Rule of Law Policy Specialist

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Crisis Bureau guides UNDP’s corporate crisis and fragility related strategies and vision for crisis prevention, response and recovery. The Bureau has the responsibility for support to prevention, crisis response, resilience, recovery and peacebuilding work under the auspices of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. Crisis Bureau staff provide global strategic advice to UNDP management and technical advice to regional hubs and Country Offices; advocate for UNDP corporate messages, represent UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora, and engage in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. As part of the Global Policy Network (GPN), the Crisis Bureau works in an integrated manner with UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) ensuring that issues are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. Peace outcomes are delivered in a coherent manner, working across the GPN that includes the Governance team in Bureau of Policy and Programme Support.

The Crisis Bureau (CB) is galvanizing UNDP’s efforts to support countries to build resilience by strengthening capacities to anticipate, prevent, respond to, and recover from the impacts of crises and shocks on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These efforts are geared towards reducing countries’ reliance on external humanitarian relief and peace interventions, while risk-informing development planning and decision-making to minimize creation of new risks. UNDP seeks to ensure that development perspectives are introduced as early as possible in response and recovery cycles, including approaching recovery as an opportunity to reset development practices onto more resilient, green and equitable pathways. 

UNDP’s corporate Crisis Offer seeks to consolidate and upgrade UNDP’s crisis mechanisms to break the cycle of protracted crisis and fragility; to get ahead of the crisis curve through anticipating and preventing crises; and to sustain development throughout crisis by investing in hope – from jobs to justice. These efforts seek to mitigate potential shocks and disruptions, protect hard-won development gains, and to provide sustained accompaniment throughout crises, and to pursue pathways out of crisis and build longer-term resilience. The CB supports Regional Bureaux (RBx) and Country Offices (COs) to ensure risk-informed and preventive approaches are integrated into development plans, priorities and programmes. Bureau guides UNDP’s corporate crisis-related strategies and vision for crisis prevention, response and recovery.

Part of the Crisis Bureau, the Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights (ROLSHR) team is responsible for practice and policy development in the areas of rule of law, justice, security, and human rights through the implementation of the Global Programme on Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights for Sustaining Peace and Fostering Development, 2022-2025 (the Global Programme). The Global Programme is guided by and aligned to UNDP’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan and is widely recognized for its ability to mobilize funds, provide technical and strategic expertise, and collaborate and coordinate across UN entities to enable more holistic, coherent and comprehensive responses to rule of law, justice, security and human rights challenges. It provides tailored, context-specific technical, financial and strategic support to contexts across the development spectrum.

The Rule of Law and Human Rights Specialist is one of the lead experts in the Rule of Law and Human Rights knowledge domain.  S/he is based in the Sub-Regional Platform in Dakar and reports to the Governance and Peacebuilding Advisor while also being a team member of, and regularly liaising with the team Rule of law, security and human rights for sustainable peace and developments at the Crisis Bureau, as part of the GPN. He/she will provide intellectual and strategic engagement as well as technical guidance on Rule of Law and Human Rights issues for UNDP, and represent UNDP in the wider Rule of Law and Human Rights community of practice, in particular within the UNDP-DPKO Global Focal Point for Rule of Law arrangement and the Tripartite Partnership (TPP - UNDP, OHCHR and the Global Alliance for National Human Rights Institutions), with bilateral partners, external experts, etc. 

Working to ensure quality and coherent policy and programme advisory services within their region and across other regions, as well as alignment with the Strategic Plan, the ROL/HR Specialist advances the credibility and recognition of UNDP’s capabilities in this knowledge domain and associated community of practice.  The Specialist will work closely with the Rule of Law and Human Rights community of practice across UNDP to support corporate learning and, in particular, the implementation of the Global Programme for Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights for Sustaining Peace & Fostering Development

In collaboration with other Advisors and Specialists in the Sub-Regional Platform in Dakar, HQ, Country Offices, Global Policy Centers, and rosters of external advisors, s/he is responsible for leading the provision of technical expertise and policy and programme advisory services to Country Offices, supports the implementation of the regional programme and, where appropriate, with key UN and external partners.  S/he responds to requests from Country Offices and under the guidance of the Head of the Sub-Regional Platform, and in collaboration with corporate support providers, such as the Country Support Management Team, the Crisis and Fragility Engagement and Policy Team and the SDG integrator Team.

• Provide policy advisory and programming services primarily to COs within the region, that respond to country office needs, including through the provision of capacity building and backstopping to COs and UNCTs;
• Work with the Regional Bureau’s Country Advisors to ensure relevant, timely and multi-disciplinary response to Country needs for policy services;
• Support programming and implementation of the Global Programme for Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights for Sustaining Peace & Fostering Development
• Ensure support to implementation of the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy in the Africa region.
• Collaborate substantively with COs and Regional Programmes to achieve regional/CO strategic goals and plans by supporting relevant regional initiatives and promoting synergies with the regional programmes;
• Support COs in project design, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and results reporting in line with RBM guidelines, and support quality assurance, risk management and due diligence processes;
• Provide sector specific and technical policy advice for crisis situations in coordination with the Country Support Management Team;
• Provide support to COs conducting and engaging in assessments related to all forms of crisis response, such as post-crisis, capacity and crisis-related/fragility assessments in coordination with the Country Support Management Team and the Fragility Engagement and Policy Team;
• Ensure risks are monitored and managed across the portfolio of advisory engagements including UNDAF formulation;
• Contribute to developing the capacity of national counterparts in support of achieving the Strategic Plan and other internationally agreed development goals as it relates to the Rule of Law and Human Rights knowledge domains;
• Provide policy advisory and programming services COs in other regions as requested by the Crisis Bureau and in agreement with the Team Leader for Rule of law, security and human rights for sustainable peace and development.
• Provide substantive inputs in the development of UNDP’s policies for the thematic area and contribute to the formulation of global policy products.

2. Substantive development of tools and resources, from across UNDP’s network of expertise

• Provide technical expertise in identifying tools, developing methodologies and producing knowledge management products linked to crisis-related rule of law and human rights;
• Provide technical expertise on the content development for regional/CO knowledge products through the analysis of data, case evidence, and research findings in accordance with corporate standards;
• Contribute to the identification and scoping of technical issues warranting collaboration with HQ and regional teams to research, develop and share knowledge-based tools, such as policy positions/practice notes/concept papers and other research-based products to influence/advance policy dialogue in the knowledge domain and present UNDP’s knowledge assets and capabilities at global and regional forums;
• Work closely with policy teams in HQ to advance research, testing and roll-out of newly commissioned policy/business development initiatives, by providing the regional perspective/specificities as well as experience-based insights on what is of most practical value for national counterparts and regional leaders;
• Design and deliver training on programming tools including by developing training packs for COs to facilitate innovation learning, foster and encourage policy innovation and continuous improvement to enhance programme delivery.

3. Knowledge management and community of practice networking

• Contribute to the continuous analysis, documentation, codification of regional results/lessons learned;
• Review regional data, case evidence and research findings to distill pivotal lessons for UNDP globally;
• Advocate and enable South-South facilitation of exchanges and experiences sharing where valuable;
• Support the capacity development of UNDP staff in application of tools and practices;
• Development and strengthening of linkages with peacebuilding and governance community of practice, both inside and outside of the UN system.

4. Advocacy and partner engagement for effective policy positioning in the region

• Advocate the application of ground-breaking ROL and Human Rights-based approaches, 
• especially as an integrated approach to achieving the SDGs, in various regional and country fora with a view to deepen related political commitment and related reforms;
• Represent UNDP within engagements in interagency coordination in ROL and Human Rights policy areas and in particular support the UNDP-DPKO Global Focal Point arrangement and the Tripartite partnership of UNDP, OHCHR and the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions;
• Advise on resource mobilization/financial assistance as required and coordinate approvals as required.
• Provide technical advice on relationship management of regional partners and resource mobilization in line with Crisis Bureau priorities and corporate guidelines;
• Provide technical advice on mobilizing and fostering external partnerships behind regional initiatives;
• Manage the building of strategic alliances and partnerships, especially with key think tanks and non-governmental organizations;
• Ensure UNDP/Crisis Bureau Representation at inter-agency meetings, academic conferences, donor consultations and other events;
• Collaborate with UNDP advisors / programme managers and country-based and Peace and Development Advisors.

Core
Achieve Results:

• Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact. 

Think Innovatively:

• Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems. 

Learn Continuously:

• Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.

Adapt with Agility: 

• Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands. 

Act with Determination:     

• Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.

Engage and Partner:

• Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

• Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

2030 Agenda: Peace - Rule of Law Security and Human Rights:

• Safeguarding human rights and protecting vulnerable groups.

2030 Agenda: Peace - Rule of Law Security and Human Rights:

• Human Rights Institutions/compliance.

2030 Agenda: Peace - Rule of Law Security and Human Rights:

• Access to Justice.

Business Direction & Strategy - Strategic Thinking:

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions; 
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.

Business Direction & Strategy - Negotiation and Influence:

• Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates ‘win-win’ situations.

Business Development - UNDP Representation:

• Ability to represent UNDP and productively share UNDP knowledge and activities; advocate for UNDP, its values, mission and work with various constituencies.

Business Management - Partnerships Management:

• Ability to 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.

• A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in either public sectors (national or multilateral, including UN), private (academia, non-governmental sector, corporate), with increasing level of responsibility
• Proven track record and leadership experience in the UN System related to rule of law and human rights in crisis and fragile contexts
• Excellent negotiating and communication skills and ability to mobilize support from a wide range of partners (public, private, academic, civil society, business community leaders)
• Proven track record of management and resource mobilization skills.

Language Requirements:

• English proficiency and good working knowledge of French is preferred. Other UN languages are highly desirable.