HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER/National Reporting and Investigation (Temporary Job Opening) [Temporary]

This position is located in the OHCHR/Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) within the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). The Human Rights Officer will be based in Kinshasa under the direct supervision of the Director of the JHRO.

The incumbent will act as the Coordinator of National Reporting and Investigation Unit. Within delegated authority and under the supervision of the Director of the Human Rights Division, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

• Plans, coordinates and leads multidisciplinary teams in the conduct of investigations into alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in compliance with UN standards;
•Coordinates the monitoring of and evaluates the legal system and its compliance with international human rights instruments and advises where appropriate, relevant authorities including on the implementation of UN recommendations.
• Formulates recommendations and suggests strategies to better promote and protect human rights in the mission area, including for peace processes;
•Works directly with other components of the UN peace operation, including the police and military, to integrate human rights considerations into the planning and review of their programs and operations, including through developing procedures and policies, as appropriate;
•Plans, designs, implements and evaluates strategies for the mainstreaming of human rights in the activities of the UN peace mission and the UNCT and advocates for the integration of human rights in these programmes;
•Contributes to advocacy strategies, advocates and advises relevant authorities, inducting State officials, the UN Country Team (UNCT) and the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), UN and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) senior management on strategies to better protect and promote human rights and mechanisms to stop impunity and redress human rights violations;
•Contributes to the integration of gender perspectives/considerations and specific women/girls' rights issues in all activities, programmes and strategies;
•Represents the human rights component in decision-making fora in the area of responsibility as appropriate;
•Analyses and synthesizes significant amounts of information of relevance to human rights, including from open sources;
•Coordinates, supervises and conducts human rights monitoring activities in compliance with United Nations (UN) methodology and relevant to the observance of international human rights and humanitarian law in the mission area; Establishes as needed, baseline data for the appropriate monitoring of the human rights situation in the mission area;
• Drafts, reviews and coordinates the timely delivery of a variety of reports, briefings and other type of communications in compliance with established standards, including with regard to public human rights reports;
•Promotes the effective flow of information and channels human rights analysis and concerns for inclusion in UN crisis management and response;
•Trains, coaches and supervises new and junior staff, manages their performance, and assists in training needs assessments.
Designs, delivers, coordinates and evaluates human rights training programmes for national officials, armed groups, civil society representatives, human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other national stakeholders;
• Works with national authorities and civil society for the establishment of transitional justice processes and the establishment of accountability and compensation mechanisms, as appropriate;
• Ensures, coordinates and supervises the timely entry of accurate and verified human rights cases into an established database; conducts quality control and delivers statistics and trend reports as required;
Ensures the integration of UN-developed methodology into human rights monitoring, reporting, protection and investigation Activities.
• Performs other related duties as required

Professionalism: Knowledge of main human rights issues in the region and ability to identify related problems in their political, ethnic, racial, gender equality and socio-economic dimensions; Knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines related to human rights.; Analytical and research skills, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on human rights. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Proven understanding of the relevance of information and data management and its applicability to human rights work; Ability to identify appropriate means of communication to channel relevant human rights information for crisis management and response. shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; Appraises performance fairly

An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in human rights, law, political science, international relations, social sciences or a related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:
- A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in the human rights or closely related field, of which at least half in the area of human rights.
- At least on year of experience working in a conflict or post-conflict setting, outside the country of origin.
- Experience in a field operation.
- At least on year of experience in human rights monitoring and reporting.
- At least on year of experience in leading and conducting human rights investigations or fact-finding missions.
- Experience in human rights protection work, including through engaging with armed groups for the protection of civilians.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE:
-One year of experience in a managerial capacity and Experience in leading a team of 5/6 is highly desirable. Demonstrated experience in monitoring or mainstreaming sexual and gender –based violence is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in oral and written English and French is required.

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

• This position is temporarily available until [specific date]. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.

• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.

• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.