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.

Iraq’s rampant corruption, impacting on every aspect of its citizens’ lives, was one reason for civil unrest in October 2019. Low oil prices and the pandemic have accelerated the quest for change. Against the background of popular calls for action against corruption and the need for international investment in Iraq, the international community has improved conditions to engage with the government and provide support in taking substantive and sustainable steps to combat corruption and promote economic growth.

Iraq acceded to United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) in 2008 and gradually adjusted its legislative and strategic framework to the Convention. The first (2013) and second (ongoing) cycles of review of the implementation of the Convention have identified several areas for improvement in legislation, strategic framework and requests for technical assistance. Iraq recently adopted a National Anti-Corruption Strategy, has initiated a review of its legislation and made a breakthrough in investigation after the creation of a committee for the investigation of high-profile corruption in August 2020. However, significant gaps remain in legislative and strategic framework, investigation and adjudication, enforcement and recovery of stolen assets.

Iraq adopted in March 2021 the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, but its legislation has to be revised to comply with the convention, court jurisdictions have to be expanded, capacity of judges and arbitrators has to be built and modern systems of hearing and certification need to be established.

Building on its previous experience, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Iraq has launched a project in May 2021 to support public partners at federal and the Kurdistan Regional Government to improve their capacity and legal framework to combat corruption and conduct commercial litigation.

The project titled “support to justice initiatives curbing corruption and promoting commercial dispute resolution” (hereinafter, Anti-Corruption & Arbitration Initiatives, ACAI) is funded by the European Union for a period of four years. The project works closely with the Prime Minister Office in Baghdad and supports directly the Commission of Integrity, the Higher Judicial Council and the Legal and Integrity Committees of the Council of Representatives. In Erbil, the project follows a similar mechanism of collaboration. Further, the project works with key civil society and investigative media organizations.

The project has the following specific outcomes: (1) Improved Legislative and Strategic Framework for Anti-Corruption Reforms; (2) The justice sector, lawyers and CoI are better equipped to process corruption offences due to (2.1) improved technical skills relevant for corruption investigation, prosecution, adjudication and (2.2) improved integrity rules of the justice sector; (3) Improved capacity and legal framework to conduct commercial litigation through (3.1) better legal framework and capacity building for arbitration and (3.2) further development of the commercial court; (4) Create a climate of support in Parliament for anti-corruption reforms; (5) Increased transparency and public accountability.

Policy Advisory and Specialized Technical Support

  • Advise, support, guide and provide inputs to assure quality control in the formulation of relevant, high quality,results-based and pragmatic project activities and outputs;
  • Provide strategic and specialized technical advice to the senior management on the development of systems,processes and mechanisms to support effective project planning, implementation, monitoring and timely progress reporting;
  • Develop, review and evaluate proposals and oversee the preparation of donor proposals and reports to ensurequality, compliance with requirements as per established rules and regulations. Take timely action to take any corrective action to meet standards for submissions;
  • Prepare policy document, reviews, position papers, briefs and other strategic papers/materials for the use in thedevelopment and presentation of a coherent perspective to help define strategies and plans of action for implementation;
  • Provide policy, technical and managerial advice to public institutions at the federal and KRG levels includinginter alia the Prime Minister Offices, the Higher Judicial Councils, the Councils of Representatives with focus on establishment of policies, legislation, plans, frameworks and mechanisms and strengthening the capacity of the justice sector for transparent and accountable investigation, adjudication and enforcement of judiciary orders & decisions, ensuring civil society participation and media empowerment;
  • Provide policy, technical and managerial advice to development partners in Iraq with focus on policy andprogrammatic coordination, information sharing and positioning that is common, coherent, strategic and sequenced; deliver briefings to international partners, including at the ambassadorial level, to forge situational awareness and a coherent policy approach of the international community.

The Project Management, Monitoring and Oversight

  • Provide substantive and managerial leadership of the Justice Initiatives for Anti-Corruption and Arbitration(JIACA) Project. Manage the project team (project advisors, technical staff, project specialists, and support staff);
  • Lead, coordinate, and build/sustain partnerships with participating UNCT members and development partners,for the enhancement of technical strength and programmatic synergies of the SJI Project with other anti-corruption projects;
  • Plan, implement and supervise the support provided to ensure timely and appropriate services are provided asrequired. Identify areas of competencies and weakness to ensure focused and targeted services are provided;
  • Lead the quarterly and annual processes of gathering information and preparing reports on progress of projectimplementation, assessing results and identifying areas for action and/or decision to ensure achievement of results as planned and in accordance with goals and objectives and accountability framework;
  • Manage allocation of funds, monitor and ensure the appropriate utilization of resources;
  • Lead in preparing partnership agreements including for trial monitoring with UNAMI Human Rights Office andthe Higher Judicial Council;
  • Develop a plan for the overall monitoring and evaluation of the project and reporting on progress to the CountryOffice;
  • Recommend and/or set monitoring standards, criteria and other indicators for measuring and assessingprogress/results;
  • Monitor the progress on, mutually agreed results frameworks and performance indicators and timely takeaction/decision and/or provide timely support;
  • Sustainable and solid relations developed with counterparts, resulting in enhanced reputation and credibility ofUNDP;
  •  Plan, implement and/or supervise the support provided to ensure timely and appropriate services are providedas required. Identify areas of competencies and/or weakness to ensure focused and targeted services are provided.

3) Advocacy and support to UN coordination, joint programming and reform

  • Provide technical expertise and coordinate with other project managers to ensurecomplementarity/harmonization amongst the activities and plans notably within the Governance Pillar;
  • Advise on ways to incorporate and apply HRB/ RBM/ MDGs approaches as well as addressing cross cuttingthemes (i.e., international anticorruption standards, human rights, gender mainstreaming, environment, employment, inclusion of youth and people with disabilities) in the project plans and programming exercises;
  • Lead in establishing and maintaining effective consultations with governments, partners, stakeholders anddonors to achieve active collaboration, cooperation and alliances on project development and implementation, resource mobilization and sustained partnerships;
  • Represent UNDP when requested and as appropriate to consult, collaborate and/or interact on common issuesand activities and participate in the UNDAF process to ensure the active participation of the project in these processes;
  • Coordinate and work with the other project heads and project managers to ensurecomplementarity/harmonization amongst the activities and plans.

4) Knowledge management and capacity building

  • Identify areas that may require improvement and capture best practices/lessons learned, using corporatemonitoring tools and corporate reports. Take action to improve areas of weakness;
  • Ensure regular assessments of the strategic and implementation plans. Identify lessons learned and areas ofemphasis to guide project improvements and future strategic development plan;
  • Manage the process of collecting and sharing lessons learned to build knowledge and capacity of partners andstakeholders;
  • Design and implement capacity development and institutional building activities to enhance skills andknowledge in Results Based Management, Results based budgeting and systematic quality assurance;
  • Contribute to the development and maintenance of the project knowledge networks and practices, anddevelopment of knowledge products.

Core

Innovation

  • Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Leadership

  • Ability to persuade others to follow.

People Management

  • Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.


Communication

  • Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.


Delivery

  • Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement.

Technical/Functional

Rule of Law, Justice and Security

  • Knowledge of Rule of law, Justice and Security concepts and principles and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.


Anti-Corruption

  • Knowledge of anti-corruption concepts, principles and policies and the ability to apply in strategic and/or practical situations.


Technical Advisory

  • Capacity to assess scope of request for advisory services, prepare detailed TORs, brief and manage a variety of technical consultants; assess quality of services provided by technical consultants and take remedial measures as appropriate.


Research

  • Knowledge of analytical tools, market research and methods for undertaking substantive research on various policy related issues.


Legal Advisory

  • Ability to advise on legal matters includingUNDP's legal status, policy development, corporate and operational matters, status and conduct.

Training

  • Ability to ascertain need, plan, design, and execute training.


Civil Society Engagement

  • Knowledge to create and implement civil society initiatives and apply across UNDP's development work.


Communication

  • Ability to effectively communicate intensions and requirements to internal and external stakeholders.

Education:

  • Master's degree (or a bachelor degree with two additional years of experience) insocial policy, law, public policy, politics, economics, development studies or arelated area.

Experience:

  • Minimum 10 years of extensive experience that combines intellectual, strategic andmanagerial leadership in the anti-corruption sector;
  • Extensive working experience with national government at the highest levels onpolitically sensitive issues or projects, preferably in the context of fragile states and post-conflict countries;
  • Extensive working experience with civil society and media in emerging countries willbe an asset;
  • Experience in arbitration either as an attorney, arbitrator or legislative drafter will bean asset;
  • Experience in research, teaching and training in anti-corruption will be an asset;
  • Proven ability to direct multi-disciplinary teams in a multilateral work environment;
  • Track record of successful management project, programmes or entities;
  • Experience with and knowledge of UNDP policies and procedures;
  • Experience with UN or international organization working in post-conflict country,especially Iraq would be an advantage.

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in the English both written and oral;
  • Arabic language skills are considered an asset.

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

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.

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Contract Duration: One Year with possibility for extension

This vacancy is archived.

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