National Legal expert (Roster Call)

About the role

The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek (POiB) supports the Kyrgyz Republic in strengthening the rule of law, improving the administration of justice, advancing legal and institutional reforms, enhancing cybersecurity resilience, countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism and radicalization leading to terrorism (VERLT), and promoting digital transformation of public institutions. Through its Politico-Military Department, the POiB provides technical assistance to national authorities in the development and review of legislation, policies, strategies, national programmes, action plans, and other regulatory frameworks in areas including cybersecurity, digitalization, digital evidence, criminal justice, counter-terrorism, and preventing VERLT.

To ensure the timely availability of specialized legal expertise for current and future programme activities, the POiB seeks to establish and maintain a roster of qualified National Legal Experts who may be engaged on an ad hoc basis under Special Service Agreements (SSAs).

Objective

To identify and pre-qualify experienced National Legal Experts capable of providing specialized legal and policy expertise in support of the development, review, implementation, and evaluation of legislation, policies, strategies, action plans, and institutional reforms in the fields of cybersecurity, digital evidence, legal reform and development, counter-terrorism, and preventing VERLT.

Duration of Assignment

Maximum 9 months.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Conduct legal and regulatory assessments related to cybersecurity, digital evidence, VERLT, and criminal justice reforms;
• Review existing legislation and identify gaps, inconsistencies and areas requiring harmonization with international standards;
• Draft and revise laws, bylaws, regulations, policies, procedures, guidelines and other normative legal acts;
• Support development of national programmes, strategies, concepts, roadmaps and action plans;
• Facilitate consultations, working groups, expert meetings and stakeholder discussions;
• Prepare analytical papers, policy briefs, comparative legal studies and expert recommendations;
• Develop training materials, manuals, presentations and methodological guidance;
• Deliver trainings, workshops and capacity-building activities for public officials and other stakeholders;
• Provide expertise on digital evidence collection, preservation, management and admissibility in legal proceedings;
• Prepare final consultancy reports and other project-related deliverables as requested by the POiB.

Deliverables

• Assessment reports, legal opinions and analytical papers submitted;
• Legislative review reports and recommendations produced;
• Draft legal, regulatory and strategic documents and implementation plans submitted;
• Consultation reports and meeting outcomes documented;
• Training packages and methodological materials prepared;
• Training sessions successfully conducted and evaluated;
• Technical and legal recommendations developed;
• Final reports submitted in accordance with OSCE requirements.

Necessary Qualifications

• First-level university degree in Law or Jurisprudence;
• Additional qualifications in cybersecurity, information technologies, international relations, public administration, criminal justice, international law or related fields would be an asset;
• Minimum five (5) years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas:
  • Legislative drafting and legal reform;
  • Cybersecurity and cybercrime legislation;
  • Counter-terrorism and VERLT-related legal frameworks;
  • Digital evidence and criminal procedure;
  • Development of national programmes, strategies and action plans;
  • Public administration reform
• Demonstrated experience in drafting laws, regulations, bylaws, policies, strategies or other normative legal documents;
• Knowledge of the legal framework of the Kyrgyz Republic and relevant international standards and good practices;
• Experience working with government institutions, international organizations and donor-funded projects would be an asset;
• Professional fluency in Russian language, both oral and written;
• Knowledge of English and Kyrgyz would be an asset;
• Ability to work independently under minimum supervision and deliver against tight deadlines;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
• Computer literate with practical experience using Microsoft applications.