Project Officer (Policy Analysis and Development Sector)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

By supporting an integrated program of reform of the Vietnamese law-making process, the National Legislative Development Project (NLD) will assist the GOV in developing a strengthened, effective and transparent legal framework that will reflect the needs of Vietnamese citizens and support equitable economic growth. The project is funded by the Departmentof Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development of Canada (DFATD).

The NLD was designed to support capacity building with respect to four core components of the law-making process:  (1) planning; (2) policy analysis; (3) legislative drafting; and (4) the coherence and systematization of laws.   In its initial phase, the project will support the consolidation of the 2004 and 2008 Law on Laws and an assessment of Vietnam’s current law-making process. 

The project is being implemented by a Canadian Executing Agency (CEA) composed of the Canadian Bar Association, the Ministry of the Attorney General for Ontario  and Stikeman Elliot LLP in cooperation with Vietnam’s Ministry of Justice and other key government agencies engaged in legislative development and in particular, the development on legisation affecting economic development.  Other project partners include the Law Committee of the National Assembly, the Office of Government and selected line ministries.

JOB PURPOSE:

The Project Officer ( Legislative reform/Policy-making sector) will support the CEA’s Project Field Manager (PFM) on the in-country management and design of project activities.

Under the direction of the Project Field Manager (PFM), the incumbent is responsible for supporting the implementation of the NLD Programme delivery strategy, the development of project activity design, planning and proposals with partners and Canadian Technical Assistance specialists, work plan plans, schedules, budgets, reports, in keeping with donor and Government of Vietnam and project partners requirements. Liaise with all project partners, local technical assistant team (TAT), Programme Management Unit (PMU) and Project Steering Committee (PSC) coordination and support.

• Project activity proposals, delivery and monitoring;
• Annual Workplan and the regular updates;
• WBS Progress report and monitoring;
• Project reports;
• Technical Assistance Team PMU and PSC liaison and coordination

KEY RESPONSIBILITY AREAS:

NLD Project Officer (Policy sector)

Responsible for Law Committee and OOG partners will support the CEA’s Project Field Manager (PFM) on the in-country management and delivery of project activities in the following component and aspects:

Component 1: Capacity development for strategic planning needs assessment and performance management

Component 2: Development of policy research, impact assessment and consultation capacities

Strategic Planning and Management:

Support the development of practical and sustained processes to identify, collect and organize data that needs to be establish, support process to substantiate and elaborate legal reform needs and subsequent legislation, support establishment of baseline conditions and indicators, monitor legal reform progress, assess effectively implementation of legislation.

Research and Consultation:

Support policy research skills linked to specific legislative requirements, build organizational capacity, and assess impact of proposed legal or regulatory changes in drafting approach. Support enhancing consultations mechanisms for public and private sector, support citizen and organization participation in the process of problem identification, policy development and legislative drafting. Support consistency and effectiveness strategies for central institutions and legal system.

Provide support , technical assistance and coordinate:

With technical assistance and experts from Canada and Vietnam, review activity and budget proposals in line with Annual Work plan and agreed strategies, review TORs and determine status of experts identified for activities. Provide support in delivery and monitoring of activities engaged by NLD. Participate in the RBM and reporting process. Coordination and evaluation of work of consultants, drafting and reviewing TOR of resource persons and consultants

Management/Administrative Responsibilities

Support NLD’s overall programme of assistance to MoJ and partners of the project in particular for the Policy development aspects. This will include providing support to oversight and coordination in collaboration with other PO’s, Senior Administrative Financial Officer and Operation Officer.

• Undertake day to day support to Project Management including administration, financial approval, technical and substantive project results;
• Develop work plans, terms of reference (TOR);
• Participate in preparing monthly, quarterly and annual progress reports including activity financial report;
• Monitor project WBS progress against annual and quarterly work plans and budgets;
• Identify risks and challenges to the establishment and ongoing operations of the NLD, working with the MOJ as main partners and with line Ministries, Agencies and Provinces also partners of the project; and
• Provides advice to the NLD PFM on programme development and mitigation strategies.
• Provide assistance to all NLD partners requiring assistance on need base.

Technical/Professional Responsibilities

• Promote full local ownership of the MOJ initiatives undertaken through the NLD by working in constant collaboration with the MoJ and other Government partners;
• Relate directly with partners associated with NLD and ensure delivery of project Component related to policy analysis and development for the purpose of law making;
• Ensure organizational and institutional development programmes are in place and supported for key MoJ functional and administrative units;
• Assist in implementing structures and systems for coordination between MOJ, its Agencies and Departments and NLD Government partners;
• Assist in providing technical support to the strategic planning processes for MOJ, its Agencies and Departments and for NLD Government partners;
• Provide advice on engaging project partners and strategies for increasing collaboration and effectiveness between ministries link to legislative drafting and law-making process;
• Identify opportunities to enhance team-work within various reform initiatives;
• Prepare qualitative substantive progress reports as required;
• Plan activities, identify procedures for project evaluation, data collection and project implementation;
• Assist in maintaining close coordination with project implementation agency (CEA), ensure synergies, avoid overlaps in project implementation, collaborate with other donors working in the same area and provide information relevant to the project;
• Assist in developing strategies and in building national consensus for law reform priorities reform needs to support systemic legislative development, approaches and stakeholders engagements leading to better economic legislation being drafted in Vietnam;
• Assist in developing work plans, support preparation and submission of project reports and monitor implementation of the various initiatives in the sector or field link to the AWP and NLD objectives;
• Develop and support NLD partners project activities design and proposals with cost estimation;
• Monitor project activity delivery and liquidation of budget
• Plans, reflect and support the Project Field Office (PFO) programmes, objectives and mandates and are developed within the agreed time frame;
• All approved policies are implemented within the agreed time frame and in accordance with established guidelines;
• Effective collaboration is maintained with partners and stakeholders;
• Integrity and confidentiality exercised in the execution of duties.

Required competencies

• Excellent knowledge of project planning and implementation;
• Excellent knowledge of Policy making process in Vietnam
• Excellent abilities in dealing with legal norms and rules;
• Knowledge of negotiation and public relations skills;
• Presentation, oral and written communication skills;
• Interpersonal, people management and customer skills;
• Experience with Donor partners and State organizations;
• Planning, organizing and problem solving skills;
• Good team building skills and spirit;
• Knowledge of the Ministry’s of Justice and key partners programmes, policies and procedures related to legislative drafting and legislative development;
• Knowledge of the machinery of Government;
• Proficient in the use of the relevant computer programmes/software.

MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor or Master Level Degree in Law, Studies in Policy development;
• Experience in International development, Policy development issues of Vietnam, including public participation and advance consultative processes;
• Knowledge of key State, private sector, CSO’s, central and local stakeholders participation and interest in consultative processes;
• Client approach experience in the field of law for private or public sector;
• Project Management and participation experience related to legal and policy reform strategies and approaches, would be an asset;
• Experience related to policy development and implementation strategies in the legal, economic and social sector and approaches;
• Experience in public administration reform or sector management, knowledge of result-based management techniques, approaches and reporting;
• Knowledge of Common law and/or Civil justice systems, institutions, Government machinery, administration and decision-making processes.

If you are interested in the position, please send your CV together with application letter to: [email protected]. Deadline: 14 July 2015