Position description
Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Regional Office for East Africa in Addis Ababa. The incumbent will operate under the direct supervision of the Human Rights Regional Representative.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the Regional Representative, the Senior Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
- Leads the Ethiopia programme of the regional office.
- Formulates human rights strategies, including from a gender equality perspective.
- Develops a vision or direction for the work of the Regional office and creates the conditions for implementing that vision or direction.
- Proposes policy directives and plan of action to appropriate United Nations bodies for immediate and long- range solutions to human rights problems in general and specific geographical areas.
- Designs, develops and implements significant policy and program changes to address national and regional human rights issues, including their gender dimensions.
- Formulates and supervises the implementation of the programme of work and budget of the Office and oversees administrative matters, including human and financial resources in accordance with the rules, priorities and workload of the office.
- Prepares human rights reports on key sectors or key regional developments.
- Develops and maintains relations with government officials and advises them on human rights issues and policies. Participates makes substantive contributions in inter-agency meetings related to human rights issues under her/his responsibility.
- Coordinates and oversees human rights research initiatives as needed.
- Manages, coordinates, organizes and supervises other human rights officers as assigned.
- Performs other related duties as required.
Competencies
- PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of and exposure to a range of human rights issues including approaches and techniques to address and advise on highly sensitive and complex problems in their political, ethnic, racial, gender and socio-economic dimensions. Knowledge of institutional mandates of human rights organizations, prevailing policies and procedures. Ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the human rights situation in the region or country of assignment, including the political environment and legal statutes as they pertain to human rights. Ability to complete in-depth studies and reach conclusions on possible causes and solutions to human rights problems in specific societies and systems. Ability to relate and advise on human rights issues and perspectives, including their gender equality dimensions, to political, social, economic and humanitarian programmes in affected countries and areas. 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.
- 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.
- PLANNING & 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.
- LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
- JUDGEMENT/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 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, social sciences or related area. 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 ten years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law or related area is required. Two years of experience in managing teams is desirable. Field experience is desirable. Experience working on human rights issues related to the African region or similar field contexts is desirable. Working experience with intergovernmental bodies such as the African Union is desirable.
Languages
- English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.
Application instructions
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