OPPORTUNITY: ABA-UNDP International Legal Resource Center (ILRC) - UNDP/Uzbekistan

[T]he ABA-UNDP International Legal Resource Center (ILRC) has received a request from UNDP/Uzbekistan for multiple experts to assist in providing a legal opinion on the Uzbekistan’s Law on Transparency.

In a speech to the Uzbek Parliament in 2010, the President of Uzbekistan indicated that he was interested in developing a law on transparency of activities of state authorities and government agencies. This concept note in English is available here: http://mfa.uz/eng/press_and_media_service/dates/the_concept/address_by_the_president_12_11_2010.mgr. In early 2013, the Government of Uzbekistan made a decision to conduct legal experiment (similar to ex-ante regulatory impact assessment) of the draft law in Samarkand and Bukhara regions within one year period. In December 2013, the results of legal experiment will be assessed and incorporated into draft law prior to its submission to Parliament of Uzbekistan. The process of legal experiment is reflected in official website: http://legalexperiment.uz/.

Given the fact of UNDP/LGSP (www.lgsp.uz) project has already piloted 6 Local Government Information Centers (such structures are mentioned in Article 7 of the draft law) in pilot regions, the project intends to give its official proposals to enhance the content of the draft law taking into account both its own experience and international best practices. UNDP is calling on the ILRC to provide international legal expertise part of this policy advisory exercise.

The team of experts will be expected to assist in the following:

1. To define the scope of government transparency laws applicable in other countries (up to 5 countries as an example) and make recommendation on what such laws should regulate in principle;

2. To review the draft law of Uzbekistan for its conformity/compliance with international human rights instruments regulating access to information, freedom of information and speech, and disclosure of public information (information that has importance to public). The relevant recommendations of UN Treaty bodies as to Uzbekistan should be taken into account;

3. To provide comments to the Articles in the draft law of Uzbekistan whether these Articles are logically well-construed, applicable to practice of government bodies and consistent to each other (and with other related laws and regulations, if applicable);

4. To develop recommendations to improve the overall scope, content and provisions contained in the Articles of the draft law.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

Experts must be available for at least 3-6 weeks to work on this project. This is a pro bono home based opportunity. Experts will receive the documents to be reviewed via email and return comments and recommendations within the specified timeframe. The ILRC will compile all the comments and recommendations into one comprehensive report for UNDP/Uzbekistan and their stakeholders to review.

We expect to begin this project during the month of December. We would like a team of lawyers to work on this project. S/he must have:

• · An advance degree in Law, Public Administration, or relevant degree
• · At least 6-10 years of related experience
• · Experience in legislative reform, drafting legislation, and policy development
• · Knowledge and experience of CIS and Central Asian region
• · Excellent analytical and drafting skills with the ability to deal with a range of complex legal issues
• · Experience in multiple jurisdictions is a plus
• · Excellent analytical and drafting skills with the ability to deal with a range of complex legal issues
• · Experience with UNDP or another UN agency and familiarity with UN/UNDP field operations is a plus
• · Fluency in written and oral English

We would be most appreciative if you would review and determine whether you, anyone you know or any organization with which you are affiliated may have any knowledge of experts who might be good candidates. . The deadline for expressions of interest is November 25, 2013. Expressions of interest must include CVs and a short cover letter expressing related and relevant experience. As always, we appreciate your assistance and please do not hesitate to contact us for more information or if you have any questions.

Completed applications must be sent to Jacqueline.Gichinga@americanbar.org.