Background

Despite the introduction of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), corporate houses tended not to take issue. After the Human Development Report was published in 2000 which stated, 'Of all Human Rights failures today, those in economic and social affect by far the larger number and are most widespread across world's nations and large number of people', while corporate sector is gradually addressing human rights concerns in the business sector. 

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has promoted people centric economic development without compromising human value, dignity and rights. Nepal stands ready to follow a more stable development pathway – one that supports inclusive growth leading to the realization of the Government of Nepal’s vision of “Prosperous Nepal-Happy Nepali” where the major focus is in developing infrastructure and bringing in private sector investment aimed at attaining a high economic growth rate. However, human prosperity and happiness will not be possible unless government’s development efforts and private sector investment are made in compliance with universally accepted human values, human rights standards.

Nepal’s constitution, under the directive principles and state Policies, highlighted sustainable economic development with the involvement and participation of the public, private and cooperative sectors. Keeping this in mind, laws are more receptive towards the contribution business sectors in economic development. There are laws in place to promote competition and market promotion along with laws that govern foreign direct investments that directly affect the business sector. While there are laws that have created feasibility and growth of investments in the business sector, we can also see laws that regulate these businesses making sure that they ensure respect, protection and promotion of human rights.

The “UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights” outlines the role of business and governments in respecting human rights. The Principles do not create any new international legal obligations on companies or the private agencies, but they help concerns to operate with full respect to human rights and meet their legal responsibilities set out in domestic laws. 

The 5th National Human Rights Action Plan 2020-2024 has included development of National Action Plan on Business and Human rights as one of the strategic action in line with the UNGP on Business and Human Rights. Government of Nepal, in the leadership of Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS), has been developing a National Action Plan on Business and Human rights. UNDP, through Access to Justice project, has been engaged extensively in advocacy, technical assistance and dialogues facilitation.

In this context, UNDP has been engaging in promoting the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). The UNGPs clarify the duty of states and the responsibility of businesses to uphold international norms and treaties on human rights. The UNGPs rest on three pillars: 1) the State’s duty to protect human rights; 2) the corporate responsibility to respect human rights and; 3) the joint responsibility of both the State and businesses sector to provide access to remedy for victims of business-related abuses. Human rights activists, and development practitioners are deepening their work on a wide variety of thematic areas, while leading national and multi-national enterprises are embedding human rights due diligence approaches into their operational policies and corporate communication profiles.

UNDP Nepal is intervening various activities in collaboration with Ministry Federal Ministries, National Human Rights Institutions, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and relevant stakeholders. Currently UNDP implementing, the project, Business and Human Rights in Asia: Enabling Sustainable Economic Growth through the Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework.

The goal of this project is to promote the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles in Nepal through multi-stakeholder efforts focused on advocacy, policy development, technical advisory support, capacity building, awareness raising and innovation platforms. The project will be implemented by the UNDP Country Office in collaboration with Bangkok Regional Hub and in partnership with NHRIs, Federal Ministries, CSOs, and Private Sector on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises.

Project Implementation Structure:

The Project Management Unit (PMU), comprising Business& Human Rights Coordinator and Project Associate, will be based in the Kathmandu. The PIU will be led by the Business& Human Rights Coordinator, who is responsible for implementation of all project activities and day-to-day management and decision-making for the project, as well as ensuring that the project produces the agreed output and results.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the Strategic Guidance and direct supervision of Business & Human Rights Coordinator, he/she will be responsible to provide support for organizing all project events, prepare logistics for training/workshops and document all the information. Furthermore, he/she will also support the team with design and implementation of work plan activities, organise and support team and stakeholder activities, and provide qualitative inputs to progress reporting.

Key tasks:

• Assist in the formulation of the annual and quarterly work plans with particular attention to human resource (HR) and procurement plans;
• Support the timely and effective implementation of HR and procurement plans by preparing all necessary documents as per UNDP rules and regulations;
• Undertake quality assurance of programme procurement, i.e. technical bids, financial bids, proposals and contracts;
• Handle petty cash and reimbursement of petty cash bills from Programme Management;
• Be responsible to maintain all financial transactions by keeping proper accounts, invoices of the regular expenditures;
• Assist in budget revisions as and when required and assist in preparing quarterly financial reports;
• Provide support to monitor budget expenditures as per approved budget, as well as progress monitoring of work plan; implementation and result achievement and progress reporting ;
• Support in audit exercise commissioned by UNDP and EU verification mission commissioned by EU;
• Support in drafting internal and external correspondence especially related to procurement, recruitment, resource mobilization, partnership building, etc.;
• Support in organizing workshops, seminars, trainings, and other events, including arrangement for venues, logistics, transportation and documentation of events;
• Support in planning and coordination for the other programme activities;
• Arrange external and internal meetings (including meetings between government and development partners) with government, non-government, UN agencies, development partners and other potential partners and stakeholders, and maintain minutes of all programme related meetings;
• Provide logistical support in organizing Project Board meetings and ensure all programme related materials are properly documented and easily accessible in preparation for meetings;
• Maintain a filing system/archiving for the programme to ensure all programme related materials are properly documented and easily accessible;
• Make travel arrangements for the Programme Team, including travel requisitions and claims;
• Assist in maintaining contracts issued to third party to conduct research, studies and dilaogues;
• Undertake other financial and administrative tasks assigned by the supervisor; and
• Assist in ensuring gender and inclusion issues in managing events and preparing reports where ever possible.
• Gender and Social Inclusion ( GESI)
  • Ensure GESI is mainstreamed in the budget, AWP, procurement and HR plans, and all other administrative work to be undertaken by the project;
  • Fully comply with UNDP’s GESI policy and zero tolerance for sexual and gender based violence.

Institutional Arrangement

The Project Operations Associate will work under the strategic guidance and report to Business & Human Rights Coordinator. S/he will also work closely with the Portfolio Associate of the Governance and Rule of Law Portfolio.

Competencies

Core Competency

Cross Funtional Competency

Technical Competency

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• High School or Bachelor’s degree in Management, Finance, Accounting, Administration, Human Resource Management or any other relevant areas.

Experience:

• Six years of experience for High school and three years of experience for Bachelors’ degree in the field of administration, and finance and procurement.

Required skills and competencies:

• Knowledge of UNDP’s project planning, project finance, and project management procedures will be a strong asset;
• Knowledge of and familiarity with the UNDP project operations would be an added advantage;
• Experience in administration of projects and development programme;
• Experience in events management, including logistic and travel managements and facilitating coordination with stakeholders; /government officials and project staff;
• Operating knowledge of ATLAS would be an added advantage;
• Excellent knowledge of computer including MS Office (Word, Excel and Power Point etc);
• Experience of working with provincial and local governments will be an advantage.

Required Language(s) (at working level):

Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Nepali.