Type of Job
Job Family
Human Rights Affairs
Job Opening Number
22-Human Rights Affairs-UNMISS-192622-J- (M)
Deadline: 20 Oct 2022
Description
Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) with duty station, Yei. The incumbent reports to the Coordinator of the Human Rights Division, under the overall guidance and direction of the Director of the Human Rights Division (HRD).
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
Formulates recommendations and suggests strategies to better promote and protect human rights in the mission area, including for peace processes.
Works directly with other UNMISS components, including the police and military, to integrate human rights considerations into the planning and review of their programs and operations, including through developing procedures and policies, as appropriate.
Plans, coordinates, and leads multidisciplinary teams in the conduct of investigations into alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in South Sudan in compliance with UN standards.
Ensures, coordinates and supervises the timely entry of accurate and verified human rights cases into an established database; conducts quality control and delivers statistics and trend reports as required;
Ensures the integration of UN-developed methodology into human rights monitoring, reporting, protection and investigation activities;
Drafts, reviews, and coordinates the timely delivery of a variety of reports, briefings and other type of communications in compliance with established standards, including with regard to public human rights reports; Analyses and synthesizes significant amounts of information of relevance to human rights;
Develops information gathering and operational plans, including interviews and the collection and analysis of open sources material;
Develops the methodology and tools to collect and process all data including for the identification of perpetrators.
Maintains OHCHR Database up to date and clear documentation systems;
Contributes, and where required, coordinates the implementation of the Human Rights Due- Diligence Policy on UN support to non-UN forces including by coordinating risk assessments and ensuring relevant human rights monitoring information is gathered, as well as advises on support and follow-up for the implementation of the Policy;
Contributes to the integration of human rights in the mission’s protection of civilians (PoC) efforts and, where relevant, coordinates such efforts including by, inter-alia, mapping and reporting protection risks, early warning, advising UN uniformed personnel on human rights issues during the conduct of their operations, and participating or coordinating in Joint Protection Teams, as required; in compliance with established standards, including with regard to public human rights reports;
Plans, designs, implements and evaluates strategies for the mainstreaming of human rights in the activities of the UNCT and advocates for the integration of human rights in all programmes;
Contributes to the integration of human rights in humanitarian action, through participating or coordinating emergency preparedness and response activities including in the work of the Protection Cluster, as appropriate;
Establishes and maintains contact with national authorities, civil society, UN Agencies, Funds/ and Programmes with complementary mandates, and other relevant partners to inform on the human rights situation in the mission area and advises on strategic and policy issues to better protect and promote human rights;
Contributes to the integration of gender perspectives/considerations and specific women/girls’ rights issues in all activities, programmes and strategies;
Facilitates cooperation and appropriate communication with OHCHR in the establishment of policies and sharing of best practices;
Designs, coordinates and evaluates capacity building efforts, including those supporting institution-building and institutional reforms, for alignment with international human rights norms and to meet international human rights law obligations;
Designs, delivers, coordinates and evaluates human rights training programmes for national officials, civil society representatives, human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs), National Human Rights Institutions and other national stakeholders;
Coordinates with other UN mission components, UN actors and other regional and international organizations to create opportunities to integrate human rights into their training and cooperation programmes, including those aiming at legislative, rule of law and security sector reforms.
Serves as team leader with responsibility to develop office workplans and other strategic documents; Trains, coaches and supervises new and junior staff, manages their performance, and assists in training needs assessments;
Performs other related duties as required.
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of human rights and transitional justice issues and ability to identify related problems in their political, ethnic, racial, gender equality and socio-economic dimensions. Knowledge of institutional mandates of human rights organizations, prevailing policies and procedures. Research and analytical skills, including ability to identify and participate in the resolution of human rights issues. Ability to identify sources for data collection, research and analyze information and draft human rights reports. Ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the human rights situation in the area of assignment. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; Appraises performance fairly
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences, information systems management or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in human rights monitoring and investigation, political affairs, international relations, law or related area is required.
Experience working in an international organization or non-governmental organization in a conflict or post-conflict setting outside the country of origin is required.
Experience in designing, managing capacity building progammes and conducting Human Rights trainings is required.
Experience in managing technical cooperation projects is required.
A minimum of three (3) years of experience supervising a team is required.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required.
