Senior Human Rights Officer, P-5

Position description

Org. Setting and Reporting

The position is located in the Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) within the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). The Senior Human Rights Officer will be based in Goma and will act as the Coordinator of the Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDDP) component /Profiling Unit of UNJHRO. The incumbent reports to the Director of the UNJHRO. Goma is classified a “D” Hardship location and non-family duty station.

Responsibilities

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

• 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.
• Advises on appropriate policies and strategies to better promote and protect human rights in the mission area, including for peace processes.
• Develops procedures and policies for the effective cooperation with other components of the UN peace mission, including with the police and military, and for the integration of human rights.
• Provides strategic guidance to the UN peace-mission, the United Nations Country Team and Humanitarian Country Team on the mainstreaming of human rights in the activities as required and advocate for the integration of human rights in these programs including with respect to the United Nations Development Assistance and Integrated Strategic frameworks as well as the Consolidated (Humanitarian) Appeal processes.
• Advises senior management and contributes to the integration of human rights in humanitarian action through participating or coordinating emergency preparedness and response activities, including the work of the Protection Cluster as appropriate.
• Devises advocacy strategies, advocates and advises relevant authorities including Government and State officials, UN Country Team (UNCT), and the UN mission senior management on strategies to better protect and promote human rights, mechanisms to stop impunity and to redress serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law.
• Ensures regular communication with OHCHR in the sharing of information and best practices, and in the creation of policies.
• Under the guidance of the Director of the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) represents the human rights component in decision-making fora.
• Contributes to the integration of gender perspectives/considerations and specific women/girls’ rights issues in all activities, programmes and strategies.
• Establishes and maintains contact with national authorities, civil society, UN actors and bodies, and other relevant partners, to inform on the human rights situation in the mission area and advice on strategic and policy issues to better protect and promote human rights.
• Contributes to promote coordination among all human rights related mandates present in the mission area. Analyzes and synthesizes significant amounts of information of relevance to human rights, including from open sources.
• Reaches out to various UN actors to collect and analyze information of relevance to human rights. Support the effective flow of information and channels human rights analysis and concerns for inclusion in crisis management and response.
• Provides strategic guidance to and as required, leads multidisciplinary teams in the conduct of investigations of human rights and international humanitarian law violations in compliance with UN methodology and standards.
• Ensures information on human rights situation in the mission area is readily available to influence decision, strategy and policymaking.
• 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.
• Advises UN and national authorities on the establishment of a vetting framework and implementation mechanisms in the mission area, as required.
• Contributes to the planning of human rights training and educational programmes for national officials, representatives of civil society, human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs), National Human Rights Institutions and other national stakeholders, and ensures they are in line with gaps assessed through human rights monitoring and mission priorities.
• Coordinates with other UN mission components, UN actors and other regional and international organizations to create opportunities to integrate human rights into their training programmes, including those aiming at leg1slative, rule of law and security sector reforms.
• Support the coordination of and ensures the appropriate management of technical cooperation projects and funds; participates in fund-raising activities, as necessary and ensures compliance with project-based reporting to donors.
• Devises training needs assessments and training strategies for new or-junior human rights staff and monitors their implementation.
• Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Proven sensitivity to conflict and post-conflict political and social environments and ability to adjust behaviours accordingly; Comprehensive knowledge of human rights principles, international mechanisms and of related concepts, including the protection of civilians, transitional justice, humanitarian action, DDR, legislative, rule of law reforms and conflict-related sexual violence; Good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies, guidelines and methodologies related to UN peace operations and to human rights work, as well as good understanding of issues related to the integration of human rights in UN peace operations; Capacity to maintain effective partnerships with relevant stakeholders to further the mandate of the organization, and to strategically advocate for the integration of human rights in various fora; Sound political judgment, as well as diplomacy, impartiality, and discretion. Ability to produce in-depth analysis of political, ethnic, racial, gender-based, social, economic and other human rights-related problems to assess their impact and to provide concrete strategy recommendations to redress situations; Capacity to lead the continual improvement of human rights-related work processes and ability to apply best management practices to obtain optimum performance of the human rights component; Understanding of the relevance of information collected by various UN actors for human rights analysis; Sound knowledge of the political background and human rights situation in the country or region; Proven representational, negotiation and managerial skills; Understanding of the relevance of information and data management and its applicability to human rights work; Ability to work and act under pressure in a politically and psychologically difficult environment, with a minimum of comfort and in precarious security conditions; Commitment to implement the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of the peace operation and to mainstream gender in all activities of the human rights component; Shows pride in work and in achievements; 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.
• TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
• 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 staff when they make mistakes; Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; Appraises performance fairly.
• JUDGEMENT AND DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; Gathers relevant information before making a decision; Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; Checks assumptions against facts; Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent), in law, political science, international relations or social sciences or a related area. A first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in the human rights or closely related field of which half in human rights is required A at least three years’ experience in a managerial capacity and the supervision of teams in human rights monitoring, reporting and/or investigating violations and engagement for the protection of civilians in conflict or post-conflict context are required. Practical experience in the implementation of the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP) in field operations is required. Experience in screening non-UN security forces, identification of potential risks and crafting of mitigating measures is required. Prior experience coordinating multi sectoral response to human rights protection concerns including through engaging with military and police for the protection of civilians is required. Experience advocating with senior government representatives for the promotion of and respect for human rights in a conflict or post-conflict environment is desirable. A minimum of 3 years’ experience providing services in the field of Human Rights to or in a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization or non- governmental Organization is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages for the United Nations Secretariat. For this position advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge in French is desirable.

Application instructions

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