JSMP: Vacancy Announcement Trainer (Parliament Watch Project)

Vacancy Announcement
Trainer (Parliament Watch Project )

The Judicial System Monitoring Programme (JSMP) was set up as an East Timorese NGO in early 2001.  Through court monitoring, the provision of legal analysis and thematic reports on the development of the judicial system, and outreach and information dissemination, JSMP is committed to the ongoing evaluation and strengthening of the justice and democratic systems in Timor-Leste. JSMP has established a small but important presence in Dili and is now seeking to contract someone to provide training to the staff of its Legal Research Unit.

Position:  Parliament Watch Programme Trainer
Expected start date: Start of March 2010
Type of Contract:  Short-term project contract
Salary: USD$ 1,000
Applications Close: 15 March 2010

Background to the Position
In 2010 JSMP is expanding its monitoring activities by establishing the Parliament Watch Project (PWP).  The aim of the PWP is to improve the quality of the legislative process by monitoring Parliamentary activities, providing legal analysis of draft laws, conducting workshops for the public and advocating for increased transparency, accountability and public participation in the legislative system.

The PWP will be run by JSMP’s Legal Research Unit and two additional staff members have been recruited to conduct PWP activities. Specifically, the Legal Officers will be responsible for monitoring and reporting on Parliamentary activities and legislative developments; providing legal analysis of draft laws; and conducting workshops for members of the public on draft laws and parliamentary processes.

Objects and Expected Outcomes of the Position

JSMP intends to contract a trainer to provide training to the staff of the LRU, particularly the two staff members who will be working on the PWP.  The training should be designed to enable staff to undertake the activities described above.

The training should cover the following topics:

    * The structure of the political system in Timor Leste, including the powers of different political actors (Parliament, President, Judiciary, Council of Ministers, President of Parliament etc);
    * The different processes of making laws in Timor Leste;
    * Laws and rules governing the functioning of Parliament, Government, Electoral processes and Political parties in Timor-Leste, eg Parliamentary Rules, enabling legislation, electoral laws, laws governing political parties;
    * General principles of constitutional law in Timor Leste and the ways in which the constitution governs the actions of parliamentary and other actors;
    * Principles of legislative analysis applicable in Timor Leste; and
    * History of the establishment and design of the democratic system in Timor Leste post independence.

Other topics that may be incorporated in training include:

    * Human rights relevant to the functioning of Parliament, for example political and civil rights enshrined in the ICCPR and the connection between those rights and, economic and social rights, (such as the rights to education and health);
    * Democratic principles, theory and history, for example theories of participatory democracy; and
    * International treaties ratified by Timor Leste that have an impact on political processes.

Training will be held over a period of several months (depending on trainer and staff availability). Training should be conducted in a practical workshop style, which incorporates activities, practice exercises and written materials including a Training Maunal. Training must be conducted in Tetun or Bahasa Indonesia.  The successful applicant will be expected to present a final Training Plan to JSMP before training commences.

Qualifications / Experience
The successful applicant must have the following qualifications / experience:

    * Undergraduate degree in law;
    * Experience working in an NGO and/or the government on human rights issues and legislative processes;
    * Experience analysing and/or drafting legislation
    * Familiarity with legislative processes in Timor Leste
    * High level interpersonal and oral and written communication skills
    * Experience working with international and domestic human rights standards
    * Experience in designing and providing training to national staff
    * High level of proficiency in written and spoken Tetun or Bahasa Indonesia

The position is open to both national and international applicants.  Timorese nationals are particularly encouraged to apply.

Application Details
Interested applicants should prepare a Draft Training Programme, which outlines timeframes, number and duration of training sessions, topics/units that will be covered and methods of training.  This should be emailed, along with their CV and a covering letter explaining how they meet the selection criteria, to Luis de Oliveira, Director JSMP luis@jsmp.minihub.org.  Applications close 15 March 2010.