National Consultant – Criminal Justice Expert

Result of ServiceKey Deliverables for the Consultant include: a) Inception Report, including a comprehensive methodology, detailed work plan, and implementation timelines — submitted at the start of the consultancy to guide the overall approach and ensure alignment with client expectations. b) Research and Data Collection Exercise — delivered through structured fieldwork, stakeholder interviews, desk reviews, and other data-gathering methodologies to inform the development of all subsequent outputs. c) Draft Training and Infrastructure Needs Assessment (TNA) Report — submitted for review, outlining capacity gaps, training priorities, and infrastructure requirements necessary for effective service delivery. d) Draft Gender and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Policy — submitted, providing a framework for gender responsiveness and SGBV prevention, response, and accountability mechanisms within the institution. e) Draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) submitted, focusing on the management of first-time, petty, and other special or emerging categories of offenders. These SOPs aim to enhance consistency, fairness, and efficiency in handling such cases. f) Technical Input to the Draft Welfare and Disability Policy — provided to support the development of inclusive policies addressing the needs of staff and clients with disabilities and ensuring workplace wellbeing. g) Stakeholder Engagement Sessions — conducted to facilitate inclusive consultations, secure feedback, and support the development, validation, and endorsement of the Gender Policy, TNA, and SOPs. These sessions aim to promote ownership and ensure practical applicability. h) Final Report — submitted, consolidating all consultancy outputs. The report will attach all finalized, validated, and/or endorsed deliverables, provide a summary of key findings, outline challenges encountered, and offer recommendations for future action. Work LocationNairobi, Kenya Expected duration100 Working Days; 25 August 2025 - 30 March 2026 Duties and Responsibilities1. Background of the Assignment As the global guardian of the United Nations standards and norms in Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, UNODC seeks to strengthen the rule of law through the prevention of crime and the promotion of fair, humane, and accountable criminal justice systems. To do this, UNODC provides Member States with expertise and advice to develop effective and responsible crime prevention strategies and policies and to build the capacity of their criminal justice systems to operate more effectively within the framework of the rule of law, while promoting human rights and protecting vulnerable groups. Within the framework of the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, UNODC’s project titled “Programme for Legal Empowerment and Aid Delivery in Kenya (PLEAD) Phase II, and seeks to “Reinforce the rule of law, improve access to justice, increase efficiency and accountability in the justice system and use of technology as an enabler of justice” while addressing capacity needs and persistent bottlenecks affecting service delivery in the justice sector, advance digitalization to streamline the administration of justice and countering corruption to improve access to justice for all Kenyans, including those at risk of exclusion and marginalization. The PLEAD II component implemented by UNODC targets support to the following institutions in the justice chain (national partners): National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), Judiciary, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Probation and Aftercare Service (PACS), Witness Protection Agency (WPA), Directorate of Children Services (DCS), Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Kenya Prisons Service (KPS) and National Police Service (NPS). On the other hand, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will support Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) through its flagship Amkeni Wakenya facility. 2. Purpose of the assignment Under the PLEAD II framework, the UNODC aims to support the Kenya Prisons Service (KPS) in developing key policy and operational documents recommended by the Maraga Taskforce Report, including a Welfare and Disability Policy, Gender and SGBV Policy, a Training and Infrastructure Needs Assessment, and Standard Operating Procedures for managing first-time, petty, and other special categories of emerging offenders. To ensure a cohesive and efficient development process, PLEAD is engaging a Criminal Justice Expert and a Legal Expert, who will work collaboratively and in consultation with stakeholders. The Criminal Justice Expert is responsible for drafting the Training and Infrastructure Needs Assessment, the SOPs, and the Gender and SGBV Policy, while also providing technical input to the Welfare and Disability Policy. Conversely, the Legal Expert will lead the drafting of the Welfare and Disability Policy and contribute technical reviews for the other three documents. 3. Specific Tasks to be performed by the consultant: The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Head of the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, direct supervision of the PLEAD II Programme Manager in coordination with the Programme officers and work closely with KPS in performing the following substantive duties and responsibilities: • Inception Meeting and Report: Undertake an inception meeting with the relevant stakeholders at KPS to review the scope, programme (with timelines and deliverables) and methodology of work for the assignment. Draft and submit to UNODC the inception report. • Research and Data Collection Exercise: Undertake a comprehensive desk review and primary research and data collection exercise in PLEAD counties to determine the policy and operational gaps impacting training needs of KPS officers, gender mainstreaming and SGBV and petty, first time and emerging/special categories of offenders. • Draft Training and Infrastructure Needs Assessment: Based on the research analysis, draft the Training and Infrastructure Needs Assessment. Ensure that the policy aligns with the relevant domestic law and training policy, as well as international best practice and standards on the management of institutions of custody. • Draft the Gender and SGBV policy: Based on the research analysis, draft the Gender and SGBV Policy. Ensure that the policy aligns with domestic law and policy as well as international best practice and standards on gender mainstreaming and on the prevention, reporting and management of SGBV cases in institutions of custody. • Draft the SOPS on the Management of First time, Petty and other Special (emerging) Categories of Offenders: Based on the research analysis, draft the SOPS. Ensure that the policy aligns with domestic law and policy as well as international best practices and standards on the management of institutions of custody. Further ensure the incorporation of effective strategies on the reduction of prison overcrowding and the effective rehabilitation and reintegration of different categories of offenders. • Provide technical input to the Welfare and Disability Policy: Support the development of the Welfare and Disability Policy by providing technical input to the Policy to ensure a harmonized regulatory framework. • Stakeholder Presentation / Validation: Present the drafted Training and Infrastructure Needs Assessment, Gender and SGBV Policy and SOPs for validation or endorsement by the relevant stakeholders as guided. • Final Validated Documents: Incorporate stakeholder feedback in the final Training and Infrastructure Needs Assessment and SOPs. Qualifications/special skillsAn advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, criminology, criminal justice or other relevant discipline is required. A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with seven additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. - A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in legal affairs, or criminal justice is required. - Experience designing, implementing, or managing (at a senior level) human rights, rehabilitation, reintegration, or related programmes within Correctional Services i.e. Prisons or Probation is required. - Experience in the development, review or drafting of legal policy, guidelines or procedures is desirable. - Experience in developing training curriculum, programmes, learning courseware is required. - Experience working within or with Kenya justice sector institutions is desirable. - Experience working with the United Nations, or a similar international organization, is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of other United Nations Secretariat languages is an advantage. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.