Project Officer

Job Description

Please note the appropriate Tier indicated in the vacancy title and ensure that you are holding the applicable contract as defined below:

•    Tier 1: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed term (FTA) appointments (defined as "internal" candidates)  

•    Tier 2: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA) and personnel on regular PSA contracts 

•    Tier 3: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Background

Viet Nam is undergoing significant legal and institutional reforms to modernize governance, strengthen the rule of law, and improve access to justice for all. Guided by the 2013 Constitution and Party Resolutions No. 27-NQ/TW and 66-NQ/TW, these reforms aim to build a socialist rule-of-law state that is transparent, accountable, and people-centered, with particular attention to legal harmonization, human rights integration, and improved public services, particularly for vulnerable groups.

Within this context, the European Union is supporting the Justice and Legal Empowerment Programme – Phase II (EU JULE II, 2025–2030), jointly implemented by UNDP and UNICEF in partnership with the Ministry of Justice. Building on the achievements of Phase I, the programme strengthens institutional capacity, advances digital transformation, promotes inclusive legal services, and enhances public trust in justice institutions. Its scope spans criminal, civil, and alternative dispute resolution areas, with cross-cutting priorities on gender equality, child justice, and human rights.

EU JULE II pursues two interlinked outcomes: improving access to a higher-quality, transparent, inclusive, and independent justice system aligned with Viet Nam's context and international human rights commitments; and strengthening the capacities of justice institutions and the general public to expand access to rights-based services. Strategic outputs include harmonizing legal provisions, improving legal aid and public service delivery, supporting alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms, fostering digital innovation in the justice sector, and promoting child-friendly and gender-sensitive justice practices.

The Project Officer (Access to Justice) will play an important role in advancing these objectives. The Project Officer (Access to Justice) will focus on enhancing the accessibility, quality, and inclusiveness of justice services by supporting legal aid, ADR, and legal and judicial service delivery, contributing to policy development and legal harmonization, and promoting innovations that benefit disadvantaged groups. A key part of the role will be to support capacity building for legal and judicial Officers/Analysts, strengthening their skills, knowledge, and coordination to improve institutional performance and accountability. 

The Project Officer (Access to Justice) will work under the technical guidance of the National Chief Technical Advisor (NCTA), with a matrix reporting line to the Project Manager, and will engage closely with Vietnamese legal and judicial agencies, UN partners, and other entities to ensure the effective delivery of programme objectives and its intended impact.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Officer (Access to Justice) will report directly to the Project Manager, who will serve as the primary supervisor for performance management, work planning, and delivery of results. The Project Officer (Access to Justice) will also work under the technical guidance of the National Chief Technical Advisor (CTA), who provides substantive direction and quality assurance on thematic and policy matters.

The Project Officer (Access to Justice) will be part of the core team implementing the EU JULE II, working in close coordination with other Project Officers/Analysts, UNDP programme staff, and relevant government counterparts. This structure ensures accountability for delivery while maintaining technical coherence of programme activities.

Summary of key functions:

• Ensure effective implementation of access to justice interventions under the State Component, covering the full programme cycle from design and formulation to delivery, monitoring, and reporting
• Provide technical expertise and facilitate knowledge management in advancing access to justice and inclusive legal and judicial services 
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships to ensure coherence and sustainability of access to justice reforms

More specifically, the Project Officer (Access to Justice) will:

Ensure effective implementation of access to justice interventions under the State Component, covering the full programme cycle from design and formulation to delivery, monitoring, and reporting. This includes:

• Conducting ongoing analysis of the political, legal, and social situation and preparing substantive inputs for programme documents, research, and policy dialogues.
• Translating programme priorities into actionable interventions and ensuring they are implemented with quality and consistency.
• Applying RBM tools, setting targets, and monitoring achievement of results, including substantive evaluation of impact and timely adjustment of activities.
• Preparing reports, briefing notes, and documentation for strategic meetings (e.g., Steering Committee, justice sector coordination) related to the thematic area of access to justice
• Coordinating with Vietnamese agencies, UN partners, and other stakeholders to ensure effective programme delivery, performance monitoring, and integration of lessons learned.

Provide technical expertise and facilitate knowledge management in advancing access to justice and inclusive legal and judicial services, by:

• Supporting justice sector reforms and legal harmonization in line with national priorities and international human rights commitments.
• Strengthening institutional and human capacity of legal and judicial officers through training and capacity development initiatives.
• Identifying innovative approaches, including digital solutions, to improve the accessibility, inclusiveness, and quality of justice services.
• Synthesizing best practices, lessons learned, and comparative experiences from Viet Nam and internationally to inform reforms and support evidence-based policymaking.
• Contributing to advocacy, communication, and awareness-raising initiatives to strengthen public understanding of legal rights and services.

Build and maintain strategic partnerships to ensure coherence and sustainability of access to justice reforms, by:

• Engaging with Vietnamese agencies, justice sector actors, development partners, UN agencies, civil society, and the private sector in line with programme priorities.
• Conducting research and analysis on potential partners, preparing briefs on areas of collaboration, and identifying opportunities for new interventions.
• Supporting inter-agency and multi-stakeholder coordination mechanisms to improve policy dialogue, service delivery, and accountability in the justice sector

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

Core competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements 
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible 
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Business Direction & Strategy

• System Thinking - Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Management

• Results-based Management - Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools
• Working with Evidence and Data - Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making 
• Partnerships Management - Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
• Communication - Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels

Partnership management     

• Relationship management - Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding 

Ethics 

• Legal Analysis and Report Writing - Ability to apply legal analysis to a diverse range of complex issues and express themselves clearly; ability to communicate well, to all levels of staff and contractors/consultants, governments etc.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Law or related field is required. OR.
• A first-level university degree (bachelor's degree) in the above field in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years (with Master's degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor's degree) of progressively responsible experience in the field of Law, Judiciary or related areas.

Required skills

• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc), data management, and web-based monitoring and reporting systems.

Desired skills

• Experience in the implementation of development projects in the areas of Law, Justice, or Governance is highly desirable.
• Experience with Vietnamese and international legal frameworks related to access to justice, legal aid, alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and related areas.
• Experience with drafting reports, policy briefings, and preparing training materials.
• Experience with analysing legal, institutional, and policy issues and providing practical, actionable recommendations.
• Experience in coordinating and maintaining effective working relationships with Vietnamese government counterparts, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and other development partners.
• Experience in developing training materials, delivering training, or providing technical assistance for training of legal/judicial personnel or justice sector institutions.
• Understanding of comparative approaches to justice reform, legal empowerment, human rights, and gender-responsive programming.
• Experience working in diverse teams and multicultural environments.
• Experience with supporting justice-related advocacy and public awareness initiatives, with a focus on rights-based approaches.

Required Languages

• Fluency in Vietnamese and English is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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