Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.

Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments

Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers

Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

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 the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s work is concentrated in three focus areas: (1) sustainable development, (2) democratic governance and peace building, and (3) climate and disaster resilience.

UNDP’s Rule of Law, Security, and Human Rights Team: The UNDP’s Rule of Law, Security, and Human Rights (RoLSHR) Team 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 the UNDP Strategic Plan for 2022-2025 and provides tailored, context-specific technical, financial, and strategic support to contexts across the development spectrum.

UNDP’s B+HR Initiative: The RoLSHR’s programmatic work on BHR is provided through the global initiative on B+HR currently implemented in 53 countries (and growing) in Africa, the Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, focusing on supporting: 

  • Governments (across sectors): in upholding their duty to protect human rights from businesses’ 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 the B+HR Academy, which trains approximately 1,300 businesses per year;
  • Civil society and other relevant stakeholders: in monitoring businesses’ human rights performance, advocating for advancing corporate respect for human rights, and providing ‘routes to remedy’ to people adversely affected by businesses.

The UNDP’s global initiative on B+HR is coordinated 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. 

The UNDP’s global initiative on B+HR 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 work under direct supervision of the Global Policy Adviser on BHR, and in close coordination with the Senior BHR Specialist. They 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.

Scope of Work  

1. Provide technical and programmatic advisory support in implementing the existing activities of the UNDP’s global initiative on B+HR, including by:

  • Advising and supporting the implementation of the global, regional, and Country Office-level donor-funded projects with particular emphasis on the ‘Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking’ initiative.
  • Supporting the preparation of global events and seminars held in Geneva;
  • Coordinating logistical and substantive elements of UNDP’s participation in the UN Annual Forum on BHR.
  • Developing concept notes and contributing to the drafting of project proposals for the purpose of resource mobilization.

2. Provide technical support in scaling up global initiative on B+HR, including by:

  • Coordinating 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, drafting project concept notes and documents, developing workplans and activity-based budgets);
  • Promoting and supporting the positioning of UNDP as a ‘practice setter’ 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);
  • Developing new thematic offers and internal strategies for way forward of the existing thematic programming;

3. Contribute to the UNDP’s knowledge generation on BHR, including by:

  • Contributing to 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 internal knowledge products and inputting into submissions for reports of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights and other UN Special Procedures, UN Agencies, UN Teams, multi-stakeholder platforms, etc.;

4. Support overall coordination of the work of the Global B+HR team, including by:

  • Coordinating the implementation of the Team Work Plan and, in conjunction with the Project Associate, monitoring the team budget.
  • Supporting Country Offices’ efforts 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.
  • Consolidating contributions of the B+HR team to the Annual Report of the Global Program 5 (GP5) and on all submissions needed for GP5 Project Boards. Leading on ROAR reporting.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The Business and Human Rights Specialist will work under direct supervision of the Global Policy Adviser on BHR, and in close coordination with other BHR Specialists in the team. They 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.

Core Competencies

  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
  • Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies :

  • Business Direction & Strategy — Strategic Thinking: Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.
  • Business Direction & Strategy — 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 Generation: Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.
  • Business Management — Partnership 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 — Results Based Management: Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.
  • 2030 Agenda: Peace — Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights: Joint programming for justice and security (GFP)
  • 2030 Agenda: Peace — Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights: Safeguarding human rights and protecting vulnerable groups

Required Skills and Experience Education:

  • Advanced University Degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Law, Human Rights, Corporate Responsibility, International Relations, Political Science, Development, or relevant fields is required. Or
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s 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.

Experience:

  • A minimum of 5 years (with a master’s degree) or 7 years (with a bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience on human rights and/or BHR is required.

Required skills and competencies:

  • At least 5 years of relevant professional experience with intergovernmental organizations.
  • Experience in human rights due diligence, particularly in the context of the triple planetary crisis.
  • Previous experience in drafting project concept notes and documents and successful resource mobilization initiatives on human rights and/or BHR.
  • Previous experience in global project management, including quality assurance, MNEL, partnerships, visibility, reporting, etc..

Desired additional skills and competencies:

  • Experience using the application of the UNGPs to the financial sector.
  • Experience with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).
  • Previous experience working on human rights with UNDP and/or other UN Agencies.
  • Previous experience in developing and implementing human rights-related services to the business sector.
  • Expertise and previous experience in communications for development/human rights.

Languages:

  • Fluency in English is required.
  • Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Equal opportunity : 

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority :

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates :

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates :

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert :

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

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