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Human Rights Project Support Officer

Islamabad

  • Organization: UNV - United Nations Volunteers
  • Location: Islamabad
  • Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Administrative support
    • Human Rights
    • Project and Programme Management
  • Closing Date: 2025-02-17

Details

Mission and objectives

UNDP works with the Government and people of Pakistan to develop local solutions to development challenges. In an evolving development context, we support Pakistan’s efforts to build a more equitable, prosperous, peaceful and resilient society, and to achieve its SDGs and COP25 targets. UNDP promotes transformational change by fostering strategic partnerships with national counterparts in the federal, provincial and regional governments, civil society, the private sector and the local and international community. UNDP supports transformational change by providing technical assistance focusing on developing capacity within national and local authorities, providing solutions with strong monitoring and evaluation tools, and delivering programmes with maximum efficiency, transparency and accountability.

UNDP’s ultimate goal is to improve the lives of the people of Pakistan through keeping people out of poverty; governance for peaceful, just and inclusive societies; crisis prevention and increased resilience; nature-based solutions for development; clean affordable energy; and women's empowerment and gender equality.

Context

UNDP works to improve the lives of vulnerable communities, with the overarching objective of preventing loss of development gains, promoting human rights, and finding sustainable pathways to development. UNDP projects under the democratic governance portfolio aims to strengthen state institutions, support democratic development and the rule of law, ensure crisis prevention, support policy development, and integrate gender equality into all areas of work. UNDP works to support the human rights ecosystem by strengthening human rights institutions to promote and protect human rights for all.

This UNV assignment is part of UNDP Pakistan’s Decentralization, Human Rights and Local Governance (DHL) project. The DHL project is a multi-sector project aimed at strengthening rights-based development, community stabilization, gender equality, and social inclusion across all regions and provinces of Pakistan. The core objective of the project is to ensure inclusive and equitable service delivery by providing technical assistance and capacity development support to relevant federal ministries, provincial line departments, statutory bodies, civil society, and private sector organizations. A key aim is to support the creation of an enabling environment for accelerated access to rights, people-centered justice, and people-centered security. The project focuses on institution building while connecting with vulnerable and at-risk communities to build trust between rights holders and duty bearers for inclusive, expeditious, and transparent access to rights and services.

The DHL Project’s Human Rights Programme, Huqooq-e-Pakistan II is organized under four broad pillars:
1. National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs): Enhancing monitoring and protection capacities.
2. Governmental Human Rights Structures: Strengthening implementation and reporting, including through policy support and digitization of information management capacities.
3. Human Rights Education: Strengthening academic standards of higher education Human Rights programs.
4. Business and Human Rights: Enhancing private sector participation in the protection of human rights and gender equality through the adoption and integration of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The incumbent UNV will be stationed at UNDP Pakistan Islamabad and will be responsible for supporting the DHL Project in the implementation of Pillars I and II of the programme. The ideal candidate will combine strong research and project implementation skills with a commitment to promoting human rights.

Task description

Support coordination of effective project implementation
• Support coordination with the National Human Rights Institutions, the Ministry of Human Rights, and relevant provincial human rights departments on UNDP’s rights-based development initiatives in the federal capital and provinces.
• Support coordination with civil society organizations, human rights defenders, and partners on UNDP’s rights based development initiatives.
• Assist the Rights Based Development Expert and the Social Inclusion Officer in preparation of all internal and external reports with regard to project implementation for National Human Rights Institutions and Governmental Human Rights Structures.
• Regularly share updates from international funding partners, especially the EU, on thematic areas that may be relevant to project design and implementation.
• Support keeping track of progress against deliverables of Individual Contractors, Vendors, Implementing Partners and private sector organisations contracted by the Project to ensure timely and quality delivery of the human rights programme.
• Assist the Rights Based Development Expert and Social Inclusion Officer in preparation of concept notes, project proposals and budgeted workplans for submission to potential funding partners for expansion of programme interventions.
• Coordinate with the project’s subject specialist experts, including the Project Officers in other provinces, to ensure cross-fertilization and a cohesive approach to implementation between the provinces.
• Prepare and disseminate all routine communication to the Communications and Reporting Officer for internal and external communications.
• Prepare and disseminate all routine reports to the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for internal and external reporting compliance.
• Proactively engage with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and NGOs working on thematic human rights areas and facilitate linkages with NHRIs and relevant human rights departments for effective project planning and implementation.
• Prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation and opportunities for joint initiatives: Make recommendations to the Rights Based Development Expert and Social Inclusion Officer on activities with the potential for scale-up, replicability, and synergies in collaboration with these stakeholders.
• Contribute to resource mobilization efforts by identifying potential funding sources, developing project proposals, and assisting in the formulation of strategic partnerships on GEN 3 initiatives.
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to align project development with their priorities, needs, and expertise in gender equality, minority rights, and access to environmental justice.
• Perform any other related duty as and when required.
• Ensure the implementation of UNDP Procedures and Policies in the Project activities.


Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set.
• Support the development of clear strategies and an effective system for data collection, means of verification, and information sharing and reporting, ensuring alignment with UNDP guidelines.
• Support monitoring the implementation of activities and progress in achieving goals and targets, with a particular focus on the implementation of Pillars 1 and 2 (National Human Rights Institutions and Governmental Human Rights Structures) of the EU funded Human Rights Project.
• Support the preparation of internal, donor, and government reports in line with the reporting schedule and requirements set by UNDP and the EU, and any other relevant donors. Ensure that the reports accurately reflect the contributions and achievements of project partners, civil society organizations, and the private sector.
• Support the development of concept notes, proposals, and budgets for new activities and thematic areas in human rights, environmental rights, minority rights, and gender justice.
• Coordinate with the Operations team to support the financial management of NGOs, civil society organizations, and women led organisations involved in the project.

Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic area(s).
• Identify and research pressing human rights issues, trends, and challenges relevant to Pakistan and the region.
• Collect, analyse, and synthesize data from primary and secondary sources, including reports, interviews, surveys, and statistical data.
• Stay updated on national and international human rights developments, including legal and policy changes, to inform project priorities.
• Support the organization of trainings, workshops, and capacity building activities in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders from the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, academia, and other relevant partners. Ensure that these activities specifically address human rights, women empowerment, access to gender justice, environmental justice, minority rights, and gender equality.
• Actively participate in knowledge networks and communities of practice related to the key areas under the EU project; share insights and contribute to discussions, drawing on project experiences.
• Support the establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for knowledge dissemination, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and support UNDP's engagement in these areas.
• Collaborate with relevant project partners, stakeholders, and UNDP’s Communications Unit to raise awareness, engage in policy dialogues, and advocate for meaningful change. Utilize communication channels and platforms to amplify the project's impact.

We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.