Mission and objectives

UNDP works with the Government and people of Pakistan to develop local solutions to development challenges. In an evolving development context, we support Pakistan’s efforts to build a more equitable, prosperous, peaceful and resilient society, and to achieve its SDGs and COP25 targets. UNDP promotes transformational change by fostering strategic partnerships with national counterparts in the federal, provincial and regional governments, civil society, the private sector and the local and international community. UNDP supports transformational change by providing technical assistance focusing on developing capacity within national and local authorities, providing solutions with strong monitoring and evaluation tools, and delivering programmes with maximum efficiency, transparency and accountability. UNDP’s ultimate goal is to improve the lives of the people of Pakistan through keeping people out of poverty; governance for peaceful, just and inclusive societies; crisis prevention and increased resilience; nature-based solutions for development; clean affordable energy; and women’s empowerment and gender equality.

Context

UNDP works to improve the lives of vulnerable communities, with the overarching objective of preventing loss of development gains, promoting human rights, and finding sustainable pathways to development. UNDP projects under the democratic governance portfolio aims to strengthen state institutions, support democratic development and the rule of law, ensure crisis prevention, support policy development, and integrate gender equality into all areas of work. UNDP works to support the human rights ecosystem by strengthening human rights institutions to promote and protect human rights for all. This UNV assignment is part of UNDP Pakistan’s Decentralization, Human Rights and Local Governance (DHL) project. The DHL project is a multi-sector project aimed at strengthening rights-based development, community stabilization, gender equality, and social inclusion across all regions and provinces of Pakistan. The core objective of the project is to ensure inclusive and equitable service delivery by providing technical assistance and capacity development support to relevant federal ministries, provincial line departments, statutory bodies, civil society, and private sector organizations. A key aim is to support the creation of an enabling environment for accelerated access to rights, people-centered justice, and people-centered security. The project focuses on institution building while connecting with vulnerable and at-risk communities to build trust between rights holders and duty bearers for inclusive, expeditious, and transparent access to rights and services. Under its human rights programme, UNDP-DHL is supporting the National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC) to build its technical capacity for the fulfilment of its mandate as an autonomous national human rights institution and watchdog body focused on child rights. UNDP-DHL’s support will include, for example, technical support for addressing child rights complaints, planning, legal review, international reporting obligations, and knowledge production. The NCRC plays a key role in fulfilling Pakistan’s international obligations. The incumbent UNV will be stationed at the NCRC Office in Islamabad and will be responsible for supporting the Commission by serving as the main contact point for all provincial Governments, departments and committees that address child rights issues and services. The incumbent will act as a liaison officer responsible for ensuring smooth coordination between the NCRC and relevant provincial departments and statutory bodies, and for keeping track of progress related to provincial child rights issues to contribute to the effective functioning of the NCRC.

Task Description

Support the NCRC in the effective implementation of its mandate • Lead and maintain a record of coordination with stakeholders to ensure cohesive and coordinated efforts in line with strategic priorities. • Prepare substantive briefs / reports for the NCRC on key child rights issues in the provinces and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). • Record meeting minutes of meetings carried out for UNDP’s rights-based development initiatives in Pakistan. • Lead coordination among NCRC and UNDP on UNDP’s rights-based development initiatives in Pakistan. • Provide research and investigation coordination support to the NCRC team and prepare investigation and research reports on child rights violations for the Commission’s record. • Analyze the political, social, and economic environment relevant to child rights and identify opportunities for intervention for NCRC. • Highlight the identified opportunities and develop work plans to execute those interventions. Establish partnerships and manage engagement and coordination with provincial and federal stakeholders. • Identify and map key child rights stakeholders in the provinces, including those from provincial line departments and statutory commissions, civil society, NGOs, international agencies, government, private sector, etc. • Develop and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with provincial human rights institutions and relevant government line departments that focus on child rights issues. • Develop and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with civil society organizations (CSOs), child and human rights defenders, community leaders, and other relevant stakeholders for child rights in the provinces and the ICT. • Coordinate with provincial and federal stakeholders to schedule meetings on behalf of the NCRC for further cooperation on child rights. • Prepare substantive briefs for NCRC office on possible areas of cooperation and opportunities for joint initiatives with identified stakeholders to strengthen their engagement with the Commission. • Ensure the regular consultation of NCRC with relevant CSOs and strengthen the Commission’s linkages with grassroots actors. • Maintain and build the NCRC’s relationships with key provincial line departments to get timely updates on the progress of child rights related matters, laws, rules, regulations and policies. • Summarize findings and provide brief reports to the NCRC on meetings, fact finding missions etc. • Coordinate with the NHRIs Focal Point at UNDP under the Huqooq-e-Pakistan II Programme to support UNDP and NCRC’s joint initiatives Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy relevant to child rights. • Research and analyze emerging child rights issues in each province and provide regular updates to the NCRC. • Draft reports on the status of emerging or relevant child rights issues in each province and in ICT. • Draft letters to provincial line departments and stakeholders for the request of data and updated reports on the status of child rights. • Develop and manage knowledge production on key themes in child rights issues and trends. • Evaluate child rights programme strategies and identify best practices and lessons learned, to contribute to the strategic planning of the Commission. • Maintain confidential records of data and ensure compliance with confidentiality standards. • Participate in knowledge networks and consultations with international organizations and CSOs. • Perform any other tasks as assigned by the Chairperson NCRC.

Competencies and values

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management • Confidentiality

Living conditions and remarks

As this is a national UNV assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. UNV Field Unit will help you open a Pak rupee bank account with Standard Chartered Bank or any other local bank at your duty station.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements