This position is located within the African Union - United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). The Senior Human Rights Officer will be based in Zalingei and reports to the Principal Human Rights Officer.

Responsibilities

The UNAMID Human Rights Section supports the Darfur Government Authorities in implementing its obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law and preventing and addressing violations. The Section focuses on monitoring, investigation and accountability for human rights and humanitarian law violations; protection issues; mainstreaming human rights, administration of justice, including transitional justice; and partnership with the UNCT, civil society and national institutions.

The Human Rights Section conducts monitoring activities and investigations on violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, including in support of the implementation of the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) and Monitoring and Reporting Arrangements (MARA).

The Section works with Agencies Funds and Programs on human rights related issues under the State Liaison Function, and conducts capacity building activities for diverse stakeholders, including state and non-state actors. It also issues regular internal and public reports on the situation of human rights with a particular focus on protection of civilians.

UNAMID Human Rights Section undertakes advocacy through engagements with state authorities and armed groups to address human rights and international humanitarian law issues. The Section coordinates and supports the implementation of the United Nations Human Rights Due Diligence Policy.

Within delegated authority and under the direction and guidance of the Chief Human Rights Officer, the Senior Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Serves as a deputy for the Chief Human Rights Officer, including representing her or him in high level meetings with a range of interlocutors, advising the JSR and other senior Mission officials on human rights related issues.
• Assists the Chief Human Rights Officer in overseeing the day-to-day management of the Human Rights Office in Darfur as well as liaising with Human Rights Officers embedded with the Agencies under the State Liaison Functions.
• Assists the Chief Human Rights Officer in identifying priority areas for the work of the human rights office and in developing the office workplan addressing those priority areas and overseeing its implementation.
• Formulates approaches and strategies to address human rights issues of concern, including ensuring gender equality perspectives and mainstreaming human rights appropriately.
• Facilitates the flow of information regarding human rights issues within the human rights office and the Mission, as well as ensure sustained communication with the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), and OHCHR.
• Assists the Chief Human Rights Officer in formulating and managing the programme of work, budget and other administrative matters concerning the human rights office and its staff.
• Oversees the preparation of human rights thematic, regular and ad hoc reports as well as preparing inputs on human rights issues for other reports required by the Mission.
• Develops and maintains relations with a range of Darfuri interlocutors, including senior Government officials, civil society organisations and their representatives and advises them on human rights issues and policies, as well as ways of addressing gaps in the respect and protection of human rights in Darfur.

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. Knowledge of institutional mandates of human rights and other UN organizations, prevailing policies and procedures. Ability to evaluate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the human rights situation in Darfur, including the political environment as it pertains to human rights. Ability to undertake in-depth studies and reach conclusions on possible causes and solutions to human rights problems. Ability to relate and advise on human rights issues and perspectives, including their gender equality dimensions, to other offices within UNAMID and the UNCT with regards to their policies, programmes and activities. 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; 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.

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 the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

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.

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 creativity and initiative; Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; Appraises performance fairly.

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 that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

An 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 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 a related area.
Experience in human rights monitoring and reporting is required.
Experience in working in a United Nations common system field operation (inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions and UN agencies, funds, and programmes) – or similar international organization or non-governmental organisation – in a conflict or post-conflict setting is required.
Experience working on thematic issues relevant to the UNAMID mandate and/or work experience in East Africa is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of a second official United Nations language is an advantage

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available until 30/06/2020. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.

• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.

• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.