Job description

Associate Experts

RAS-171-06-P134-01-V (revised Oct 2008)

General Information

Title (Associate Expert in):Associate Human Rights Expert - Integration of

human rights in UN development programmes ofthe Pacific

Duration:1 year (with possible extension for another year)

Date required:As soon as possible

Duty Station (location, sector):OHCHR Regional Office for the Pacific

Suva - Fiji

Supervision

Title of the supervisor:OHCHR Regional Representative for the Pacific (a.i.)

Content and methodology of the

supervision:All tasks will be carried out under the direct

supervision of the Regional Representative.

The supervision is carried out on a daily basis

in a way that ensures there is a learning element

to all aspects of the work and that the experience

is gained in both practical and conceptual

understanding. The Associate Expert will work

collaboratively as part of a very small team.

Duties, responsibilities and output expectations

Under the direct supervision of the OHCHR Regional Representative for the Pacific, the Associate Expert is responsible for coordinating and implementing the office’s regional thematic programme on the human rights based approach to development and human rights training for UN agencies. The responsibilities are as follows:

  • Monitor human rights developments in Pacific Island countries and identify possible areas for partnership and technical assistance
  • Assist the Regional Representative in providing support to UN country teams on the integration of human rights into their development programmes (especially in relation to ‘Action 2’ strategy), including assisting with advice on strengthening the human rights elements of Common Country Assessments (CCAs) and UN Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAFs), advice on integrating human rights into specific programmes and advice on increasing the involvement of UN country teams in the process of treaty bodies examining reports from states parties.
  • Organize, coordinate (and deliver aspects of) trainingworkshops and seminars provided for UN country teams in the region, on the UN human rights system and the human rights approach to development. Develop further the training material used for such workshops.
  • Carry out research, establish contacts and recommend strategies, to enable OHCHR to dialogue with regional institutions and development cooperation agencies in Pacific states, on the human rights based approach to development. Assist the Regional Representative in carrying out this dialogue.
  • Maintain and develop the Regional Office’s information and resource tools used for training and education in relation to the UN human rights system and the human rights based approach to development.

Qualifications and experience

Qualifications:Advanced university degree in law, political science,

international relations or related areas of social

sciences or humanities, preferably with a human

rights specialization.

UN Competencies:Knowledge of UN human rights instruments and

system essential. Practical experience of the

work of the UN human rights system highly

desirable; Knowledge of and experience

working with UN development agencies in the

field highly essential. Knowledge of the Pacific region desirable.

Work experience:At least 2 years work experience in human rights

essential, preferably with at least one year working experience in a developing country.

Learning elements

In time the Associate Expert will be expected to have developed:

  • a deeper understanding of human rights issues in the Pacific.
  • an expert understanding of the theory and practice of the human rights based approach to development.
  • the ability to organize complex regional intergovernmental and expert meetings.
  • a deeper practical understanding of how the UN works on development and human rights issues in-country, regionally and globally.
  • a practical understanding of how OHCHR works.
  • ability to develop projects that build a consensus among different stakeholders within the UN, governments and civil society.
  • greater experience in developing and delivering human rights training.

Background information

The first country-based OHCHR initiative in the Pacific was initiated in 2002 in the Solomon Islands with the hiring of a national human rights officer based in the capital Honiara. The project lasted two years. In August 2005, OHCHR established a regional office for the Pacific region based in Suva. The Regional Representative of the Suva Office reports directly to the Chief of the Africa, Asia Pacific and Middle East Branch in Headquarters, Geneva. Most of the work of the Associate Expert arises out of the first and second reform proposals of the UN Secretary-General, in which OHCHR is given a lead role in working with UN agencies and country teams to help them integrate human rights into their programmes and projects.

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