Human Rights Officer Job Vacancy- United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Job title: Human Rights Officer, Kampala
Closing Date: Saturday, 09 April 2011

Job Title:
HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER, P4
Department/ Office:
OHCHR
Duty Station: KAMPALA

Posting Period:
8 February 2011-9 April 2011

Job Opening number:
11-HRI-OHCHR-18432-R-KAMPALA

Department/ Office

OHCHR

Duty Station



United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Kampala, Uganda and the incumbent reports to the Head of Office.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Representative of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Office for Uganda based in Kampala, the Human Rights Officer will support the work of the Representative in performing the following responsibilities and tasks:

Cooperate and coordinate on an ongoing basis and on a number of complex human rights issues with the Africa Unit, as well as other Branches of OHCHR.

Represent the Office in the absence of the Representative and maintain regular contact with OHCHR Headquarters.

Maintain a dialogue with national human rights partners and support the implementation of human rights activities, particularly those funded by OHCHR.

Assist government, upon request to the Office, in identifying and specifying their needs for advisory services and technical cooperation.

Participate in the implementation of technical cooperation programmes.

Assist the relevant members of the UN country team (UNCT) and partners in mainstreaming human rights in all aspects of their work and programmes, including through participation in thematic working groups and joint programmes within the UNCT.

Contribute regularly to the drafting of Common Country Assessment (CCA)/ United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) in close liaison with relevant OHCHR Branches.

Support the work of mandate-holders and visiting OHCHR staff in Uganda, including the preparation and conduct of field missions.

Prepare reports, briefings and correspondence, ensuring regular communications with Headquarters and the submission of reports in accordance with OHCHR's requirements.

Prepare inputs to reports for the General Assembly, Human Rights Council, etc.

Respond to requests for information relating to the human rights situation/issues in the country and make recommendations for action to the Representative in a useful and timely manner.

Collect and analyse information regarding the human rights situation, undertaking early warning and identifying protection gaps.

Liaise with the national human rights institution, national and international NGOs and the media on issues relating to human rights, including building their awareness and capacity to protect and promote human rights in the country concerned as well as assist in raising an awareness of human rights educational and information activities.

Ensure the integration of human rights and gender considerations, in all the activities to be carried out by the Office and increase the awareness of the human rights educational and information activities in the region.

Plan, deliver and evaluate human rights training courses, seminars, workshops and presentations on assigned topics/activities.

Assist the Representative in ensuring the necessary coordination and fulfilment of Office objectives, activities and outputs, with the optimal use of resources designated to the Office according to the project document, in conformity with the objectives set out by OHCHR, and in accordance with the UN's administrative rules.

Assist the Representative in ensuring coordination between the head office in Kampala and district sub-offices, the best use of human and financial resources in accordance with strategies, priorities, work plans and cost plans established in line with the policies, procedures and budgets applied by OHCHR.

Assist the Representative with the administration of the Office, including the assessment of the performance of the Office's international and national staff, acquisitions, contracting of services, recruitment of national staff, expenditures, and in elaborating/adjusting the Office budget and contribute to the elaboration of the Strategic Management Plan in close cooperation with Headquarters.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Comprehensive knowledge of and exposure to a range of human rights issues in Africa, including approaches and techniques to address sensitive and complex problems; very good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines related to human rights; very good knowledge of the sub-region of assignment, including the political environment and legal statutes as they pertain to human rights; demonstrated ability to complete in-depth studies and reach conclusions on possible causes and solutions to human rights problems in specific societies and systems; good political judgment and advocacy skills and the ability to understand and respond to sensitive and complex political and social events; ability to relate human rights issues and perspectives, including gender issues, to political, social, economic and humanitarian programmes in affected countries and areas in the region.

LEADERSHIP: Ability to supervise the work of junior staff; planning and organizing own work and that of others. Ability to undertake responsibilities as officer-in-charge of the Office, as and when required.

COMMUNICATION: Excellent communication (spoken and written) skills, includes the ability to draft/edit a variety of written reports, studies and other communications and to articulate concepts, messages and ideas in a clear, concise manner.

TECHNOLOGICAL AWARENESS: Good computer skills, including in word processing, and other relevant software packages.

TEAMWORK: Ability to interact and to establish and maintain effective working relations both as a team member and team leader, with people of different national and cultural backgrounds. Ability to work efficiently under pressure.

Education

Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in human rights, public or international law, political science, international relations or other related field. A combination of relevant academic qualifications and extensive experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

At least 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience at national and international levels in the human rights field, including in human rights monitoring, project management, training, and working with Governments, National Human Rights Institutions and United Nations Country Teams.

Languages

Proficiency in English, knowledge of any other UN language is an asset.

United Nations Considerations

The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Assessment Method

The candidate will be assessed through a competency based interview and a test.

Special Notice

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

To Apply

https://inspira.un.org/psc/UNCAREERS/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_CE.GBL?Page=HRS_CE_JOB_DTL&Action=A&JobOpeningId=18432&SiteId=1&PostingSeq=1&