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CONSULTANT - HUMAN RIGHTS

Location : New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Application Deadline :24-Aug-12
Type of Contract :Individual Contract
Post Level :International Consultant
Languages Required :
 English   Spanish  
Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)		01-Sep-2012
Duration of Initial Contract :4 Months

Background
UNDP’s Democratic Governance Practice Area focuses on fostering inclusive participation, strengthening responsive governing institutions, and promoting democratic principles. Inclusive participation expands equal opportunities for engagement by the poor, women, youth, indigenous people, and other marginalized groups who are excluded from power. Strengthening responsive governing institutions entails promoting the core channels of representation and accountability in the state at the national, regional and local levels. Responsive institutions mean that the state reflects and serves the needs, priorities, and interests of all people, including women, the poor, youth, and minorities. Supporting national partners to strengthen democratic practices grounded in human rights, anti-corruption and gender equality require UNDP leadership in promoting integration, coordination and information-sharing of policies, practices, and strategies strengthening democratic governance within and outside of the UN family.
 
Human Rights:
 
As part of the UN family, UNDP is mandated to respect, promote, and protect human rights in its activities. While this mandate existed from the beginning, it was actively articulated and systematically implemented only after the adoption of a specific human rights policy in 1998 – “Integrating Human Rights with Sustainable Human Development”. In its human rights work UNDP builds upon three strategic areas of interventions:
  • Supporting the Strengthening of National Human Rights Systems.
  • Mainstreaming human rights in policy and programme development.
  • Greater Engagement with the International Human Rights System.
To catalyze upon the work in the three strategic areas, the UNDP Global Human Rights Strengthening Programme (2008-2013) provides appropriate practical (and integrated) tools, good practices, and other guidance material on human rights mainstreaming to programming and national human rights promotion and protection systems. An operational framework linking global, regional and country office level has thus been developed in the field of human rights. UNDP continues expanding its portfolio to strengthening UN inter-agency efforts to support human rights mainstreaming as well as to further global human rights policy at Headquarters to respond adequately to the demand from the regional and country offices.
 
An operational framework linking global, regional and country office level has thus been developed in the field of human rights, but many policy support challenges remain at HQ level to respond adequately to the demand from the field. The outcome of two Global Human Rights Community of Practice Meetings, held in October 2009 and November 2011 also created a lot programming and extensive partnership opportunities.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Policy Adviser on Human Rights (Democratic Governance Group/ Bureau for Development Policy), and in close collaboration with the Human Rights Team:
  • Assist the Adviser in policy dialogues, representational, advocacy, and partnership issues. In this regard, research, compile and prepared relevant background and briefing material and policy briefs.
  • Participate in relevant human rights fora, including relevant inter-governmental and inter-agency processes.
  • Assist in and contribute to the mainstreaming of human rights into cross-practice/cross-cluster initiatives, particularly in the area of governance, marginalized people and communities. In particular, support the preparation for UNDP representation in the United Nations Permanent Forum (PF) on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII); Represent UNDP in the Inter-agency support group (IASG) on indigenous peoples; Liaise with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples and ensure synergies of work are captured; and Support the HR advisor in stakeholder management around Indigenous Peoples issues
  • Assist in the development, production and dissemination of relevant knowledge products;
  • Support communications, training and building synergies with other UNDP practice areas and units, including but not limited to organization of focused discussions, brown bag meetings and ensuring mainstreaming of human rights in various UNDP initiatives within the organization;
  • Assist the adviser in partnership building efforts with other UN Agencies, bi-lateral and multilateral organizations, and civil society institutions involved in human rights and development.
  • Perform any other tasks.

Competencies
Corporate competencies:
  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN and UNDP;Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Functional Competencies:
  • Knowledge Management and Learning;
  • Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
  • Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills; Networking skills to engage with key partners and institutions working on development, with strong advocacy skills to manage a partnership platform.
Management and Leadership:
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

Master’s degree in human rights, governance, or other relevant discipline

Experience:
  • Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in the field of human rights and governance. Experience in the work with the UN would be an asset;
  • Knowledge and understanding of UN(DP) work in human rights, democratic governance, and marginalized and vulnerable people at large;
  • Proven research skills;
  • Knowledge of UN(DP) rules and procedures preferred;
  • Strong inter-personal and teamwork skills;
  • Excellent computer/information systems skills;
Language:
  • Strong oral, written and editing skills in English. Knowledge of other UN language(s) would be an assest.
Application Evaluation Process:
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the Cumulative Analysis methodology [weighted scoring method], where the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
Responsive/compliant/acceptable
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
 
Criteria:
Technical Criteria weight; [70%]
Financial Criteria weight; [30%]
 
The following criteria will be used in Technical Evaluation:
 
Familiarity with the concepts of human rights mainstreaming and the Human Rights Based Approach to Programming (25 points);
Familiarity with the UN human rights machinery (25 points);
Strong oral, written and editing skills in English (25 points);
Prior experience in organizing global/regional events, meetings, or other collaborative events etc.; Prior experience with UN(DP) (15 points).
Experience in drafting UN-related meeting notes and reports (10 points).  
 
Only Individual Consultants obtaining a minimum of 70% of the obtainable points of 100 points in technical evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
 
Please provide your P11 and financial consultancy fee (daily rate)
 
Please submit your application and financial proposal to UNDP by 24 August 2012
Click here for important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders).
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.


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