UNDP Jobs - 60753- Legal Specialist, HIV Health and Development

Legal Specialist, HIV Health and Development

Location :

Istanbul, TURKEY

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Jan-2016

Application Deadline :

30-Oct-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English Russian

Expected Duration of Assignment :

More than a year; Fixed Term Appointment

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. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UNDP is the UN's global development network advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is a founding cosponsor of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and a partner of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and a co-sponsor of several other international health partnerships. UNDP’s work on HIV, health and development leverages the organization’s core strengths and mandates in human development, governance and capacity development to complement the efforts of specialist health-focused UN agencies.

UNDP delivers three types of support to countries in HIV, Health and Development:

(i) Addressing the interactions between governance, human rights and health responses;
(ii) Helping countries to mainstream attention to HIV and health into action on gender, poverty and the broader effort to achieve and sustain the Millennium Development Goals/Sustainable Development Goals; and
(iii) Supporting countries in effective implementation of complex and multi-sectoral health projects funded by the Global Fund.

As a founding cosponsor of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and guided by the health-related MDGs and upcoming SDGs, responding to HIV is one of the organizations’ priorities. UNDP as per the UNAIDS technical division of labour is co-lead for issues related to 1) empowering men who have sex with men (MSM), sex workers and transgender people to protect themselves from HIV infection and to fully access antiretroviral therapy, and 2) meeting the HIV needs of women and girls to stop sexual and gender-based violence (GBV); and lead on efforts to remove punitive laws, policies, practices, stigma and discrimination that block effective responses to HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA). UNDP is also Principal Recipient (PR) of last resort for Global Fund HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria grants in 7 countries of the region.

While globally the number of new HIV infections is decreasing, the region of EECA is home to the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the world: rising from an estimated 970,000 people living with the virus in 2001 to 1.1 million in 2014. Mortality from AIDS has also experienced a 21 percent increase in the region over the period between 2005 and 2012. The Russian Federation and Ukraine, the two most populous EECA countries, together account for almost 90 percent of newly reported HIV cases. Levels of treatment in the region are low with approximately 25 percent of those in need of antiretroviral therapy receiving it. While there has been a significant improvement in the legal environment relevant to HIV in the region, certain gaps still persist and they are closely related to the rights situation of PLHIV, key populations most at risk of HIV and the legal and policy regulatory frameworks that govern national efforts in prevention, treatment, care and support.

The social, economic and environmental determinants (SEEDs) of health and health inequities have been recognized as important factors that need to be addressed to achieve sustainable human development. SEEDs of health and health inequities have an impact on the burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), play a critical role in the efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and the soon to be approved Sustainable Development Goals in the context of the post-2015 debate, as the main pillars for sustainable human development. Following the call for global action of the Rio Political Declaration on Social Determinants of Health and with reference to the UNDP Strategy Note for HIV, Health and Development underlining the critical role of SEEDs of health for UNDP’s work on inclusive growth, social justice and environmental protection, UNDP through its HIV, Health and Development Team pro-actively engages in addressing SEEDs of health and health inequities more systematically for the future programming at UNDP.

The European region is also experiencing the highest burden of NCDs (cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory diseases and diabetes) accounting for 77 percent of the burden of disease and almost 86 percent of premature mortality. UNDP is partnering with WHO and other partners to support responses to address NCDs which represent a leading threat to human health and development. Multi-sectoral responses outside the health sector can help to contribute to addressing the risk factors of poor diet, harmful use of alcohol, tobacco use and physical inactivity. Working with WHO, UNDP support focuses on the areas of 1) linking NCDs to development instruments to address prevention and impact mitigation, 2) assisting with planning of national strategies for NCDs, and 3) advancing tobacco prevention and control (including implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) through supporting national strategy development and national coordination mechanisms, legislative reviews, and prevention of corruption as appropriate.

As part of both the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), the HIV Health and Development (HHD) Legal Specialist will respond to demands for advice from countries across the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, as channeled through UNDP Country Offices. The incumbent will provide policy advice, research and programme implementation on issues related to human rights, legal services, intellectual property and access to essential medicines, legislative frameworks on drug procurement in the context of HIV and broader health issues. She/he will also collaborate closely with colleagues in UNDP’s regional teams working on: Sustainable Development; Governance and Peace Building; Energy, Climate Change and Disaster Resilience; Knowledge and Innovation; and Gender as appropriate.

The Legal Specialist will support the strengthening of the HIV, Health and Development team in the RBEC region, and contribute to the quality delivery of programme and project services. This in turn will contribute to UNDP results under the 2014-2017 Strategic Plan and Regional Programme Document for EECA 2014-2017.

Duties and Responsibilities

The HIV Health and Development Legal Specialist will ensure that the highest caliber policy advice is provided to UNDP-supported programmes at the country and regional levels in the practice area of HIV, Health and Development. Working under the supervision of the HIV, Health and Development Team Leader at the Istanbul Regional Hub and the areas of work will include:

Promote a human rights-based approach in responses to HIV and broader health issues (including non-communicable diseases) with a strong focus on patient rights and scaling up and improving the quality of legal services for marginalized and key populations:

Provide support for planning and implementation of HIV and Health issues in areas of governance, poverty reduction, justice, human rights, gender and sexual diversity;
Provide technical support to civil society organizations including marginalized and key populations such as people living with HIV, sex workers, prisoners, men who have sex with men etc. to ensure they are aware of their rights and improving their access to legal services and quality treatment;
Undertake research, trainings and workshops to improve understanding of the Rights-based approach to promote equality between the duty bearers and rights holder.

Working to support countries with strengthened legal and regulatory frameworks that contribute to addressing health inequalities and better access to equitable and quality health and HIV-related services:

Support development of staff competencies in HHD in UNDP offices and national partners throughout the ECIS region on strengthened legal and regulatory frameworks to address health inequalities and better access to equitable and quality health and HIV-related services.

Working to ensure that rights work in the context of HIV and broader health issues is mainstreamed across the RBEC regional programme:

Working closely on rights in the context of HIV and broader health issues with other thematic teams at the UNDP IRH and across the RBEC regional programme including on Sustainable Development, Governance and Peace Building, Knowledge and Innovation and other.

Providing policy and technical support for UNDP’s work in the region on using trade, intellectual property laws and innovation to facilitate access to essential medicines:

Provide policy and technical support to assist countries to incorporate laws and policies that can be used to facilitate treatment access to essential medicines while in compliance with their international obligations; and
Provide policy and technical support in the organizing of national and regional capacity development seminars on intellectual property laws and innovation to facilitate access to essential medicines and public health.

Substantively supporting UNDP country offices and the RBEC regional programme with resource mobilization efforts:

Support to country offices and the RBEC regional programme with writing proposals and concept notes for resource mobilization; and
Actively engage with other HHD team members in partnership development and management, including other UNAIDS-cosponsors and multilateral organizations, bi-lateral development partners, governments, civil society and other private sector organizations, academia and think tanks; and
Other related duties, as required.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Innovation:

Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Leadership:

Ability to persuade others to follow.

People Management:

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Communication:

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Delivery:

Ability to get things done.

Technical/Functional Competencies:

Respect for Diversity:

Knowledge of diversity issues, concepts, principles and policies and the ability to apply in strategic and/or practical situations.

Results Based Management:

Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrated results.

Partnership Building:

Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships.

Communications:

Ability to effectively communicate intentions and requirements to internal and external stakeholders.

Team Building:

Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of professionals towards common goals.

Secondary Competencies:

Knowledge Management:

Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge.

Organizational Development:

Knowledge of organizational development concepts, issues and principles and the ability to apply them to strategic and/or practical situations.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced law degree. Academic expertise in a related field such as intellectual property, international trade, public health, public administration, or social sciences is an additional asset.

Experience:

Minimum 5 years of relevant national/international professional experience.
Experience working in the field of HIV or public health from a legal perspective.
Work experience from Europe and Central Asia region is highly desirable.
A track record of extensive national/international development work.
Experience in writing, research and analysis.
Thorough knowledge of HIV, Health and Development issues in the Europe and Central Asia region.
Proven competency in programme formulation, preparation of work plans and budgets and financial management is an asset.
Knowledge of financial management system (ERP, ATLAS, etc) an advantage.
Proven record in holding progressively responsible positions.
Familiarity with the UN system and other international development organizations an asset.
Experience in the use of computers and office software packages as well as web based management systems; well-developed presentation skills.

Language:

Fluency and proficiency in English is required;
Russian fluency is highly desirable.