Result of Service

i. Conduct a desk review of relevant policies, legislation, strategies, training materials, and existing studies related to criminal justice case management systems and institutional capacity development in Uganda. ii. Develop an inception report detailing the methodology, work plan, data collection tools, and analytical framework for the Training Needs Assessment. iii. Design and administer appropriate assessment tools, including surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and stakeholder consultations. iv. Conduct a Training Needs Assessment to identify knowledge, skills, institutional capacity gaps, and priority training needs for criminal justice institutions in strengthening case management systems. v. Assess the effectiveness of existing case management practices, coordination mechanisms, information sharing, and use of case management information systems to the extent necessary to identify capacity development needs. vi. Integrate gender and human rights considerations throughout the assessment, identifying gender-specific capacity gaps and training requirements. vii. Analyse and validate the assessment findings with key stakeholders and incorporate feedback into the final analysis. viii. Develop practical, evidence-based recommendations and a prioritized capacity development framework to guide the design and implementation of training programmes for criminal justice institutions. ix. Develop a draft Training Needs Assessment Report and support the organization and facilitation of a validation workshop. x. Submit a final Training Needs Assessment Report, together with a policy brief summarising key findings, priority training needs, and recommended interventions.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

12 October - 20 November 2026

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Background of the assignment: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is mandated to support Member States in strengthening crime prevention, criminal justice systems, and the rule of law in line with international standards and norms. In Uganda, UNODC is implementing the project “Promoting Accountability, Integrity and Transparency in Justice”, with the support of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), aimed at enhancing institutional accountability, integrity, and effectiveness across the justice and anti-corruption landscape. Despite ongoing reforms, Uganda continues to face challenges related to case management inefficiencies, corruption, limited investigative and enforcement capacity, and constraints affecting access to justice and accountability outcomes. Addressing these challenges requires evidence-based diagnostics to identify systemic, institutional, and operational gaps across criminal justice and law enforcement institutions. Within this context, UNODC seeks to undertake targeted needs assessments to generate actionable evidence that will inform technical assistance, capacity development programmes, and policy engagement under the ADA-supported project. The assessments are intended to strengthen decision-making, improve sequencing of interventions and training design, and ensure that project activities are responsive to identified needs and aligned with national priorities. In particular, findings from the assessments will directly inform the co-creation, development, and implementation of gender-transformative training programmes for national criminal justice actors, including the design of curricula that integrate accountability, transparency, and gender-responsive approaches. The findings of the assessments will support UNODC and national stakeholders in designing and implementing focused interventions to improve justice sector performance, anti-corruption enforcement, and accountability mechanisms, while ensuring consistency with human rights, gender equality, and good governance principles. 2. Purpose of the assignment: The purpose of this assignment is to conduct a training needs assessment of criminal justice institutions in Uganda, with a specific focus on strengthening case management systems and capacities to make effective use of them across the justice chain. The assessment will examine institutional, procedural, and system-level factors affecting case flow, coordination, efficiency, and accountability from arrest through adjudication, detention, and post-custodial processes. The assessment will identify gaps, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improving case management practices, including the use of data, coordination mechanisms, and information systems among key justice sector actors. A dedicated gender analysis will be undertaken to assess how case management systems impact women, men, and other vulnerable groups differently, and to identify gender-specific barriers, risks, and opportunities for improvement within the justice process, thereby meaningfully mainstreaming gender considerations throughout the assignment. The findings will inform targeted technical assistance, capacity development, and reform initiatives under the ADA-supported project, and support evidence-based engagement with national stakeholders on justice sector efficiency, accountability, and gender-responsive justice reforms. They will also provide a foundation for the development of tailored capacity-building interventions for criminal justice actors, particularly in shaping training approaches that integrate gender-responsive case management, institutional accountability, and transparency considerations, and support the strengthening of sustainable training mechanisms within the justice system. 4. Expected tangible and measurable output(s)/deliverable(s): 1. Inception report developed and submitted, detailing the methodology, data collection tools, work plan, and approach for data collection including the approach for the dedicated gender analysis. 2. Data collection tools designed and applied, including interview guides, consultation frameworks, and assessment instruments tailored to analyse case management systems and training needs across criminal justice institutions, with documented consultations and compiled datasets. 3. Stakeholder consultations and fieldwork conducted, and qualitative and quantitative data on case management practices, institutional coordination, data use, and training needs collected, analysed, and synthesised. 4. Draft Training Needs Assessment Report produced, presenting preliminary findings on case management systems, institutional and capacity gaps, and identified training priorities, including gender-responsive considerations. 5. Validation workshop conducted with UNODC and key criminal justice stakeholders to review, validate, and refine findings and proposed training priorities and recommendations. 6. Final Training Needs Assessment Report submitted, incorporating stakeholder feedback and providing comprehensive findings, conclusions, and practical recommendations to inform capacity development and training design, including inputs relevant to gender-transformative training approaches. 7. Summary brief developed, highlighting key findings, priority capacity gaps, and recommended training focus areas to support engagement with national stakeholders and inform subsequent programme design presented at the launch of the report. 8. Presentation of the final report to key actors (one day event) completed

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Law, Public Policy, Development Studies, Criminology, Social Sciences, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in similar fields, combined with at least two (2) additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A minimum of 5 years of professional work experience in anti-corruption, asset recovery, criminal justice, rule of law, or a related field is required.
Demonstrated experience in conducting assessments, evaluations, research, capacity assessments, or technical/training needs assessments in the justice, anti-corruption, or law enforcement sector is required Proven experience in mainstreaming gender and human rights perspectives into justice sector analysis and programming is required. Experience in stakeholder engagement and facilitating consultative processes desirable.
Experience with criminal justice case management systems, case flow management, or digital case management processes within the justice sector is required

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

National Consultant to conduct training needs assessment for criminal justice institutions to strengthen case management systems.