Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:ย we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a โleave no one behindโ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values andย inspiring stories.
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.
Office/Unit/Project Descriptionย
UNDP: As the UN lead agency on international development, UN Development Programme (UNDP) works in 170 countries and territories, including those fragile and experiencing crisis, to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. UNDP helps countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve theย Sustainable Development Goalsย (SDGs). UNDPโs work is concentrated in three focus areas: (1) sustainable development, (2) democratic governance and peace building, and (3) climate and disaster resilience.
UNDPโs Rule of Law, Security, and Human Rights Team:ย The UNDPโsย Rule of Law, Security, and Human Rightsย (RoLSHR) Teamย is responsible for policy and practice development in the areas of the rule of law, justice, security, human rights, including business and human rights (BHR), through the implementation of the UNDP Global Programme on Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights for Sustaining Peace and Fostering Development for 2022-2025. The Global Programme is guided by and aligned with theย UNDP Strategic Plan for 2022-2025ย and provides tailored, context-specific technical, financial, and strategic support to contexts across the development spectrum.
UNDPโs B+HR Initiative:ย The RoLSHRโsย programmatic workย on BHR is provided through theย global initiative on B+HRย currently implemented inย 42 countriesย (and growing)ย in Africa, the Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, focusing on supporting:ย
Governments (across sectors): in upholding their duty to protect human rights from businessesโ abuses, including by strengthening and enforcing robust regulatory frameworks on BHR; Businesses (across industries): in embedding their responsibility to respect human rights throughout their operational policies and practices, including to carry out human rights due diligence across supply chains, through theย B+HR Academy, which trains approximately 1,300 businesses per year; Civil society and other relevant stakeholders: in monitoring businessesโ human rights performance, advocating for advancing corporate respect for human rights, and providing โroutes to remedyโ to people adversely affected by businesses.The UNDPโs global initiative on B+HR isย coordinatedย from the Geneva Office (Switzerland) and led by the Global Policy Adviser on BHR, which supports and guides Regional B+HR Focal Points. Regional Focal Points are the entry point for requests of guidance coming from B+HR Focal Points at the Country Office level.ย
The UNDPโs global initiative on B+HRย is supported by the Governments of Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, and the EU, and is part of the UNDP Global Programme on Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights for Sustaining Peace and Fostering Development for 2022-2025.
The Business and Human Rights Specialist will workย under direct supervision of the Global Policy Adviser on BHR, and in close coordination with the Senior BHR Specialist. Theyย will also work directly withย Regional Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights Focal Points and/or B+HR Focal Points and provide technical and capacity-strengthening support to B+HR Focal Points at the Country Office level, as needed.
Scope of Work
1. Provide technical and programmatic advisory support in implementing the existing activities of the UNDPโs global initiative on B+HR, including by:ย
Advising and supporting the implementation of the global, regional, and Country Office level donor-funded projects (e.g., JSB projects, โFinance Against Slavery and Traffickingโ initiative, โInvesting the Rights Wayโ Guide for Investors, โAsia-Pacific Stakeholders against Slavery, Exploitation, and Traffickingโ initiative, etc.); Operationalizing the UNDP Practical Tool on Human Rights Due Diligence and the Environment (e.g., piloting it with selected businesses, producing training tools, providing capacity-strengthening support toย B+HR Focal Points at the Country Office level);ย Supporting the preparation of regional Forums/Dialogues on BHR in Africa and Arab States Regions, and contributing to UNDPโs substantive participation in the UN Annual Forum on BHR; ย2. Provide technical support in scaling up global initiative on B+HR, including by:
Guiding the implementation of the resource mobilization strategy (e.g., providing thematic and regional/country-specific research, liaising and partnering with other UN Agencies for joint resource mobilization initiatives and other UNDP Teams for portfolio programming,ย draftingย project concept notes and documents, developing workplans and activity-based budgets); Promoting and supporting the positioning of UNDP as a โpractice setterโ on BHR (e.g., ensuring its global visibility, contributing to the work of the Human Rights Council, UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights and other UN Special Procedures, participating in global and regional multi-stakeholder platforms); Advising andย supporting the financialization of the multi-partner arrangements of the โResponsible Business Conduct in Africaโ Project; Developing new thematic offers (e.g., modern slavery due diligence, critical minerals) and internal strategies for way forward of the existing thematic programming (e.g., on BHR and the environment);3. Contribute to the UNDPโs knowledge generation on BHR,ย including by:ย
Leading the development of knowledge products on human rights due diligence, EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and other mandatory human rights due diligence legislation, modern slavery, Universal Periodic Review, etc.; Providing peer review of knowledge products of theย UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights and other UN Special Procedures, UN Agencies, UN Teams, multi-stakeholder platforms, etc.;4. Lead the implementation of the human rights offer to the business sector of the global initiative on B+HR,ย including by:ย
Leading the outreach to potential business-partners, carrying out UNDP corporate private sector due diligence, and developing and implementing Development Service Agreements with business-partners at the global level.ย Guiding Country Offices in carrying out UNDP corporate private sector due diligence, and supporting them in developing and implementing Development Service Agreements with business-partners at the country level. Providing in-house capacity-strengthening and/or other services under global and/or country-level Development Service Agreements.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangements
The Business and Human Rights Specialist will workย under direct supervision of the Global Policy Adviser on BHR, and in close coordination with the Senior BHR Specialist. Theyย will also work directly with Regional Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights Focal Points and/or B+HR Focal Points and provide technical and capacity-strengthening support to B+HR Focal Points at the Country Office level, as needed.
Expected Demonstration of Competencies
Core Competencies
Achieve Results:ย LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impactย
Think Innovatively:ย LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problemsย
Learn Continuously:ย LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility:ย LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demandsย ย
Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner:ย LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusionย LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivityย
Cross-Functional & Technical competenciesย ย ย ย Thematic Area Name Definition Business Direction & Strategy ย System Thinking Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system Business Development Knowledge Facilitation Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange. Business Management Partnerships Management Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies Business Management Communication Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. ยAbility to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels 2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights Business and Human Rights 2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights Safeguarding human rights and protecting vulnerable groups Partnership management Partnership management Ability to identify, conduct outreach, and manage relationships with the private sector
Required Education, Experience, Skills and Competencies
Minimum Education requirements
Advanced University Degree (masterโs degree or equivalent) in Law, Human Rights, Corporate Responsibility, International Relations, Political Science, Development, or relevant field is required. Or
A first-level university degree (bachelorโs degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Minimum years of relevant work experience
A minimum of 5 years (with masterโs degree) or 7 years (with bachelorโs degree) of relevant professional experience on human rights and/or BHR is required. At least 5 years of relevant professional experience with intergovernmental organizations is required.Required skillsย
Expertise in human rights due diligence, particularly in the context of the triple planetary crisis is required. Previous experience in drafting project concept notes and documents and successful resource mobilization initiatives on human rights and/or BHR is required. Previous experience in global project management, including quality assurance, MNEL, partnerships, visibility, reporting, etc is required.Desired skillsย in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
Knowledge of the application of the UNGPs to the financial sector is an asset. Experience and knowledge of theย UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rightsย (UNGPs) is an asset. Previous experience working on human rights with UNDP and/or other UN Agencies is an asset. Expertise in modern slavery due diligence is an asset. Previous experience in developing and implementing human rights-related services to the business sector is an asset.ย Expertise and previous experience in communications for development/human rights is an asset.Required Language (s):ย
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official languages is an asset.Disclaimer
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ย We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions withย UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience, and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.ย ย
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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