The Strengthening Efficiency and Access to Justice in Moldova Project (A2J) is seeking for a National consultant to support the review and update of the training programs on judicial/forensic expertise for justice professionals from the Republic of Moldova.

The expected output for the National Consultant’s assignment is to support the UNDP International Consultant contracted by A2J Project to review and update the training programs on judicial/forensic expertise for justice professionals from Republic of Moldova, providing substantive and administrative support, in the process of carrying out the review and provision of recommendations.

To achieve the stated objective, the Consultant shall perform the following tasks and activities:

1. Provide substantive inputs to the UNDP International Consultant in the process of conducting the desk review related to the assessed area and facilitate the consultation process (including both meetings and interviews part of the data and information collection necessary for the review as well meetings organised throughout the assignment to validate findings and recommendations following the review and drafting of the draft proposals to revised curricula);

• Identify and submit to the International Consultant the list and copies of the relevant national legal framework, existing guidelines/manuals and reports detailing current approaches, practices and methodologies on training programs on judicial/forensic expertise and procedures for justice professionals from the Republic of Moldova;
• Provide translation of short excerpts from the national normative framework, training methodologies and curricula on judicial/forensic expertise and procedures for justice professionals;
• Draft list of relevant key stakeholders to be interviewed and consulted in the process of the review (state institutions and other relevant institutions, etc)^[1];

1. Prepare an Inception Report containing the description of the scope of inputs and support to be provided and workplan for the accomplishment of the current assignment. The Inception Report shall be coordinated with the UNDP International Consultant as to ensure the interconnection of the two assignments;
2. Provide analytical and administrative support in the process of conducting the review of the current training system set-up, training programs and opportunities on judicial/forensic expertise and procedures for justice professionals (judges, prosecutors, lawyers, criminal investigation officers):

• Provide inputs in drafting the methodology and tools for conducting the review and the questionnaires to be used for collection of quantitative and qualitative data;
• Facilitate the process of in-depth interviews and consultation meetings;
• Contribute to the analysis of the collected information and provide substantive inputs in the context of conduct of the consultation meetings and interviews, and development of preliminary findings of the discussions.

1. Based on the findings of the review, provide support to the UNDP International Consultant in shaping the recommendations and advise on solutions aimed to ensure efficient approaches in the training on judicial/forensic expertise and procedures delivered to justice professionals, aligned to the best international practices.
2. Provide support to the UNDP International Consultant in organizing and facilitating participatory workshops to present and validate the findings and recommendations of the review;
3. Provide substantive support to the UNDP International Consultant in the process of developing the Analysis Report. The support shall include, but is not limited to:

• Provide necessary references and legal grounds to substantiate the findings;
• Provide necessary references and legal grounds to substantiate the recommendations and solutions;
• Provide support to proof reading of the Analysis Report, as to ensure compliance with the specialised language and national regulatory framework covering the assessed area;
• Support organisation and facilitate discussions and consultations with the relevant stakeholders, when necessary, in relation to validating and or clearing the findings and recommendations in the Report.

1. Provide substantive support to the UNDP International Consultant in the process of developing draft proposals for adjusting the curricula for the training on judicial/forensic expertise and procedures for justice professionals, customized for each category of justice professionals, and endorse those with the management and/or delegated personnel of the national institutions providing initial and/or continuous training for justice professionals;
2. Provide upon necessity ad-hoc translation of documents relevant for the activity of the UNDP International Consultant as well as interpretation during meeting and interviews, as well as coordinate with the A2J Project Team engagement of any such specialised services;
3. Provide throughout the assignment administrative support related to organisation and conduct of meetings, interviews, validation workshops with the stakeholders, including other support necessary for preparation of the UNDP International Consultant missions to the Republic of Moldova.

^[1] National institutions providing initial and/or continuous training for justice professionals , Superior Council of Magistrates, Superior Council of Prosecutors, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Union of Lawyers, as well as management and/or delegated personnel from the national judicial expertise institutions and private forensic experts’ bureaus, as well as other stakeholders identified at the desk review and methodology preparation phases.

For detailed information, please refer to Terms of Reference by following the link https://sc.undp.md/jobdetails/2383/

Proposals must be submitted online no later than 11 February 2022. For detailed instructions, please, follow the link above and get acquainted with the Individual Contractor Procurement Notice attached to the announcement.

Requests for clarification only must be sent by standard electronic communication to the following e-mail: victoria.muntean@undp.org.