Uganda: Consultancy - Strengthening Uganda’s Capacity to provide alternatives to detention, including diversion (Open only to international consultants).

Organization: UN Children's Fund
Country: Uganda
Closing date: 27 Feb 2017

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Purpose of the Assignment

Through a participatory process led by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Development, using appropriate research methodology and a human rights based approach, the consultancy will facilitate the finalization of the Statutory Instrument on Diversion for Children in Conflict with the Law

In collaboration with members of the National Task Force on Diversion Guidelines and under the direct supervision of the UNICEF Justice for Children Specialist, the consultant will fulfil the following requirements:

Comprehensive analysis of the existing research and work on diversion and restorative justice in Uganda

Conduct interviews and consultations (including field visits) with JLOS and Task Force members to guide diversion regulation revision and finalization.

Review the existing draft diversion regulations for Uganda and in close consultation with the National Task Force strengthen the regulations to ensure they meet international standards in line with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice ("The Beijing Rules").

Provide strategic recommendations to UNICEF and counterparts on how to strengthen and mainstream alternative sentencing and diversion approaches into Uganda's justice system in general and the Justice for Children Programme, specifically.

Assignment Tasks

The consultant will consolidate inputs from:

Existing legislative and desk reviews focusing on the Penal Code and Children's Act related to children in conflict with the law, with a focus on diversion and restorative justice.

The national draft diversion guidelines and regulations, previous meeting minutes and reports of the Task Force

Meetings with Regional and District level stakeholders from JLOS and welfare sectors (DCC/RCC members, J4C Coordinators, magistrates/prosecutors, police, social welfare and probations officers, etc.

Meetings with NGOs (including NGO formerly running J4C project) and field based community-based organizations familiar with the context of and push and pull factors that expose children from coming into conflict with the law

Meetings with UNICEF staff in Kampala and zonal offices.

4. Tasks and Expected deliverables

1. Inception report, including findings from workshop report on the status and lessons learnt on diversion

2. Final draft regulations on diversion

5. Tasks

Location

End Products/ Deliverables

Comprehensive desk analysis of the existing documentation on diversion in Uganda (desk reviews, studies, assessments, meeting minutes etc.., Children's Act, draft statutory instrument)

Home-Based

Facilitate one day workshop to extract status and lessons learnt from the current process of implementing diversion, and the development of the current draft guidelines and regulations on diversion

Uganda

Workshop report

Conduct meetings and field visits with other JLOS stakeholders and NGOs in the field to be determined in coordination with JLOS/MGLSD

Uganda/ regional high court circuits/districts

Inception Report

Revise and finalize child diversion instrument based on consultations and field visits.

Uganda

Present draft regulation for feedback to JLOS/MGLSD and key stakeholders

Uganda

Incorporate comments and submit final draft of regulations to UNICEF and MGLSD/JLOS in hard copy and

Homebased

Final draft regulations on diversion

Prepare and submit end of mission report; Prepare briefing notes/talking points/draft presentation of the draft regulation.

End of mission report

Package of briefing materials including soft- and hard copies of:

1. Briefing notes

2. Talking notes

3. Draft presentation

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

Education

Advanced university degree in criminal justice or a related field; law degree preferred

Years of relevant experience

At least 8 years of experience in drafting juvenile justice related legislation, policies and/or programmes and facilitating trainings

Proven expertise in juvenile justice, in particular on restorative justice and alternative measures, including diversion practices.

Experience in drafting and facilitating juvenile justice-related procedures, including on diversion

Proven skills in understanding institutional dynamics and developing recommendations based on observations

Proven ability to negotiate/interact with senior level government officials

Excellent communication and self-management skills

Excellent writing skills (in English) with work published in peer-reviewed journals an asset

Ability to work in a multicultural environment

Previous experience in working with UNICEF is an asset

Experience of working in East and Southern Africa region is an asset

To view our competency framework, please click here.

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable). Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.

How to apply: