Duties and Responsibilities
Purpose of the assignment
The consultancy is designed to assist the Nigerian Bar Association to develop strategies, guidelines and processes for the establishment and implementation of a pro bono programme at the national and State levels. It has been found that prisons are overcrowded because pre-trial detention is overused in most countries worldwide and in many developing countries including Nigeria. The size of the pre-trial prisoner population is larger than that of the convicted prisoner population. The project is aimed at providing free legal services to the most vulnerable groups as well as contributing to reduction of the number of persons in pre-trial detention.
Pre-trial detention
According to Nigerian Prison Service report, as at June 30 2014, over two third of Nigeria’s nearly 56,78 prison inmates were pre-trial detainees. Many had been held in detention for years awaiting trial in appalling conditions. Few could afford the services of a lawyer and the government-funded Legal Aid Council had only 122 lawyers country-wide. This situation contradicts the provisions of international standards, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) that provide for the limited use of pre-trial detention, especially for minor offences. Efforts made by the Federal Government in the past to tackle this problem have proved unsuccessful. Usually, where a criminal suspect is represented by a lawyer, there is high likelihood that there will not be protracted pre-trial processes. It is envisaged that the pro bono programme of the NBA will provide indigent inmates on pre-trial detention or charged to court for alleged criminal offences the opportunity to receive free legal representation. This is an innovative solution proposed by the NBA and civil society at a stakeholders meeting convened by the NBA to tackle the problem in a most practical and cost effective way. The project’s support for the development and implementation of the Pro bono policy is expected to contribute to the reduction in the number of Nigerians in pre-trial detention. This will be carried out through the provision of technical and logistical support to the Nigerian Bar Association to work with its State and local branches to make free legal services available to an increased number of inmates awaiting trial.
Specific tasks to be performed
Under the supervision of the UNODC Country Representative and in direct consultation with the Project Coordinator the incumbent will perform the following duties:
Prepare a draft of the policy and guidelines and present to the NBA for internal consultation and adoption;
Facilitate a Strategy workshop around the Theme “Reducing Pretrial detention- Making pro bono work in Nigeria”;
Organize and Facilitate a two day workshop for NBA Vice Presidents and other officials on the implementation of the policy to introduce the guidelines to be used for the implementation of the pro bono policy;
Organize and facilitate a training of the leadership and focal persons of the ten branches of the NBA who will be responsible for the implementation of the policy including agreeing with NBA on the invitees and an agenda for the workshop;
Develop and present a strategy for the roll out of the guidelines in ten (10) States;
Submit a final report on the outcome of the workshops and the entire consultancy;
Contribute to the development of the methodology with timelines for the assignment.
Expected outputs
The consultant will be expected to submit the following:
A report on the workshops organized under the project;
10 Copies each of the pro bono policy and guidelines developed;
A final report containing recommendations including suggestions and actions necessary for the successful implementation of the pro bono policy in Nigeria.
Reporting
Under the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator, The contractor shall consult closely with UNODC during all phases of the consultancy At all times, the consultant shall provide access to intermediate products of the assignment. In addition, to submission of the work products, as described in the contract, the contractor will report initially (first 3 weeks) by e-mail on a weekly basis to UNODC on the status of works. This reporting obligation may be changed in consultation between UNODC and the contractor.
Dates and details of how the work must be delivered:
Time frame for the Assignment
The assignment will be conducted over a period of 60 days over nine months period;
The following reports shall be submitted as will be agreed between UNODC and the consultant;
Two weeks after the expected end date for the policy dialogue, the consultant shall deliver to UNODC a draft of both the pro bono policy and the guidelines.
Other reports will follow as highlighted below:
Report of the roundtable workshops to introduce the guidelines in 10 States;
Report of the entire assignment among others.
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Highest standard of integrity, discretion and loyalty.
Functional Competencies:
Excellent understanding of organisational issues;
Commitment to professionalism;
Commitment to effectiveness, accessibility, accountability, transparency and fairness of the justice system;
Excellent understanding of Justice Sector Reform issues and/or fields directly relevant to the project;
Knowledge in conducting training sessions and good facilitation skills;
Good understanding of change management, including system development and organizational skills;
Commitment to quality;
Commitment to deadlines;
Objectivity, honesty and fairness;
Logic and ability to operate systematically;
Excellent oral and writing communication skills;
Timely and accurate submission of reports and other required documents;
Substantive and linguistic quality of documents prepared;
Commitment to confidentiality of the assignment and handing over of products and documents paid for by UNODC used in the delivery of consultancy outputs
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Post-graduate degree (Master’s degree) in Law, Criminology, Political or Social Science, Criminal Justice, or International Relations. A University First degree in related fields in combination with additional 10 years of relevant qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of a Post-graduate degree.
Experience:
At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in the relevant area (Justice Sector Reforms, experience doing pro bono work.).
Experience in developing strategies, policies in the justice sector.
Proven experience and knowledge of the Nigerian criminal justice system.
Previous experience with the United Nations System, European Union funded projects or other international organisations would be an asset.
Previous Experience working with the Nigerian Bar Association is essential.
Have excellent written and spoken English skills
Language:
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.
For this consultancy, fluency in English (both spoken and written) is required.
Performance Indicators
Indicators to evaluate the consultant’s performance are:
Timeliness in the submission of the documents required;
Substantive and linguistic quality of all documents prepared;
Acceptance of all the required outputs by UNODC.
Selection Criteria
Potential candidates’ suitability will be assessed strictly according to the following selection criteria. Only applicants who attains 70% or more in the technical evaluation will be considered. Candidates who scale through the technical evaluation will be invited to submit a financial proposal in accordance with UN rules for procurement of individual consultants. The technical criteria will be weighed against the financial proposal on a weight of 30/70 with the technical proposal weighing 70%.
Remuneration
Successful candidate will be remunerated in an agreed ratio of about three (3) instalments tied to different deliverables as will be stated in the contract.
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