Technical engagement and project in the Central African Republic

Result of Service The consultant will produce a report that (i) reviews and assesses the performance of the Team’s project in CAR in achieving its results and meeting its stated objectives within the current UN Joint Rule of Law Programme from 2019 to 2022; (ii) reviews and assesses the relevance of the objectives of the Teams’ project in CAR from 2019 to 2022, within the current UN Joint Rule of Law programme; (iii) reviews and assesses the effectiveness of the Team’s approach and field operation modalities to providing technical, programmatic, and advisory support in CAR, within the current UN Joint Rule of Law Programme, from 2019 to 2022; and (iv) identifies practical options and approaches and propose recommendations to develop a field operations strategy to enhance the provision of technical, programmatic, and advisory support to strengthen the judicial response to CRSV crimes in CAR through the current UN Joint Rule of Law Programme, taking into account relevant operational, administrative and financial considerations, including issues of interoperability.

Work Location Remote

Expected duration The scope of work will be conducted between 20 July and 30 August 2022.

Duties and Responsibilities The United Nations (UN) Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict (Team of Experts) was created by Security Council resolution 1888 (2009) to assist national authorities in strengthening the rule of law, with the aim of ensuring criminal accountability for perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). This resolution recognized that CRSV is a threat to international peace and security, and that Member States affected by conflict need assistance to address impunity in order to prevent and deter future violations.

The Team is based at the UN Headquarters in New York and deploys regularly to some of the world’s most challenging contexts. It has a unique “co-lead” structure that includes members from several UN entities to enable the UN to deliver as one in assisting Member States to address CRSV. The Team is led by a Team Leader who reports to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict (SRSG-SVC), and currently comprises experts from the Department of Peace Operations (DPO), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Office of the SRSG-SVC and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), who each report to both the Team Leader and their respective entities.

In line with its mandate and within the framework of the Joint Communiqué and of the successive United Nations Joint Rule of Law Programmes in CAR, the Team of Experts since 2012 has been assisting the Government of CAR to address accountability for CRSV crimes and to strengthen the law enforcement and judicial response to CRSV crimes. In addition to providing technical support remotely from New York, the Team regularly visited CAR, and specifically since November 2019, has also deployed a Technical Specialist to Bangui who is embedded in MINUSCA’s Justice and Corrections Section (MINUSCA-JCS), under the dual supervision of MINUSCA-JCS and the Team of Experts and is administratively managed by UNDP CAR. Since 2019, the Technical Specialist worked notably with MINUSCA’s Police component, Human Rights component, especially the office of the Senior Women Protection Adviser (SWPA), and the UN Country Team. The Technical Specialist oversaw the implementation of the project of the Team of Experts from November 2019 and provided ongoing mentoring and technical support to the only national specialized investigative unit on CRSV (better known under the French acronym UMIRR); to the Special Judicial Police Unit of the Special Criminal Court (SCC), a national court established to investigate and prosecute serious crimes committed in CAR since January 2003; and to prosecutors and judges of the ordinary justice system to ensure that CRSV cases are investigated and prosecuted.

The Team of Experts engagement has so far resulted in the creation and operationalization of the UMIRR, composed of police and gendarmes; the planning and deployment of field investigations of the UMIRR to remote areas of CAR; the provision of inputs to the draft law on the creation of the SCC; the first training of the SCC magistrates on the challenges of investigating CRSV; the provision of technical and financial support to the national judicial authority to support the organization of the first criminal court session at the Bangui Court of Appeal focusing on sexual violence cases, held in December 2019; and the development of public perception surveys on the security and judicial responses to sexual violence in collaboration with Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. In 2020, the Team of Experts also carried out a diagnostic analysis of the judicial response to CRSV in CAR to assess and reflect on the progress made and the challenges remaining for law enforcement, especially the UMIRR, the national jurisdictions, and the SCC in the investigation and prosecution of CRSV, while promoting a victim-centred approach. This in-depth assessment resulted in concrete and actionable recommendations and provided a roadmap for the government to consider implementing to address the remaining gaps in accountability for sexual violence with the support of the Team of Experts.

The Team of Experts is seeking a consultant to: (i) review and assess the performance of the Team’s project in CAR in achieving its results and meeting its stated objectives within the current UN Joint Rule of Law Programme from 2019 to 2022; (ii) review and assess the relevance of the objectives of the Team’s project in CAR from 2019 to 2022, within the current UN Joint Rule of Law Programme; (iii) review and assess the effectiveness of the Team’s approach and field operation modalities to providing technical, programmatic, and advisory support in CAR from 2019 to 2022, in line with its mandate and based on international good practice; and (iv) identify practical options and approaches and propose recommendations to develop a field operations strategy to enhance the provision of technical, programmatic, and advisory support to strengthen the judicial response to CRSV crimes in CAR through the current UN Joint Rule of Law Programme, taking into account relevant operational, administrative and financial considerations, including issues of interoperability.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law, business, management, economics, or related field. Experience: - A minimum of 7 years of professional work experience at the international level designing, implementing, or evaluating business processes, operations, projects, and programmes addressing rule of law, human rights or related areas. - Familiarity with UN (Secretariat and agencies, funds, and programmes) operational (financial, procurement, and human resources), administrative, and programmatic procedures, including issues of interoperability. - Excellent writing, analytical and presentation skills. - Excellent interviewing and facilitation skills. - Ability to meet tight deadlines. Language: Fluency in written and spoken English and French is required.

Additional Information In developing the report, the successful individual will:

1. Participate in conference calls with the Team of Experts regarding the scope of work, timeline, and expectations for the report. 2. Develop and share with the Team of Experts an inception report, ensuring that the report: - Reviews and assesses the performance of the Team’s project in CAR in achieving its results and meeting its stated objectives within the current UN Joint Rule of Law Programme from 2019 to 2022; - Reviews and assesses the relevance of the objectives of the Team’s project in CAR from 2019 to 2022, within the current UN Joint Rule of Law Programme; - Reviews and assesses the effectiveness of the Team’s approach and field operation modalities to providing technical, programmatic, and advisory support in CAR, within the current UN Joint Rule of Law Programme, from 2019 to 2022; and - Identifies practical options and approaches and propose recommendations to develop a field operations strategy to enhance the provision of technical, programmatic, and advisory support to strengthen the judicial response to CRSV crimes in CAR through the current UN Joint Rule of Law Programme, considering relevant operational, administrative and financial considerations, including issues of interoperability. 3. Undertake a desk review and structured interviews with relevant partners and beneficiaries, conducted either remotely or in-person. 4. Draft, share and discuss the final report with the Team of Experts. 5. Organize a virtual after-action review with the Team of Experts, Justice and Correction Service and UNDP in headquarters and in Bangui. 6. Finalize and submit the final report to the Team of Experts.

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.