Business and Human Rights Focal Point

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

This position is in the East Regional Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Addis Ababa the incumbent reports administratively to the Regional Representative.

Within delegated authority, the International United Nations Volunteer specialist (IUNV) will be responsible for the following duties:

A. General

 •    Contribute to the existing activities of OHCHR East Africa Regional Office (EARO) Business and Human Rights program including communications, awareness-raising, 
    and advocacy outreach activities of the project.
 •    Develop project communications and other advocacy materials including, among others: concept notes, term of reference, presentations, proposals, speeches 
   remarks, social media content, quarterly and annual reports.
 •    Support the planning and organizing of events, workshops, and seminars,
 •    Participate in internal and external meetings, events, and other necessary engagements with project stakeholders.
 •    Contribute to the implementation of outcome of the dialogues in the five regions.
 • Contribute to the preparation of the Africa forum on B&H and in the implementation of the outcome of the same.
 •    Collect and analyse relevant information from other sources pertaining to awareness and ownership of the Business and Human Rights agenda in Africa particularly 
   United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and the AU Policy on Business and Human Rights.
 •    Identify gaps and propose a set of strategic activities to be carried out to address the awareness and ownership gaps,
 •    Assist in developing specific and overall goal(s), objectives and propose a strategic activity plan to meet these goals; outlining in detail specific activities addressed to 
   various target groups, types of contents, media channels (both modern social and traditional media channels such as communities’ outreach channels),
 •    Assist in developing key messages and tailored content to reach identified target groups via various communication channels; Prepare tailored content for specific 
    groups including policy makers (government officials, government institutions, MPs), Civil Society Organizations, youth, women, informal workers, businesses, and 
    community-based organizations.
 •    Support the office’s work with the African Union and its organs in their respective work in the promotion and protection of human rights on the continent. 
 •    Work to strengthen OHCHR-AU collaboration and enhance the AU’s institutional capacity to assist Member States in realizing their international human rights obligations 
    as set out in international and regional human rights treaties.
 •    Assist in the provision of technical and advisory services to the AU on the formulation, analysis, implementation, and review of key international and regional human 
   rights policy frameworks, decisions, resolutions, communiques, documents, initiatives, and programmes as appropriate.
 •    Perform other tasks as required.

B. Monitoring, analysis, and reporting:

 •    Identify, design and deliver trainings and awareness raising activities on business and human rights in EARO focus Countries (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Tanzania) and work with 
    AU human Rights organs to the same on the continent.  
 •    Map and analyse lessons learned on responsible business conduct EARO focus Countries and other Countries on the African Continent where necessary (i.e., lessons 
    from the UN Global Compact Network and lessons from other relevant actors) 
 •    Build effective contact network of relevant   stakeholders and Partners for consultations and identify relevant training needs for such stakeholders i.e., Government, civil 
    society, business communities, International Business Corporations, State owned enterprises (SoE) and UN partners etc.
•    In collaboration with relevant partners, develop and conduct trainings and awareness raising activities on business and human right in area of jurisdiction (East Africa 
    and where necessary).
•    Work collaboratively with Government, and civil society, research, monitoring, and analysis of the business and human rights situation in the geographic area of 
    operation to create baseline data for effective interventions, and evaluative data to ensure that interventions including capacity building are having a positive impact.
•    Regularly assess the social, political and legal context to identify critical business and human rights issues and provide support relevant to  CSOs working on such 
    issues.
•    Develop and maintain working relationship with duty bearers in including business actors to advocate for better protection of human rights, remedial action and 
    strengthen compliance with UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights as well as AU Policy on Business and Human Rights standards to empower state 
    business entities, and civil society actors to take responsibility to effectively address concerns and improve the business and human rights situation.
•    Through regular monitoring and analysis, assess the impact of interventions (capacity building and awareness rising have had a positive impact on respect of human 
    rights in the area of business operations.
•    Regularly draft clear and objective and analytical reports (daily, weekly, notes to file, project reports)  with recommendations relating to business and human rights 
    issues in EARO focus countries and on the African Continent.
•    Provide independent status reports on the status of implementation of the UN Guiding Principles through National Human Rights Action Plans, as relevant to the 
    geographic area of responsibilities.
•    Produce accurate, timely notes for the file to ensure a proper institutional record of contacts with interlocutors among local Government, Business entities, civil society, 
    and UN and other international partners.
•    Contribute to the design, implementation, and evaluation of the office work plan.
•    Develop own work plan based on agreed priorities in area of operation. 

C. Programming:

•    Assist in developing operational and implementation strategies to mainstream human rights in business operations in area of Jurisdiction (EARO focus Countries and in 
    the African Continent)
•    Design and maintain database to track progress in business and human rights.
•    Support knowledge building and the dissemination of lessons learned on business and human rights. 
•    Support national authorities in the elaboration of a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights and implementation of recommendations on Business and 
    Human Rights by UN Treaty Bodies, Special Procedures, and other mechanisms of the UN Human Rights Council.

D. Capacity and institution building:

•    Identify target groups in need of capacity development in business and human rights and the UN Guiding Principles, including business actors, relevant state 
    institutions, law enforcement agencies, and civil society organizations, among others, to strengthen national capacity in the area of business and human rights.
•    Design training programmes and tools for business actors, relevant state institutions, law enforcement agencies, and civil society organizations, among others, which 
    should include a component on monitoring and evaluation of the results of these interventions.
•    Advice and mentor national counterparts and business institutions at the county level on taking ownership to promote, respect, and remedy business and human rights.
•    Work directly with AU, UN operation components/sections, including the UNCT Human Rights Working Group, to integrate business and human rights considerations in 
    their respective activities.
•    Identify priority business and human rights and protection areas of intervention for the Office’s activities through consultations with stakeholders, including civil society 
    organizations and business communities.
•    Undertake any other activities in the Office as designated by the Regional Representative.

• Professionalism

• Teamwork

• Communication

• Planning and Organization

Human Rights monitoring, investigation, research, reporting, and coordination.

• Experience working with CSOs, government counterparts, and with an international or regional Organisation is desirable.

Addis Ababa is a large capital city with a variety of schools, medical facilities, restaurants, entertainment and other things that you would expect. It is home to the African Union, The Economic Commission to Africa and numerous UN agencies and NGOs. As such there are a large number of international staff from around the world. It is sometimes referred to as Africa’s capital and if a country has an embassy anywhere in Africa, it will probably have one in Addis. The city is over-crowded with the resultant heavy traffic. Cars,like other imported goods, are expensive and there are slow procedures to buy or import one but taxis are readily available. There is a range of accommodation from apartments to houses though large gardens are rare. Prices can be high and the quality of building finish is often poor. Power cuts are common and it is advisable to have a generator. Proximity to the office and directions of peak traffic flow are important consideration when finding a place to live as travel can be slow. The city is generally safe though pick pockets operate in crowded areas. Ethiopia has a range of natural and cultural attractions though distances are great and it is often easier to take an internal flight to reach them. Addis is a major airline hub with good connections to many international destinations. There are sporadic outbreaks of political and ethnic violence in different parts of the country which result in temporary localised travel bans by the UN Department of Safety and Security. Addis Ababa is a foreigner-friendly city, in terms of economy, local society, expats, safety, climate, no malaria. Internet can be slow at times.