Background

 

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

 

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

 

Jamaica’s international human rights commitments are reflected nationally in a Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which is embedded within the Constitution and other laws and policies, to protect women, children and other vulnerable groups from discrimination and gender-based violence. The country’s legislative framework is thus supportive of rule of law and a fair and equitable justice system. These rule of law priorities are captured in Vision 2030 and reflect the country’s policy and planning alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.

 

Despite Jamaica’s strong constitutional and legislative foundation, the effectiveness of the justice system has been stymied by institutional, resource and cultural challenges. The current strategic plans of the Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary highlight several institutional, technological and policy initiatives to be implemented in the short, medium and long term to systemically address these challenges towards ensuring improved efficacy and efficiency of the justice system. Importantly, these initiatives build on previous successes while anticipating the future needs of justice sector. Notwithstanding, there remain significant socio-economic challenges which affect people’s experience of justice services. These socio-cultural issues include, but are not limited to, real and perceived barriers emerging from inadequacies in the accessibility of justice services to vulnerable groups such as rural populations and persons living with disabilities, and limited capacity to protect and fulfill the rights of children in contact and in conflict with the law. At present, the Ministry of Justice’s policies, strategies, and data gathering capacity are limited, resulting in challenges in tailoring justice services to fully meet the needs of the most vulnerable, ensure equitable social justice outcomes, or mainstream gender equity considerations.

 

In addition to these issues, one of the causal factors for the high demand for justice services and the current high case backlog is the country’s high crime rate. Jamaica has one of the highest crime rates in the Latin American region and in the world. Improved efficiency in the delivery of justice is therefore hinged on a reduced demand for justice services and expansion of the scope of services provided.   The Ministry of Justice has promulgated a suite of alternative justice services (AJS) such as mediation and other alternative dispute resolution methods, restorative justice, child diversion and other services, in response to the identified needs. These are designed, in part, to reduce the inflow of criminal and civil disputes into courts. However, lack of knowledge and understanding among members of the public has limited their effectiveness and uptake.  These challenges collectively undermine social justice and can have a deleterious effect on public perceptions of and interactions with the justice sector, despite the realities of ongoing reforms.

 

Financed by Global Affairs Canada, the Social Justice (SO-JUST) Project is a 7-year project which aims to use an equitable human rights and gender responsive approach, targeting systemic change within the processes of the Ministry of Justice, its departments and agencies, the Courts, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and other state and non-state partners to improve social justice in Jamaica.  The project aims to support the Government of Jamaica in increasing access to justice for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups and strengthening the capacity of the justice system to implement gender-responsive social justice policies and programmes. It reflects and integrates the four pillars of social justice, which are equity, access, participation, and rights, and adopts a gender-responsive approach. It will provide the justice system with enhanced training and human resource development capacity and records and case management strategies required to sustain reforms. To achieve the defined programme goals, targets and effective delivery and quality services, a dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) has been established comprising Project Manager, Project Procurement Associate, Finance & Administrative Associate and Monitoring & Evaluation Associate.

 

Under the overall guidance of the Assistant Resident Representative and direct supervision of the Programme Specialist of the UNDP Jamaica Multi-country Office (MCO), the Project Manager will lead the implementation of the Social Justice (So-Just) Project.  She/he will work in close collaboration with the Project Management Unit (PMU), UNDP’s programme and operations team, other UN agencies, Government officials, multi and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring UNDP’s successful achievement of the outputs of the project.  The Project Manager will promote a collaborative, client-oriented approach, ensuring integration across functional areas within the PMU and support the integration of capacity building and institutional strengthening activities.
 

 

Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities:  Within delegated authority, the Project Manager will be responsible for the following key functions:

• Effective implementation and management of the So-JUST Project
• Effective monitoring and reporting of the project 
• Contribution to strategic partnerships and stakeholder engagement
• Quality technical assistance and capacity development to stakeholders and facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing 

1) Effective implementation and management of programme with focus on the SO-JUST project focusing on achievement of the following results:

2) Effective monitoring and reporting of the programme

Ensures effective monitoring and reporting of the programme focusing on achievement of the following results:

 

3) Contribution to strategic partnerships and stakeholder engagement

Create and maintain collaborative working relationships with strategic partners, project donors following results:

 

4) Quality technical assistance and capacity development to stakeholders and facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing focusing on achievement of the following results:

 

Competencies

Core Competencies

• ACHIEVE RESULTS - LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.
• THINK INNOVATEVELY - LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.
• LEARN CONTINUOUSLY - LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning.
• ADAPT WITH AGILITY - LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.
• ACT WITH DETERMINATION - LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously.
• ENGAGE AND PARTNER - LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships.
• ENABLE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION - LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.

People-Management Competencies
The Programme Analyst supervises and leads programme support staff, coordinates activities of the projects’ staff.
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional Competencies

• BUSINESS DIRECTION & STRATEGY
  • EFFECTIVE DECISION MAKING: Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.
• BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
  • RESULTS-BASED MANAGEMENT: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
  • PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
  • PARTNERSHIPS MANAGEMENT: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
  • RISK MANAGEMENT: Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.
  • COMMUNICATION: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and chose communication methods depending on the audience. • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Technical Competencies

• 2030 AGENDA: PEACE
  • RULE OF LAW, SECURITY & HUMAN RIGHTS: Justice Sector Development.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Law, Public Administration, International Relations, Political Science, or other relevant field is required; or a relevant bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with two additional years of qualifying experience. 
• A project management degree or certification (e.g. PMP) is an advantage.

Experience:

• A minimum of 2 years with Master´s degree or 4 years with Bachelor´s degree of relevant experience at the national or international level in project management with responsibilities of similar scope and complexity required.  
• Experience managing project teams and knowledge of project cycle management is required.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Desired Criteria:

• At least 2 years proven experience working with, and sound knowledge of access to justice and justice sector reform.
• At least 2 years of experience coordinating and liaising with diverse stakeholder groups including government agencies and civil society organizations is an asset. 
• Previous experience working with government and a wide range of donors, international organizations, INGOs and experience in sustainable development and/or justice sector reform is an asset.

Languages:

• Proficiency in English (both written and oral).

Disclaimer

Important applicant information
All posts in the NO categories are subject to local recruitment.
Candidates selected pursuant to this vacancy may be subject to UNDP’s policy on Probation upon assignment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity
UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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