| Overview : To support UNDP in effectively implementing ongoing and exploring new opportunities of engagement in the governance space in LAC, UNDP is seeking to recruit a highly qualified consultant to elaborate the enclosed knowledge products on Transparency and Anticorruption at the Judiciary to assist UNDP considering the changing political context, geopolitics of the region and evolving priorities of development partners and LAC governments. Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries were and continue to be heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In terms of health resilience, with less than 9% of the world´s population, the region account for 18% of global cases and 27% of the deaths. In terms of productivity impact, LAC has been the hardest hit region with 34 million jobs lost and the number of unemployed will rise to more than 44 million. In terms of inclusion, extreme poverty is projected to increase from 24% in 2019 to 27.6% in 2021, while the income of the very top has grown by more than 40% during the COVID-19. This grotesque inequality has a direct impact on the perceptions of justice and human rights and creates ruptures to the social fabric. As such, rule of law is the pre-condition to build consensus for a new and more inclusive social contract. Satisfaction with the functioning of democracy and support for democracy as a form of government have been declining in Latin America and some Caribbean countries over the years. COVID-19 has exacerbated the risks of intensification of social protests, populist tendencies and democratic backsliding. However, based on the survey by the UNDP LAC hub, the initial phase of COVID-19 responses does not seem to have given rise to widespread support for unfettered government action. Nor has it led people to call for more effective mechanisms to limit individual freedoms. In fact, most citizens seem to favor greater government accountability and stronger human rights protections. As part of the Regional Hub, the Governance and Peacebuilding team encompasses a programmatic approach to foster regional work on Citizen Security, Conflict Prevention and Democratic Dialogue, and Participation and Inclusion, through support to countries and adequate quality control of the different projects and initiatives in the region. In the area of Rule of Law, it has consolidated its support in the region on issues of violence prevention, security, justice, and human rights through the promotion of regional, national and local intervention strategies that focus on increasing the capacities of institutions to achieve efficient, transparent and people-centered responses. The Judiciary plays a crucial role in sanctioning corruption in the countries of the region and the promotion of transparency. The justice sector is responsible for the investigation, prosecution and punishment of crimes related to this phenomenon. There are a number that are responsible for receiving the complaint, conducting the investigation, and directing the process through to prosecution and punishment. From the regional space, we connect, strengthen, and enhance the conversation between experiences to share learning, results and promote cooperation between countries and regions. We ensure substantive advice and support to LAC Country Offices on rule of law, access to justice, human rights, integrating Country Offices, Regional Programmes and in coordination with UNDP's Rule of Law global team. The overall objective of this proposal is to generate evidence-based knowledge through the analysis of the justice sector in corruption cases in Latin America and the Caribbean, with the aim of strengthening the technical capacity of the Regional Center and country offices to assist governments and the judiciary in LAC to reach the benefits of the rule of law, anti-corruption, and transparency. Period of Assignment /Services duration: 4 months. Estimated start date: December 2021. Proposal should be submitted only at the following email: procurement.rblac.regionalhub@undp.org Your proposal should be submitted under subject/reference: 19106-2021: INDIVIDUAL CONTRACT for “Consultant Policy Note -The analysis of the justice sector in corruption cases in Latin America and the Caribbean-”. NO later than Monday, November 29th, 2021 at 15:00 (UTC /GMT -5), time of the Republic of Panama. Any request for clarification must be sent in writing, or by standard electronic communication to the e-mail indicated above NO later than Wednesday, November 17th, 2021 at 15:00 (UTC /GMT-5), time of the Republic of Panama. Procurement Unit RSC LAC will respond by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants. The procedures for the acquisition of services will be the ones indicated by the United Nations Development Program. This process is directed only to one individual. Any proposal received by more than two individuals jointly or legal entity will be rejected. Likewise, all the proposals from consultants involved in the elaboration of the present Terms of Reference will be rejected. | 
