UNDP/PAPP Vacancies

UNDP has worked for several years on developing the infrastructure of the Palestinian Authority (PA)’s justice system and has in the past focused on institutional capacity development of the High Judicial Council and the Attorney-General’s Office. Under the current programming framework, Supporting the Rule of Law and Access to Justice for the Palestinian People 2009-2012, which was endorsed by the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Planning and Administrative Development in November 2009, support is being extended for institutional capacity development to the Ministry of Justice. Support is  also being given for the overall development and implementation of a comprehensive access to justice strategy engaging actors at all levels, including Bar Association, civil society organizations and other grassroots initiatives.

As part of this engagement, UNDP has a Technical Specialist based within the PA Ministry of Justice supporting the Ministry to build its institutional capacity. The Technical Specialist has assisted the Ministry to conduct a comprehensive capacity assessment of the Ministry and work is ongoing to implement its recommendations. In particular UNDP is supporting the Ministry to develop and implement a comprehensive training programme for all of the Ministry staff, in partnership with Birzeit University. In addition several short term experts have been seconded to the Ministry to increase capacity on areas such as human resources and organizational management, gender and juvenile justice, legal aid and monitoring and evaluation.

In August 2010, with UNDP technical support, the Ministry of Justice established the Justice Information Centre within the Ministry. The Justice Information Centre plays a vital role for the Ministry in promoting the work of the justice sector institutions, raising general legal awareness, and promoting media coverage and discussion on important justice sector related issues. The Centre provides the bridge between justice sector institutions and civil society promoting legal awareness, research, policy discussion and law reform.

As part of UNDP’s technical assistance to the Ministry it has been agreed, based on the importance of the continued development and sustainability of the Justice Information Centre, to engage this position on behalf of the Ministry until such time as the Ministry is able to transition the position to the civil service scale.

Summary of key functions:

• To develop and implement media and public information strategy for the Ministry
• To develop capacity of the Ministry on media and public legal awareness issues
• To promote the work of the Ministry and justice sector in the media
• To promote legal awareness for Palestinian people
• To coordinate and support legal research and policy discussion

1. As the Justice Information Centre establishes itself within the justice sector as a key actor in the promotion of the rule of law it will be the responsibility of the Justice Information Centre to develop and implement a public information strategy for the Ministry and to support the development of justice sector media and public information strategies in line with the National Justice Sector Strategy 2011-13.

2. To build the capacity of Ministry staff to engage with the media on justice issues and to promote public legal awareness. Specific training will be provided to Justice Information Centre staff and senior and middle management within the Ministry on media and public information skills. In particular, staff will be trained on how to develop legal material for public access on the Ministry website, press releases on justice issues, and also other publicly available material.

3. To actively engage with Palestinian media and civil society organisations to promote the work of the Ministry and justice sector institutions and to initiate public policy discussion aimed at promoting the rule of law. Activities will include developing and providing training to media representatives on justice issues and facilitating regular public policy discussions.

 
4. To coordinate the development and implementation of information campaigns by the Ministry and justice sector institutions to raise public legal awareness on crucial rule of law issues, with a focus on providing information to vulnerable groups on legal rights, legal aid and other relevant issues. The focus will be on improving access to justice.

5. To coordinate legal research activity within the Ministry of Justice and to coordinate with academic institutions and civil society organisations on research issues. The aim is to maximise legal research potential within the oPt and to enhance the role of the Ministry in public policy discussion.
 
 

 Impact of Results

The Programme Officer/Head of Justice Information Centre shall guarantee the institutionalization of the Justice Information Centre within the Ministry of Justice. She/he will build the capacity of the Ministry to engage professionally with the media on justice issues and to positively promote legal research and policy discussion within the oPt. The position holder will play a frontline role in improving access to justice for Palestinian people on behalf of the Ministry.

 

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrate integrity by modelling the UN values and ethical standards
• Promote the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
• Display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treat all people fairly without favoritism
• Excellent communication and organizational skills

Functional Competencies

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Promote a knowledge-sharing and learning culture in the UNDP office
• Sound knowledge on rule of law issues
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Ability to build the capacity of the Ministry of Justice to engage with the media and civil society on complex rule of law, human rights and security related issues
• Ability to provide strategic advice to the Ministry on rule of law and media issues and an understanding of how to transfer complex legal concepts and procedures into publicly accessible and understandable general information
• Strong management and coordination abilities to ensure the Ministry provides an excellent public information service on legal issues and enhances access to justice

Management and Leadership

• Focus on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Demonstrate team-building skills and shows conflict resolution skills
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills
• Build strong relationships with clients and external actors
• Remain calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
• Demonstrate openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills

• Communicate effectively with staff at all levels of the organization
• Acts with tact and diplomacy
• Prove outgoing and comfortable in handling external relations at all levels.
• Build strong relationships with clients and external actors.
• Remain calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure.
• Demonstrate openness to change and ability to manage complexities.
• Demonstrate compelling communication skills and cross-cultural effectiveness.

Education:

• Master degree in Media or other related fields

Experience:

• Minimum 3 years of experience in media, media research
• Strong management skills and experience
• Comprehensive knowledge of the Palestinian Justice sector and human rights issues
• Experience in capacity building on media and justice issues
• Excellent communication and writing skills
• Knowledge of Arabic and English preferred
• Ability to work within a team
• Very strong interpersonal skills
• Very strong reporting skills
• Very strong understanding of producing media (radio, tv and print) publications

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in both English and Arabic languages

“UNDP/PAPP is an equal opportunity employer: applications from men and women will be considered equally”