UNV Associated Human Rights Officer

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.

The United Nations Joint Human Right Office - in the DRC (UNJHRO) is an integrated office that includes the MONUSCO Human Rights Division and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The positions are under OHCHR component and the Civic Space Project.

Under the overall supervision of the Director of the UNJHRO and the direct supervision of the Coordinator of the Field Office or Tematic Unit, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Contribute to the establishment of an effective national protection human rights system using a human rights-based approach through the training, sensitization and education of civil society organizations and the general public in order to empower them to take charge and/or to stand up for/of their rights and Government institutions (duty bearers) to respect their obligations
• Contribute to Monitoring, reporting and investigation on human rights violations in the AOR in line with JHRO standards and procedures.
• Conduct research and analyze situation that have an impact on the right to participation, freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly with the aim to strengthening civil society by bringing different range of actors together, for knowledge sharing and improving its effectiveness
• Design, implement and reports on civic space programmes for more effective human rights protection and promotion in the AOR, including through engagement with civil society, in line with the plans and strategies of OHCHR.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with national authorities, civil society , and other partners with the ultimate goal of developing and strengthening capacity building programme
• Designs, delivers, coordinates and evaluates human rights activities for national officials, civil society representatives, human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs), National Human Rights Institutions and other national stakeholders
• Support the National Human Rights Commission as well as other national institutions working in support of democracy
• Initiate support and advocacy initiatives for specific groups (people living with disability, people living with albinism and indigenous people)
• Share human rights good practices
• Ensures the integration of gender-sensitive victim perspectives in the design and implementation of transitional justice mechanisms and processes, as well as relevant advocacy strategies and capacity building initiatives
• In coordination with relvant national and international actors as appropriate, provides technical advice on human rights integration into national legislation and policies;
• Coordinates at field level with other UN entities and when required MONUSCO and other iternational actors and other regional and international organizations to create opportunities to integrate human rights into their training and cooperation programmes, including those aiming at legislative, rule of law and disarmament, demobilization and reintecration and security sector reforms;
• Contributes to advocacy strategies, advocates and advises relevant authorities, including on strategies to better protect and promote human rights and mechanisms to stop impunity and redress human rights violations
• Participates in and manages the implementation of technical cooperation projects in accordance; Assists in the development, coordination and implementation of the human rights work plan;
• Effectively contribute to the implementation of projects, notably the Civic Space Project,
• Trains, coaches and supervises new and junior staff, manages their performance, and assists in training needs assessments;
• Performs other related duties as required

PROFESSIONALISM: Proven sensitivity to the political and social environment and ability to adjust behaviours accordingly; Expert knowledge of human rights principles, international mechanisms and of related concepts, including transitional justice, legislative and rule of law reforms, and gender mainstreaming,and conflict-related sexual violence as well as good understanding of issues related to the integration of human rights in UN peace operations; Comprehensive knowledge of institutional mandates, organizational structures and policies within the UN, guidelines and methodologies relating to human rights; Capacity to maintain effective working relationships with other UN, NGO, state and/or government stakeholders and to advocate for the respect and integration of human rights in various fora; 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;

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.

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.

• Knowledge of international human rights instruments and rules for the protection and promotion of human rights; • Knowledge of international mechanisms to seek redress for human rights violations will be an asset; • Experience in drafting various documents, including reports on human rights issues, and in research will be an asset; • Project management and/or programmatic experience is an advantage • Field experience including working on issues of protection of human rights defenders/ victims and other groups at risk, will be an asset; • Willingness to work in difficult field locations; • Excellent computer skills in Microsoft suite; • Have affinity with or interest in humanitarian relief, post-conflict situations, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System

The Democratic Republic of Congo is the second largest country in Africa, and as a result is quite diverse.

Living conditions therefore vary between duty stations, with all usual amenities present in the capital Kinshasa, but only very basic conditions in remote duty stations in the provinces, where, for instance, there may be no guarantee of public power supply nor running water. The ability to live and work in difficult and harsh conditions of developing countries is essential.

Accommodation is very expensive in both Kinshasa and Lubumbashi. Supermarkets exist in the large towns (e.g. Bukavu, Kisangani), but consumer items are generally very expensive (as everything is imported). For food, local markets offer a much cheaper alternative.

All UN duty stations are considered non-family duty stations, except for Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Entebbe which are now considered family duty stations, and most are currently under UN Security Phase III (“relocation phase”: internationally-recruited staff are temporarily concentrated or relocated to specified sites/locations). In addition to insecurity related to the relatively volatile political situation as well as various conflict situations, certain places are subject to increasing street and residential crime, including in Kinshasa and Goma.

Some degree of medical service is provided in all duty stations. Certain vaccinations are mandatory for UN personnel to enter the DRC, while others are compulsory for all other incoming persons. It is possible for incoming OHCHR personnel, including UN Volunteers, to be asked to provide proof of some or all vaccinations, though this is unlikely. All UN Volunteers must ensure that they are up-to-date with all appropriate vaccinations, which should be clearly and properly endorsed in the International Certificate of Vaccination (“carte jaune”). Malaria is present virtually throughout the DRC, and it is therefore recommended to take prophylaxis.

The unit of currency is the Congolese Franc. The US dollar is the other preferred currency. It may be impossible to exchange traveller’s checks away from the capital city. Credit cards are usually accepted in major hotels only in Kinshasa. In larger towns and cities (e.g. Kinshasa, Goma, Bukavu, Kisangani), UN Volunteers are recommended to open US Dollar bank accounts, while in other places, banks may be absent (including ATMs) and VLA payments will be processed in cash. UN Volunteers have the possibility to send part of their allowances to a bank account abroad. In addition to French, there are four major spoken languages in DRC, namely Lingala, Kikongo, Tshiluba and Swahili.