Job Identification : 13619

Locations : Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Posting Date : 09/13/2023, 08:32 AM

Apply Before : 09/21/2023, 03:59 AM

Job Schedule : Full time

Agency : Office High Comm for Human Rig

Grade : NOB

Vacancy Type : Fixed Term

Practice Area : Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights

Bureau : Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS

Contract Duration : 1 Year with Possibility for extension

Education & Work Experience : Master’s Degree – 2 year(s) experience OR Bachelor’s Degree – 4 year(s) experience

Required Languages : Full proficiency in English and Russian, both oral and written.

Desired Languages : Knowledge of Kyrgyz and other languages spoken in the region would be an asset.

Vacancy Timeline

1 Week

Mobility required/no mobility

no mobility required

Job Description

This position opens for Kyrgyz Nationals Only

BACKGROUND

The UN Human Rights Office in Central Asia covers the five post-Soviet countries of Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It is based in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) with small national presences (one post each) in Astana (Kazakhstan), Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Ashgabat (Turkmenistan) and Tashkent (Uzbekistan) as well as a limited presence in Osh (Kyrgyzstan).

ROCA engages in general human rights monitoring across the region, provides comprehensive capacity building for duty bearers and rights holders and works towards mainstreaming human rights and gender into all UN programmes in the office’s target countries. ROCA’s programming cycle has been designed with a view on two of the four programmatic shifts of OHCHR. This includes (1) Building a global constituency for human rights and (2) Protecting and expanding civic space – for both from the perspective of some of Central Asia’s particularly vulnerable groups, i.e. women, youth, people with disabilities, and ethnic minorities. ROCA sees both shifts as intrinsically connected and results in one will ultimately feed into the achievement of the other.

ROCA will continue its work on supporting introducing a human rights-based approach to country-level reforms in the Central Asia region. At the same time, the institutionalization of human rights in state-led training programmes is a priority for ROCA in all of the five countries. This work is buttressed by ROCA’s work on rendering National Human Rights Institutions in Central Asia more effective, independent, and interconnected and allowing them to play a leading role in the protection and promotion of human rights at national and sub-regional levels. In particular, and by way of several dedicated projects, ROCA will aim at civil society actors and marginalized groups being able to increasingly claim rights for themselves and their constituencies and obtain more opportunities for effective participation in public life. This work will have a specific focus on civic space and fundamental freedoms.

Finally, ROCA will focus on integrating human rights in sustainable development, with a specific focus on increasing the number of Central Asian States and UNCTs that have adopted a Human Rights-Based Approach to the implementation of SDG and other development plans, including by integrating human rights mechanisms’ outcomes in their national implementation plans.

The position is located primarily in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Incumbents will report to the Regional Representative and directly report to Human Rights Officer.

Position Purpose

Under the overall supervision of the OHCHR Regional Representative for Central Asia and under the guidance and direct supervision of the Human Rights Officer National Programme Officer will provide high-quality services to the OHCHR Programme to ensure timely and efficient coordination and monitoring over implementation of the respective Programme Output. The National Programme Officer promotes a client, quality, and results-oriented approach.

Key Duties and Accountabilities

1.) Coordination of programmatic activities

•  Take in a leading role in planning, implementation and evaluation of activities under the annual work plan/cost plan with a specific focus on contributing to the capacity building of relevant stakeholders in Kyrgyzstan for implementing recommendations of UN human rights mechanisms.
•  Provide technical assistance and help deliver trainings to relevant partners on international human rights mechanisms, human rights law and other related thematic areas.
•  Advise UN Resident Coordinator in Kyrgyzstan and members of UNCT on international human rights mechanisms, human rights law and other related thematic areas.
•  Assist the Regional Office in implementing specific projects on certain topics including efficient and timely delivery of outputs and preparation of reports, in line with the regulatory framework of the respective contracting authority.
•  Prepare reports, project proposals, oral and written briefings, and draft correspondence, as necessary, on the human rights situation as well as on the activities of the Regional Office, bearing in mind the results-based management and logical frameworks.
•  Keep abreast of general political, economic, social, and legal developments in Kyrgyzstan and report to the Regional Office with a view to ensure appropriate, efficient, and effective development-oriented programming of the Regional Office.
•  Maintain close contact with state authorities, civil society actors, international organizations, and other partners of the Regional Office.
•  Initiate, organize, and coordinate programmatic and administrative arrangements for meetings, seminars, conferences, workshops, round tables, and similar activities as foreseen by the work plan.
•  Organize and support substantively, and logistically if necessary, missions of OHCHR staff members and UN independent Experts within the country.
•  Serve as the focal point for the coordination and implementation of activities in Kyrgyzstan implemented through regional OHCHR initiatives in Central Asia.
•  Assist the Regional Office with interpretation and translation from and to English, when required.
•  Performing other duties as required.

2.) Monitoring and Analyzing

•  Monitor, analyze, and report on human rights developments in the countries covered by the Office and advise on follow-up actions.
•  Monitor the OHCHR projects for Kyrgyzstan substantively and financially to ensure the efficient and timely delivery of inputs and the realization of the targeted expenditure/delivery rate and provide periodic assessments of the realization of objectives and results.
•  Provide regular inputs into various reports, and oral and written briefings by the Office and monitor political and legal developments that affect human rights compliance of Kyrgyzstan in the thematic priorities assigned to the incumbent.

3.) Resource mobilization, advocacy, and coordination support functions

•  Provide inputs to resource mobilization strategies, i.e. analyze information/databases on potential and actual donors and develop and prepare project proposals to donors.
•  Prepare information for advocacy, identify and communicate relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating OHCHR’s mandate.
•  Visit project activities, providing substantive guidance to others involved in the implementation of the project, in consultation with the supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

•  Master’s degree or equivalent in Human Rights, Law, Social Sciences, or related field.

OR

•  A first-level degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

•  A minimum of two years of professional experience, in particular working on issues related to human rights, or 4 years (with a Bachelor’s degree) with qualifying experience may be accepted.
•  Past experience in implementing and managing project activities is desirable.
•  Background in working with the United Nations, or other regional or international intergovernmental/non-governmental organizations on human rights preferred.
•  Experience in drafting, advocating or navigating politically sensitive contexts is an asset.
•  Experience in managing complex/multiple assignments with tight deadlines is an asset.
•  Experience in using information technology (word and spreadsheet processors, internet applications) is an asset, as well as experience in knowledge management platforms, is desirable.

Language Requirements:

•  Full proficiency in English and Russian, both oral and written.
•  Knowledge of Kyrgyz and other languages spoken in the region would be an asset. Ability to interpret and translate desirable.

COMPETENCIES

Core Competencies

•  Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
•  Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
•  Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others, and support their learning
•  Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
•  Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
•  Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
•  Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, consider in decision-making

Cross-functional & Technical competencies

Business Direction and Strategy-Strategic Thinking

•  Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with OHCHR’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks, and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions.
•  Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for OHCHR.
•  Knowledge and understanding of sustainable development theories, concepts, and approaches.
•  Ability to identify and develop sources for data collection.
•  Ability to undertake research, analyze data, make recommendations, and write draft reports on sustainable development issues.
•  Ability to demonstrate professional competence and mastery of subject matter; to be conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results; to be motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; to show persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; to remain calm in stressful situations.
•  Ability to take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensure equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Business Direction and Strategy-Effective Decision Making

•  Ability to make decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise, and resources.
•  Ability to develop clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identify priority activities and assignments; adjust priorities as required; allocate the appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresee risks and allow for contingencies when planning; monitor and adjust plans and actions as necessary.
•  Ability to take ownership of all responsibilities and honor commitments; deliver outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost, and quality standards; operate in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; support subordinates, provision of oversight, and take responsibility for delegated assignments; take personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Business Management Portfolio Management

•  Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.
•  Ability to actively seek to improve programmes or services; offer new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; ability to promote and persuade others to consider new ideas; take calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; think “outside the box”; take an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; ability to be not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Business Management Communication:

•  Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
•  Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels.

Business Management Partnership Management

•  Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with OHCHR strategy and policies.

Business Management Resource Management

•  Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability and integrity.
•  Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities and establish a plan to meet funding requirements.

2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness Crisis and Fragility Policy and Engagement

•  Crisis risks and early warning.

Applicant information about UNOCHA rosters

OHCHR reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with OHCHR at the same grade level and with similar job descriptions, experience, and educational requirements.

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