contract signature.

Task 2: Presentation of the analysis in a technical consultation. The expert will present his analysis in a technical workshop that will be organized within the School of Magistrates and with the participation of all the other expert members, the Project Manager and relevant department staff from SoM. This activity will take place during the first month of contract signature.

Task no. 3: Develop full course modules on administrative environmental law such as: i) what constitute an environmental administrative offences; ii) role of enforcers and environmental enforcement agencies iii) means and actions to punish administrative offences foreseen in the environmental legal framework. All modules will be associated with case studies, group exercises, presentations, role of environmental enforcement agencies, etc. The exact course modules and titles will be identified as per Activity no.1, and they will include introduction, methodology, respective chapters, references and case studies, in Ms. Word Format. This activity will be finalized within end of July 2023.

Task no.4: Attend and deliver an expert presentation during the launching of the new syllabus at the School of Magistrates. The expert is expected to attend a physical event which will be held by the end of September (date tbc) and deliver a presentation that include his contribution of the new course modules to a larger audience of SoM staff and students.

Deliverables:

D1. Delivery of an analysis on the content related to administrative components of environmental law taught within School of Magistrate and Albanian university system.    April 2023
D2. Full development of course modules on: 
i)    what constitute an environmental administrative offences; 
ii)    role of enforcers and environmental enforcement agencies 
iii)    means and actions to punish administrative offences foreseen in the environmental legal framework.     July 2023
D3. Submission of list of exercise, study cases, power points, training materials and resources consulted and physical attendance in the final launching workshop.    September 2023
 

Necessary Qualifications:

• •    Advanced degree in law, specialized in environmental administrative law (mandatory);
  •    A minimum of 5 years of work experience in environmental law, or teaching of administrative law at advanced level (Master, Magistrates level) system in Albania.  
  •    Previous proven experience in developing guides, modules, syllabus and trainings on environmental issues for judges and prosecutors 
  •    In-depth understanding of Albania’s legal framework on environment, administrative law, institutional environmental competence.
  •    Excellent communication, drafting and presentation skills in English
  •    Must be national from Albania 

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will be based on the selected consultant's/expert's qualifications, experience, the tasks and deliverables for this position and in accordance with the OSCE established rates.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

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

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.