Legal Translator Interpreter

Title : Legal Translator Interpreter
Job ID : 5528
Practice Area - Job Family : UNW Legal - RULE OF LAW/SECURITY, Peace Building
Vacancy End Date :  15/09/2016 (Midnight New York, USA)
Duty Station : Ramallah, Palestine
Education & Work Experience : G-Bachelor's Level Degree - 2 year(s) experience
Languages Required:Arabic, English

Grade  : GP
Vacancy Type : National Regular UN Volunteer
Posting Type : External
Bureau : Arab States
Contract Duration : 3 months with possibility of extension
   
Only nationals of Palestine who are 22 years and above with two years of work/volunteer experience are eligible to apply.

Background
   

In December 1978, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 33/147, which called on UNDP to provide assistance to the Palestinian people. By this date, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip had endured over 10 years of occupation, which had led to increased levels of poverty and unemployment. Hundreds of thousands were living in refugee camps in slum conditions without the most basic amenities.  Infrastructure had been allowed to deteriorate, including schools, health facilities, housing, roads, and water and sanitation systems, despite the steady population growth.in response to the UN resolution in support of the economic and social development of the Palestinian people, UNDP launched the Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP). A programme office was established, initially in New York and subsequently in East Jerusalem. A donor campaign was organized, and field operations commenced in August 1980.      

In mid-2014, UNDP and UN Women joined forced under the Joint Programme: Strengthening the Rule of Law: Justice and Security for the Palestinian People’ (Sawasya). The Joint Programme aims to develop and maintain the conditions for a viable State of Palestine based on the rule of law and principles of gender equality. The programme will work to enhance the capacities of, and public confidence in, rule of law institutions, and strengthen access to justice, security and protection services, especially for women and girls. Interventions are designed with a view to sustainability and linking activities to ‘system-level’ policy development.

Support rests on a supply and demand equation that combines enhanced service delivery by resilient justice and security institutions with the public’s ability to access such services and hold duty-bearers to account. By increasing public confidence in the sector, support is designed to be catalytic, strengthening state-society relations and creating an enabling environment for development. The Joint Programme is oriented around the following seven mutually reinforcing interventions:

-Capacity of justice and security institutions strengthened and linkages forged;
-Civil society contribution to rule of law and community access to justice in the West Bank enhanced;
-Civil society contribution to the rule of law and community access to justice in the Gaza Strip enhanced;
-Gender responsiveness of justice, security and legislative actors strengthenedWomen and girls access to justice and security improved by ensuring accountable service provision to prevent, protect and respond to violence, and by addressing their broader legal needs;
-Juvenile justice and adherence to child rights improved;
-Capacity of key actors and stakeholders to monitor progress and results in rule of law development increased.

The Joint Programme builds on the achievements and findings of its predecessors: the UNDP Rule of Law & Access to Justice Programme in the oPt (2010-2014), the UNDP/EUPOL COPPS Joint Programme (2012-2014), and the UN Women Project on Support for Delivery of Security and Justice Services for Women (2011-2014). Importantly, the Programme uses baselines captured during these earlier programmes as a means to monitor results and inform future planning. The Joint Programme targets both the supply and the demand sides of the rule of law equation, building on existing partnerships with key justice and security institutions, including the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Interior, the High Judicial Council, the Attorney-General’s Office, the Palestinian Civil Police, the Palestinian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Corruption Crimes Court, as well as with the Palestinian Bar Association, civil society organisations and academic institutions.

The programme team is comprised of 16 staff, including 12 staff based in East Jerusalem/Ramallah and 4 staff based in Gaza City. In view of the access and movement restrictions, staff members based in the Gaza Strip enjoy a considerable degree of self-reliance and autonomy. At the same time, UNDP/PAPP makes every effort to build an effective and inspired team with strengthened linkages between the West Bank and Gaza, including by organising regular team meetings and retreats as well as frequent exchange visits.
   
Duties and Responsibilities
   

Under the overall guidance of the Joint Programme Manager and the direct supervision of the UNDP Programme Specialist, the UN Volunteer will support the European Union funded “Building a Sustainable Legal Aid System in Palestine” Project by providing translation for all aspects of the Project’s work including simultaneous/consecutive translation for meetings or events as needed and written translation of all relevant legal and non-legal texts.

The UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks for the Project:

-Translate from English to Arabic and vice versa all legal documents including policy papers and laws as requested in support of UNDP’s components of the Joint Programme.
-Ensure quality of all translated documents used by the programme team.
-Provide professional interpreting services as required, Arabic to English and English to Arabic, to the programme team, including simultaneous interpretation.
-Provide professional simultaneous interpreting services to facilitate workshops, training events and consultation meetings, Arabic to English/English to Arabic and ensure effective communication with partners.
-Provide professional translation of technical legal documents, reports, workshop and training material and letters from Arabic to English/English to Arabic as requested.
-Ensure that the quality of all translation services used by the team are in accordance with best practice.
-Provide administrative support in organization of training events and activities, workshops and other project events.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

-Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark IVD);
-Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
-Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
-Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
-Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
-Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

   
Competencies
   

-Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented.
-Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations.
-Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.
-Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities.
-Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender;
-Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;
-Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary;
-Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

   
Required Skills and Experience
   

-Academic; Bachelors Degree in English or any other related field. In exceptional cases, professional experience in rule of law/security sector translation will suffice instead of a Degree.
-Demonstrated interest and/or experience (up to 2 years) in Translation/Interpretation in the areas of security, rule of law and human rights considered a major advantage;
-Experience in translating  legal documents considered a must;
-Motivated to contribute towards peace and development and to serve others;
-Good interpersonal, networking and communication skills;
-Willingness to contribute and work as part of a team;
-Flexible and open to learning and new experiences;
-Respect for diversity and adaptability to other cultures, environments and living conditions;
-Fluency in spoken and written Arabic and English is required .
-Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded;
-Computer skills (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, social media, and others).

   
Disclaimer
   

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme which welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture.

United Nations Volunteers reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this opening for other openings with United Nations Volunteers with similar assignment description, experience and educational requirements.