Legal Research Consultant - Katarungang Pambarangay System

EU-GOJUST Program 

For nearly 20 years, the European Union (EU) and the Republic of the Philippines have partnered to strengthen the pillars of justice in the Philippines. Beginning in 2016, these efforts were delivered through the Governance in Justice (GOJUST) programme. The EU-GOJUST programme is focused on improving access to justice for all Filipinos and contributing to Philippine socio-economic development through a more effective, inclusive, and accountable justice system. These efforts are pursued by supporting the priorities of Philippine justice institutions such as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Supreme Court, and justice-sector civil society organizations and law schools.  

Following the successful completion of the first two iterations of the EU-GOJUST programme, the EU and the Philippines signed a Financing Agreement in November 2024, to continue these efforts through the EU-GOJUST programme.  

Katarungang Barangay System and the RevAmP Program 

The Katarungang Pambarangay (KP) System, established under the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160, Sections 399-422), aims to promote amicable settlement of disputes at the barangay level to decongest courts and enhance access to justice. However, consultations have consistently surfaced implementation challenges such as inconsistent enforcement, lack of capacity among Lupong Tagapamayapa members, jurisdictional overlaps, and limited integration with higher judicial processes. These challenges have undermined the KP System’s effectiveness.  

The framework study seeks to assess the current KP System and analyze these gaps and propose targeted legal amendments to strengthen the system's efficiency, accessibility, and alignment with the 1987 Philippine Constitution, existing international standards, as well as the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.  

The findings of the framework study also aim to support and contribute to the Department of Interior and Local Government-Bureau of Local Government Development’s Review and Amendment Program (RevAmP). The objective of RevAmP is to recalibrate the LGC to better respond to the demands faced by local governments by determining long-standing governance gaps and emerging local development realities, considering that the law has been passed 35 years ago.  

1. Objectives of the Consultancy 

The overall objective of this consultancy is to conduct a comprehensive framework study on the KP System, assess its overall implementation, and recommend specific amendments to the Local Government Code for improved implementation that will ensure greater effectiveness in dispute resolution at the grassroots level.  

Specific Objectives 

1. Review existing legal frameworks, jurisprudence, and policies on KP to identify gaps, inconsistencies, and barriers to implementation.  
2. Assess the KP system’s performance through desk research, legal analysis, process flow analysis, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews (KIIs) with relevant stakeholders including the DILG personnel, barangay officials, and members of the Lupon.  
3. Propose specific legislative amendments, including draft provisions, to address identified issues based on the assessment.  
4. Develop actionable recommendations for policy guidelines, administrative improvements, capacity development, and monitoring mechanisms to support amended implementation.  

2. Scope of Work and Tasks 

The Consultant will perform the following tasks:

A. Data gathering, consolidation, and analysis

i. Conduct a comprehensive review of all available documents related to the KP System.
ii. Conduct key informant interviews and focus group discussions with officials, members of the Lupon, and other relevant stakeholders.

a. At least five key informant interviews with DILG officials, academic experts, practitioners and other similar learned persons to be identified at the kickoff stage.
b. Three FGDs (one each in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao) with Lupon members
c. Three FGDs with LGU officials involved with KP work (one each in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao).

iii. Consolidate and analyze data

B. Reporting and Recommendations

i. Provide a comprehensive analysis report of the whole KP system (legal framework, implementation, performance, and effectiveness) that includes:

a. Current Implementation and Challenges
b. Barriers to Access to Justice
c. Cross-cutting patterns
d. Proposed amendments with justifications, rationale, and impact assessment
e. Actionable recommendations for policy guidelines, administrative improvements, capacity development, and monitoring mechanisms to support legislative amendments

ii. Present findings in a validation workshop with key stakeholders, including representatives from the DILG, Lupon members, and local justice services users.

C. Other Related Tasks

i. Coordinate regularly with the Programme Team and the Systems Analyst that will review the barangay justice information system.
ii. Contribute to knowledge products and presentations as may be required.
iii. Ensure that deliverables adhere to EU-GOJUST visibility and reporting standards.

3. Deliverables and Schedule

Education and Professional Experience

• Advanced degree in Public Administration and Governance, Social Sciences, Law, or related fields. 
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in local justice services, justice reform, or human rights programming. 
• Demonstrated experience in developing analytical frameworks and conducting participatory assessments. 
• Excellent understanding of the Philippine justice system and local governance context. 
• Strong analytical, writing, and facilitation skills. 
• Prior experience working with EU-funded or IDLO projects is an advantage. 

Languages 

• Excellent command of written and spoken English and Filipino. 

The consultancy shall be performed on an output-based structure, with payments tied to verified deliverables. The total work is estimated to require 40 working days.  

The Consultant will work under the overall supervision of a Senior Adviser and in coordination with the Programme Team. Payment will be made upon receipt by the consultant of deliverables of high quality, and upon approval by the supervisor, as per the mutually agreed schedule 

The consultancy is primarily home-based with possible travel to data gathering sites.

In the interest of making the most effective use of resources, only short-listed candidates will be contacted during the selection process.   

Deadline of Application: 12 June 2026