Legal Advisor (International Consultant)

Overview

Support maritime legal reforms in Central and West Africa.

You have:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law, criminology, police administration or a similar field, focused on international maritime affairs, international security policy, criminal justice and / or the application of the law is required.
• At least ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in the field of countering maritime crime and implementing the law of the sea is required.
• Proven experience in legal research and analysis, proposals and training plans, and excellent drafting skills is required.
• Experience in development work and legal systems in West and Central Africa is required.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English and French is required.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills including demonstrated tact in inter-cultural communication is desirable.
• Proven experience in dealing with national and regional counterparts from various cultural backgrounds is desirable.
• Previous work experience with the UN or other International Organizations will be considered as desirable.

Result of Service The assignment will be carried out under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer of the GMCP, based in Abuja, Nigeria, as well as Programme Coordinator of the GMCP, based in Libreville, Gabon. The consultant will be based at her / his place with frequent travel to Gulf of Guinea region. More specifically, the consultant will perform the following tasks:

SWAIMS & PASSMAR:

Support the development of standard operating procedures (SOP) for the draft ECOWAS Supplementary Act for its implementation;

Provide ad-hoc training on the Law of the Sea to strengthen capacity of maritime criminal justice practitioners, in close cooperation with the existing regional training institutions including in Cote d’Ivoire

Support simulated trial on piracy and drug trafficking by sea in Senegal

Support the final adoption processes of the Supplementary Act by providing legal advice on various aspects of the Act as and when required;

Provide advisory support to the CRESMAO on promoting maritime legal reform in ECOWAS region

Provide legal review and recommendations to Central African countries as well as to strategic legal advice to CRESMAC

Provide legal assessment of ECCAS instruments to finalise a hand over agreement

Provide ad-hoc training on the Law of the Sea to strengthen capacity of maritime criminal justice practitioners, in close cooperation with the existing regional training institutions

Support simulated trial on piracy and drug trafficking by sea in Cameroon and Congo

Liaise with the national authorities of the Central Africa region for assisting the process of following on the legal recommendations issued by UNODC and partners

Provide advisory support to the CRESMAC on promoting maritime legal reform in ECCAS region

Work Location Home-Based with frequent travels to Gulf of Guinea region

Expected duration Proposed period: 28 Mars – 30 December 2022 Actual work time: 192 working days

Duties and Responsibilities While the incidence of robbery at sea and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) still persists, the capacity of regional States to prosecute has come under increased scrutiny. What is plainly evident – from a number of assessments and fact-finding missions conducted by UNODC, International Maritime Organization (IMO), United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) and other US agencies, France, and the UK – is that no GoG State currently has the necessary mix of jurisdiction, offence creating legislation, and prosecutorial and judicial awareness and capacity to undertake a piracy prosecution. Before the region can see any effective prosecution of a piracy case, these legal gaps have to be closed. It is important for the region to change this trend and ensure that there is no impunity to attacks at sea

UNODC GMCP has been promoting legal reform and training maritime criminal justice practitioners on the Law of the Sea and transnational organised maritime crime matters in the region under 2 EU-funded regional projects called SWAIMS and PASSMAR. The geographical scope of the SWAIMS project covers West Africa countries administrated by UNODC ROSEN and CONIG: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo. On the other hand, the geographical scope of the PASSMAR project covers Central Africa countries administrated by ROSEN and ROSAF: Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC), Gabon and Sao Tomé-et-Principe (STP).

The support has comprised of legal assessments conducted with regard to piracy and maritime offences, establishing legal frameworks, and support in developing solid legislation in line with the UN Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and other international maritime instruments.

First of all, the incumbent will support the Regional Maritime Security Centre (CRESMAO), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Regional Maritime Security Centre (CRESMAC), Economic Community of Central Africa State (ECCAS) and Interregional Coordination Center (ICC) in mapping legal frameworks, identifying gaps and issuing recommendations to effectively implement the draft Supplementary Act to transfer piracy suspects. In central Africa, the consultant will assess ECCAS legal instruments to develop a draft Supplementary Act to transfer piracy suspects, in close cooperation with the other legal consultant. The consultant will focus on taking forward legal assessments already conducted by UNODC and other partners, updating them and work forward through an integrated approach with the mentioned institutions. Additionally, he will provide legal training on legal aspect related to piracy and maritime crimes.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law, criminology, police administration or a similar field, focused on international maritime affairs, international security policy, criminal justice and / or the application of the law is required. An first level university degree in similar fields with additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Experience: At least ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in the field of countering maritime crime and implementing law of the sea is required; Proven experience in legal research and analysis, proposals and training plans, and excellent drafting skills is required; Experience in development work and legal systems in West and Central Africa is required; Good communication and interpersonal skills are required; Excellent command of written and spoken English and French is required; Strong interpersonal and communication skills including demonstrated tact in inter-cultural communication is desirable; Proven experience in dealing with national and regional counterparts from various cultural backgrounds is desirable; Previous work experience with the UN or other International Organizations will be considered is desirable. Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations Secretariat language is an advantage.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

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Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: careers.un.org