Dispute Resolution Reform Research Manager - REMIT Programme

Dispute Resolution Reform Research Manager

Background

The Revenue Mobilisation, Investment and Trade (REMIT) programme (2021–2027), funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by Adam Smith International (ASI), provides technical assistance to the Government of Pakistan to strengthen macroeconomic stability, enhance governance systems, and improve conditions for sustainable economic growth.

A central component of this support is the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Economic Governance Reforms (PM-EGR), a comprehensive, time-bound reform programme approved on 31 December 2025. The PM-EGR spans 15 priority reform areas and 141 action items and is recognised as a Structural Benchmark under the IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

A key reform area under PM-EGR is Reform Action 5: Enhancing Predictability and Efficiency in Legal Enforcement of Economic Rights, which focuses on improving dispute resolution systems, reducing case backlogs, strengthening enforcement mechanisms, and promoting alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

To support implementation, a Technical Unit (TU) has been established within the Ministry of Finance to provide analytical support, track reform progress, and facilitate inter-agency coordination and policy dialogue.

Activity Context

The effectiveness of dispute resolution systems has direct implications for:

• Investment climate and private sector confidence

• Contract enforcement and economic rights

• Tax dispute resolution and revenue mobilisation

• Overall governance and regulatory credibility

Reform Action 5 includes key initiatives such as:

• Developing methodologies to address case backlogs

• Establishing data collection and performance monitoring frameworks

• Analysing judicial performance data to inform reforms

• Expanding alternative dispute resolution mechanisms

Given the technical and institutional complexity of these reforms, there is a need for dedicated analytical support to:

• Assess existing dispute resolution systems

• Identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies

• Develop implementable reform options

• Support data-driven monitoring and policy dialogue

Job Summary

The Dispute Resolution Reform Research Manager will provide research and analytical support to the economic dispute resolution reform cluster under PM-EGR, focusing on strengthening legal enforcement mechanisms and improving the efficiency of dispute resolution systems.

The role will support development of evidence-based reform proposals, contribute to monitoring frameworks, and provide analytical inputs to Technical Unit outputs and policy dialogue processes.

Duties and Responsibilities

The roles and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

1. Conduct research and analysis on dispute resolution systems, including courts, tribunals, and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

2. Assess institutional frameworks and identify bottlenecks affecting case backlog, enforcement timelines, and efficiency.

3. Support design and refinement of reform actions under Reform Action 5, including backlog reduction methodologies and ADR expansion.

4. Prepare evidence notes, analytical briefs, and background papers for Technical Committees and policy dialogue sessions.

5. Support development of data collection and performance monitoring frameworks for dispute resolution systems.

6. Contribute to development of outcome-oriented KPIs and indicators for tracking reform progress.

7. Provide analytical inputs to the Reform Action Matrix (RAM) and Tracking Outcomes Matrix (TOM).

8. Support preparation of materials for Economic Reform Conferences, including reform summaries and issue notes.

9. Liaise with relevant stakeholders, including Ministry of Law & Justice, judiciary, tribunals, and regulatory bodies.

10. Support identification of implementation challenges and provide practical recommendations for reform course correction.

Qualifications and Experience

1. Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in law, public policy, governance, or a related field.

2. Minimum 5–8 years of relevant experience in:

   • Legal and judicial reform

   • Dispute resolution systems

   • Public policy and governance

3. Strong understanding of:

   • Pakistan’s judicial and tribunal systems

   • Economic dispute resolution and enforcement challenges

4. Experience in:

   • Policy research and analytical writing

   • Working with government institutions and stakeholders

5. Strong analytical, research, and communication skills.

Reporting

The consultant will report to:

• Governance & Reforms Specialist (Technical Unit Team Lead)

• With coordination support from the REMIT Macroeconomic Adviser

Duration and Level of Effort

• Days/Month: 10

• Months: 6

• Total LOE: 60 Days