Background

UNDP Pakistan designed the Decentralization and Local Governance project to create stronger democratic processes and institutions at all levels of governance. The project identifies strategic areas (devolved subjects) of intervention to assist institutional mechanisms for effective, responsive and accountable service delivery for peace and development and ultimately contribute to Sustainable Development Goals. For 2017, the project has identified local governance, human rights, social welfare as core areas of work, the expert will be contributing to the following core components of the project.

1. Devolving Rights in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

2. Rights Mapping of Vulnerable and Marginalized Populations of Pakistan

UNDPs rights-based approach to democracy building in Pakistan focusses on capacity development of state-   established institutions tasked to protect and promote basic rights. Against this background, UNDPs basic rights programming focuses on technical and capacity-building support for state-established institutions mandated to protect and promote basic rights. In 2010, Pakistan's 18th Constitutional Amendment introduced reforms that significantly changed the governance paradigm by devolving powers to the provinces. In UNDP Pakistan's focal province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the 18th Amendment has also expanded the scope of Human Rights by devolving women's, children's and minorities' rights to the provincial level. A number of government line departments and institutions are now responsible for the protection and promotion of human rights in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the Line Department for Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights. In 2014, the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa further passed the “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Promotion, Protection and Enforcement of Human Rights Act” which resulted in the establishment of the Human Rights Directorate within the KP Line Department for Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights.

In the course of its “Devolving Rights in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” Project, UNDP Pakistan seeks to strengthen the capacity of the relevant provincial institutions tasked with Human Rights protection and promotion to effectively fulfill their mandates. The overall project aim is to assist the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in establishing its own Human Rights Policy. One of the project's main stakeholders is the newly established Human Rights Directorate which is tasked to monitor the Human Rights situation throughout the province and to provide grievance redressal mechanisms for victims of Human Rights violations.

In 2014, Pakistan was granted the special incentive arrangement for sustainable Development and Good Governance under the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP+). The related export benefits are however conditional. Regarding Human Rights, Pakistan’s government needs to ensure the effective implementation of seven core Human Rights treaties and fulfill related reporting obligations in order to keep its GSP status. Pakistan has initiated so-called Treaty Implementation Cells (TICs) which have been established both at the federal and provincial level. TICs at the provincial level need additional capacity building support to successfully define and actively shape their mandate.

In addition, the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals agenda articulates a vision to ‘leave no one behind’ and ‘to reach the furthest behind first’. To achieve these goals Pakistan must address inequalities in all areas and agree that no goal or target be considered met unless met for all social and economic groups of the country. Third or trans-gender people are one of the most marginalized groups in Pakistan. There is an estimate number of 0.5 to 1.5 million third gender citizens across Pakistan mainly living in communities in the urban hubs. Despite the Supreme Court of Pakistan officially recognizing the third gender and calling for the government to ensure its protection, third gender citizens face widespread social, political and economic discrimination. The community is struggling with social and political exclusion and economic debility while the state is failing to provide proper protection mechanisms.

To address this challenge D&LG project through its Right Mapping of Vulnerable and Marginalized Populations of Pakistan aims to analyze the root causes for discrimination of Pakistan's third gender population in order to shape future programming activities while ensuring a do no harm approach. The expert will be responsible to assist the project in implementation of the activities under this component while providing his/her expert inputs on international and national best practices.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The incumbent will serve as a technical resource to oversee the collection, compilation and analysis of component activity level data, moreover he/she will ensure timely reporting of the agreed targets to achieve objectives of the D&LG project including contribution of the D&LG project in the overall contribution of the country office to human rights programming in the region.  The specialist will be responsible for the following key deliverables:

Expected Deliverables and Time Schedule:

Payment Schedule:

Competencies

1. Strong analytical skills;
2. Excellent interpersonal, team working and communication skills;
3. Excellent report-writing skills
4. Should have advance knowledge of national and international human rights covenants.
5. Past experience of similar work will be an added advantage

Required Skills and Experience

1. Master’s degree holder in human rights law, international relations or related social science degree