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Human Rights Adviser - Pacific Judicial Strengthening Initiative

9:23:00 AM

1. PJSI GOAL & OBJECTIVES
The Government of New Zealand is funding the Pacific Judicial Strengthening Initiative (PJSI), which will be implemented by the Federal Court of Australia between June 2016 and June 2021.
The goal of PJSI is to build fairer societies by supporting the courts in 14 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) to develop more accessible, just, efficient and responsive justice services. These PICs are the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Re-inclusion of Fiji in PJSI activities will also be explored over the course of the Initiative at MFAT’s direction. PJSI reports continuously to the Chief Justices of these PICs and to the Pacific Judicial Conference which convenes biennially.
PJSI will address numerous and diverse needs of the courts that relate to three major development challenges. These are: (i) expanding access to justice to and through the courts; (ii) building competent provision of substantive justice outcomes; and (iii) increasing efficient delivery of procedural justice services. To address these challenges, PJSI will focus on supporting two long-term objectives, or components: a) Judicial Leadership  courts are capable of leading and managing change. b) Performance  court services are accessible, responsive, fair and efficient.
PJSI will deliver services to support the courts to attain these objectives using strategies to transfer, build, devolve and localise capacity. These strategies will consolidate five thematic areas, being: judicial leadership, access to justice, professionalisation, substantive justice and procedural justice.
2. ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION
a. Aim: The aim of this thematic cluster of activities is to enable PICs to deliver justice aligning with human rights norms across the region.
b. Purpose: The purpose of this specific activity is to adapt and integrate the norms of international human rights law with local, customary values and practices in order for the courts to formulate local codes of human rights - possibly in the form of a contextualised ‘Know Your Rights’ Toolkit - for the use by court officers and members of the community in the courts to deliver improved substantive justice outcomes.
c. Duration and location: This short-term assignment requires the Adviser to work up to 104 input-days in and remotely with at least 4 PIC(s) between September 2016 and March 2019.
d. General approach: The Adviser will adopt the following general approach to completing this assignment:
a) To transfer, build, devolve and localise capacity in all interactions with counterparts and mentor counterparts where appropriate in a culturally appropriate and respectful manner.
b) Produce high quality, concise and accurate documentation, reports, and correspondence as required in a timely fashion and written in plain English.
e. Outputs: Prior to mobilisation, the Adviser will undergo a briefing from the Technical Director and the Team Leader. The Adviser will then develop an implementation plan for the assignment and finalise this under the direction of the Team Leader. On completion of this assignment, the Adviser will deliver the following outputs:
  1. Regional leadership workshop on human rights conducted.
  2. Judicial leaders endorse local adaptation of culturally appropriate local codes of human rights.
  3. A Human Rights / ‘Know Your Rights’ Toolkit or regional resource developed that has been refined in light of the Adviser’s experience. This resource / toolkit will need to be formulated specifically including consideration of disabilities, minorities and juvenile rights.
  4. Interested PIC(s) pilot(s) the adaptation of a culturally-appropriate local code of human rights.
  5. Local workshop(s) on human rights conducted to pilot local code.
  6. Linking with related activities, training of court officers and community members undertaken.
  7. Links established with International / Non-government Organisations / Community Based Organisations in human rights to develop and disseminate resources.
f. Inputs: The Adviser will use a 2-step regional to local capacity-building modality to deliver inputs as follows:
  • 1 x Regional leadership workshop undertaken in coordination with the Regional Leadership Output.
  • 1 x development of a regional Human Rights resource / toolkit and 1 x testing of that resource with counterparts in-PIC.
  • Up to 3 x 2-week visits to PICs to localise and deliver Human Rights / toolkit activities.
  • Provide follow-up remote mentoring to local counterparts.
  • Associated training of court officers and actors as part of the leadership workshop.
  • Develop linkages to International / Non-government Organisations / Community Based Organisations and legal information to be refined and disseminated locally through the proposed in-PIC visits.
  • Contribute to the development, roll out, completion and analysis of data from court user perception surveys.
3. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
The Adviser will be a senior development professional who meets the following criteria:
a. Essential:
  • A minimum of a Masters-level degree in an area directly relevant to the role.
  • At least 10 years’ professional experience in undertaking Human Rights-related activities in the international development context.
  • High-level interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills in cross-cultural environments.
  • Ability to effectively build counterpart capacity in a culturally appropriate and respectful manner.
b. Highly Desirable:
  • Extensive knowledge and experience of justice, judicial culture, and courts.
  • Significant experience with working in, and knowledge of, the Pacific context.
  • That the Adviser is located within the Pacific / Oceania region.
4. REMUNERATION
Assessment of applications for the Human Rights Adviser position will include consideration of value for money and comparative costs. Remuneration rates will be based on the Expression of Interest received by the PJSI up to the maximum fee-rate and benefits stipulated by MFAT for PJSI technical adviser positions.
Please see below link for terms of reference:

HOW TO APPLY:
Application Process
To apply, please email:
  • a Cover Letter (maximum two pages) addressing the Qualifications and Experience requirements (as outlined in the terms of reference);
  • an Indicative Approach to the Assignment (maximum two pages) summarising the applicant’s vision for implementing this key thematic cluster of activities (as outlined in the terms of reference); and
  • a recent Curriculum Vitae (maximum four pages) that has been tailored to these Terms of Reference.
  • Please address all queries and completed applications to: Ms Nicole Cherry, Project Manager (nicole.cherry@fedcourt.gov.au).
    Applications must be received by 5.00pm (Sydney-time) on 10 July, 2016.

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