Job Opening - Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Posting Title:    HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER (2 posts) (TJO), P3 (Temporary Job Opening)

Job Opening
Posting Title:    HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER (2 posts) (TJO), P3 (Temporary Job Opening)
Job Code Title:    HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER
Department/Office:    Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Duty Station:    YAOUNDE; ADDIS ABABA;
Posting Period:    28 July 2023 - 03 August 2023
Job Opening Number:    23-Human Rights Affairs-OHCHR-214573-J- (R)
Staffing Exercise    N/A
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
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Org. Setting and Reporting
These positions are located in the Regional Offices of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and Yaoundé (Cameroon). The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Head of the Regional Office and under the general guidance of the Coordinator of the Treaty Body Capacity Building Programme in the Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division.

Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Conducts an analysis of the engagement of countries in the region with treaty bodies, using the treaty body database, with a special focus on ratification, reporting, and other procedures under the core human rights treaties.
• Develops related capacity building strategy and plan of activities on the basis of needs-assessment and mapping of stakeholders, and reaches out to States in the region to offer technical assistance.
• Organizes capacity-building activities for States and other stakeholders on reporting under human rights treaties and implementation of the recommendations of treaty bodies, on establishing or strengthening national mechanisms for reporting and follow-up (NMRF), and the use of the Universal Human Rights Index (UHRI), the National Recommendations and Tracking Database (NRTD) and other digital tools developed by OHCHR.
• Facilitates country-to-country exchanges of best practices in treaty reporting and follow-up.
• Collects and analyses good practices by States in fulfilling their human rights treaties obligations, including gender-specific data and indicators.
• Ensures the broad dissemination of treaty body concluding observations, general comments, tools, manuals, training materials and good practices in the countries of the region.
• Provides support to treaty bodies; follow-up to the implementation of decisions rendered by treaty bodies and other human rights mechanisms.
• Conducts substantive research and analysis of the work of human rights treaty bodies and develops training materials based on it.
• Writes a variety of reports, communications, briefings, statements.
• May provide guidance to new/junior staff.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of human rights 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, in particular of the UN human rights treaty bodies. 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, including electronic sources on the Internet, intranet and other databases, 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. 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.

Education
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences 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 five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law or related area is required.

Experience in human rights related issues is required.

Work experience in connection with the UN human rights treaty bodies is desirable.

Experience in building institutional capacity for national human rights or sustainable development-related machinery is desirable.

Experience working with the United Nations Common System or similar international organizations or NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) is desirable.

Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the positions advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Fluency in another UN official language is an advantage .

Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice
THESE POSITIONS ARE TEMPORARILY AVAILABLE UNTIL 31 DECEMBER 2023, WITH POSSIBILITY OF EXTENSION – SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.

• A current staff member who holds a fixed-term, permanent or continuing appointment may apply for temporary positions no more than one level above his or her current grade.

• However, a current staff member who holds an appointment at the G-6 or G-7 level may also apply to temporary positions in the Professional category up to and including the P-3 level, subject to meeting all eligibility and other requirements for the position.

• A staff member holding a temporary appointment shall be regarded as an external candidate when applying for other positions, and may apply for other temporary positions at any level, subject to section 5.7 below and staff rule 4.16 (b) (ii). Therefore, a staff member holding a temporary appointment in the General Service or related categories may only apply to positions within those categories. For full information on eligibility requirements, please refer to section 5 of ST/AI/2010/4 Rev.1 on Temporary Appointments.

• Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.

• If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.

• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.

• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.


United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

All applications must be submitted ONLINE at :  https://careers.un.org/lbw/jobdetail.aspx?id=214573  .