Job: HIV REGIONAL LEGAL NETWORK COORDINATOR

Location :

Home-based with 2 missions foreseen

Application Deadline :

26-Dec-13

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Post Level :

International Consultant

Languages Required :

English Russian

Duration of Initial Contract :

Estimated mid December 2013 – 28 February 2014

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Approximately 200 working days

Background

UNDP is the UN's global development network advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. As a founding Cosponsor of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and guided by the health-related MDGs, responding to HIV is one of the organizations' priorities. Under the UNAIDS division of labour, UNDP is responsible for leading the UNAIDS response in addressing dimensions of AIDS relating to: development planning and mainstreaming; governance; and human rights, gender and sexual diversity. UNDP is also responsible for providing support to governments in their implementation of policies and programs that protect the human rights of people affected by HIV. The region of Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (EECA) is home to the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the world: rising from an estimated 970,000 people living with the virus in 2001 to 1.5 million in 2012. The Russian Federation and Ukraine, the two most populous countries in the region, together account for almost 90 percent of newly reported HIV cases. Levels of treatment in the region are low with approximately 23 percent of those in need of antiretroviral therapy receiving it. While there has been a significant improvement in the legal environment relevant to HIV in the region, certain gaps still persist. In July 2012, the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, an independent international expert body to which UNDP served as secretariat identified such shortcomings which hinder the protection, upholding and fulfillment of the human rights of people living with, or affected by HIV. These gaps include, but are not limited to: breach of confidentiality, stigma and discrimination, criminalization of transmission, criminalization of the behavior of key populations, and others. At the same time, the Commission emphasized the improvement the region has experienced, also in terms of opportunities to protect the human rights of people living with HIV. In cooperation with governments, other UN agencies, international organizations, and civil society actors, UNDP works to develop the capacity of national legislators, government offices and civil society actors on matters of HIV and the Law. In implementation of its regional project 'HIV, Rights and Universal Access in Eastern Europe', co-funded by the European Union, UNDP seeks to support and develop the capacity/expertise of a regional network of quality free legal aid providers, serving people affected by HIV and key populations. In September 2012, the Regional HIV Legal Network was established and in the fall of 2013 the Network strengthened and expanded its membership, as indicated on the Network's website http://hiv-legalaid.org/ UNDP seeks a consultant (a Regional Network Coordinator) to coordinate the Regional HIV Legal Network development, manage the work coordination and communications among network members and contribute towards the professional development and expansion of coverage both terms of geography and scope of services. The Regional HIV Legal Coordinator will be responsible for the network development into an effective and efficient quality service provider.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant reports to the Programme Specialist on Rights and Law at UNDP's Practice on HIV, Health and Development, Regional Centre for Europe and CIS (Supervisor) for all matters related to the contract. Responsibilities of the Consultant:

• Communicates with the network members and is responsible for moderating communication such as online discussions, information exchange sharing of materials.

Is responsible for coordinating the activities of the members of the Regional HIV Legal Network in Eastern Europe and Central Asia:

• Maintains and works for the expansion of the Network's website and its development into a one-stop shop for all information regarding HIV and the Law matters in the countries covered by the network. In this process, close collaboration with Network members and other free legal aid providers in the region and worldwide.

Leads the development of a quality mechanisms for services provided to clients in the context of HIV:

• Creation of a code of conduct, which would ensure gender and age sensitivity in work with clients, proper system of management of cases, confidentiality, professional responsibility and highest standards of professional ethics;
• Education of network members, in person and in virtual space in implementation of this code of conduct in their everyday work;
• Verification that standards and best practices are being effectively and efficiently implemented by Network members through questionnaires, interviews, spot-checks. Developing recommendations for improvement where needed.
• Coordinates the international cooperation of the Network with other free legal aid providers in the context of HIV to ensure dissemination of cost-effective and efficient service models and other good practices, including and subject to available funding, through twinning exchange, information sharing, communication in virtual space;
• Coordinates the full integration of the services provided by the Network in the programming of regional umbrella organizations focusing on people with HIV, such as the Eastern Europe and Central Asian Union of people with HIV (ECUO), the Eurasian Coalition on Male Health (ECOM), the Eurasian Harm Reduction Network (EHRN), the Sex workers associations' network (SWAN). Where possible, the development and signing of MOU and cooperation agreements;
• Coordinates the expansion of virtual resources that support the professional development of Network members.
• Coordinates the fundraising activities of the Network;
• Liaises with pro bono departments and legal clinics to ensure support to free legal aid activities for PLHIV and key populations in the countries of the Network. Attract pro bono attorneys and legal clinics as supporters of the Network;
• Liaises with communities of key populations and HIV activists in order to ensure that the services of the network are known to community members and adequately address community needs in each given country;
• Represents the Network at national/regional/ international meetings;
• Contributes to periodical and annual reporting of UNDP and performs other tasks assigned by the Supervisor.

Deliverables: Specific deliverables will be agreed with the Supervisor at the beginning of each month, in writing. Payments will be made once a month upon submitted satisfactory progress report against deliverables and approved timesheet submission providing details of time spent on respective deliverables, their timely execution and acceptance by the Supervisor. During the contract, the Supervisor may request updates on/of deliverables as per Description of Responsibilities.

Competencies

• Commitment to the principles set forth in the UN High Level Declarations on HIV and AIDS;
• Good understanding of the legal systems of the region as evidenced by experience/scholarship;
• Excellent organizational skills, ability to work independently, strict adherence to completing assigned tasks in a timely manner;
• Quality-oriented professional, constructive approach to obstacles and delays in planned performance;
• Excellent communication skills, oral and written;
• Advanced user of virtual communication tools. Advanced knowledge in developing and administering online resources such as websites and portals is a plus.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in law, international relations, or human rights.

Experience:

• Four or more years of relevant regional experience in the field of human rights, or legal aid work;
• Required experience in work with HIV and law/policy issues, network management of civil society and private sector organizations, work with online resources.

Language skills:

• Fluency in Russian and English. Knowledge of more regional languages is a plus.

Evaluation of Applicants Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants' qualifications and financial proposal. The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
• b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation. Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 30 points:

• Education and additional qualifications (courses, diplomas) – max points: 10
• Work experience coordinating free legal services to people living with HIV, or other underserved communities – max points: 10
• Experience in preparing and carrying out workshops and other capacity building events – max points: 7
• Web resource management skills – max points: 3

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 13 points Application procedures Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the 'Resume and Motivation' section of the electronic application;
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc); please upload the P11 instead of your CV;
• Financial Proposal - specifying a daily rate in USD. Payment to be made once a month upon submitted satisfactory progress report against deliverables and approved timesheet;
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). All envisaged costs except of travel costs related to possible missions) must be included in the financial proposal. Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner. Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when traveling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org. General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://europeandcis.undp.org/home/jobs. Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply. Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process

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.

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