Programme Specialist, ROL, Security and Human Rights

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 Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan.  BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.  BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response.  BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes.

Within the GPN, the Crisis Bureau (CB) guides UNDP’s corporate crisis-related strategies and vision for crisis prevention, response and recovery. The Bureau has the responsibility for support to prevention, crisis response, resilience and recovery 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. The Crisis Bureau supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts, in close coordination and thematic synergy with BPPS through the GPN.

• Programme Support and Policy Advice
• Support Policy Development
• Policy Positioning and Representation
• Partnerships and Resource Mobilization 
• Knowledge Management

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 Regional Hub in Bangkok and reports to the Programme Advisor – Governance, Conflict Prevention, Access to Justice and Human Rights in the Regional Hub, and Head of Rule of law, Security & Human Rights, 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 on issues related to the region and relevant sub-regions, within the UNDP-DPO Global Focal Point for Rule of Law arrangement and the Tripartite Partnership (TPP - UNDP, OHCHR, the Global Alliance for National Human Rights Institutions and the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions - NANRHI), 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

• Execute policy, strategy, and programme initiatives to support key results, outcomes, and outputs relating to Crisis Prevention and the Rule of Law, Justice, Human Rights and Security area of the Strategic Plan;
• Support country offices in developing and implementing strategic frameworks, programmes, and projects for the Crisis Prevention and Rule of Law, Justice, Human Rights and Security area;
• In the area of Rule of Law, Justice, Human Rights and Security in crisis and post-conflict contexts (GFP), the programme specialist will take the lead in providing technical advice with back-up support provided by the RoLJHRS team in Headquarters;
• Coordinate the production of relevant analysis and guidance for policy advice and programme support that responds to country office needs; 
• Apply multi-disciplinary approaches, to deliver advisory services and programming needs in 
• line with emerging client needs and corporate standards, as well as maintaining and developing networks of experts in UNDP’s areas of work;
• Develop and implement solutions in crisis and conflict situations in response to requests coordinated by the Crisis Bureau and ensure proper use of policy and tools in this context;
• Incorporate gender equality and human rights’-based approach in policy and programming work; and
• Provide relevant contribution to UNDP SURGE.

2. Support Policy Development

• Support policy development and innovation through consolidation of relevant lessons from projects and programmes;
• Identify gaps and opportunities for development of new policies and guide the overall team priorities and workplans;

• Provide Quality Assurance to ensure alignment with global development policies, norms and standards;
• Ensure cross-practice approach and cross-regional collaboration;
• Create methods for reviewing policy services in the thematic area and assess policy success, as well as communicate these methods to other country offices and regions; 
• Conceptualize and recommend policy innovations in the thematic area to improve programme delivery.

3. Policy Positioning and Representation

• Under the guidance of the Programme Advisor – Governance, Conflict Prevention, Access to Justice and Human Rights, mobilize, foster and strengthen strategic partnerships with UN entities and other relevant bodies at the regional level, and provide inputs to those partnerships in support of UNDP initiatives;
• Prepare briefing notes and speeches;

• Advocate the importance of the thematic area in various fora at the regional level, including academia and civil society, with a view to deepen related political commitment and related reforms; 
• Support Team Leaders in engagement in UN interagency coordination in relevant policy areas, including in representing UNDP positioning with respect to the Global Focal Point, Rights up Front, and other crisis prevention and rule of law mechanisms, by organizing and participating in regional meetings.

4. Partnerships and Resource Mobilization

• In collaboration with BERA, support the Programme Advisor – Governance, Conflict Prevention, Access to Justice and Human Rights to engage with regional partners and develop/implement resource mobilization plan under corporate guidelines, including to fulfill corporate and donor reporting, advocacy and information-sharing requirements;
• Provide substantive inputs related to regional external partnerships in the area of work; 
• Support the Programme Advisor – Governance, Conflict Prevention, Access to Justice and Human Rights in fostering strategic partnerships with UN and external regional partner institutions, Governments, private sector, academia, NGOs, and CSOs at regional and local level.

5. Knowledge Management

• Coordinate team contributions and support to corporate KM activities, at region-specific level to help influence/advance policy dialogue in the thematic area in collaboration with policy teams at HQ and in Regional Hubs;
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Coordinate and perform knowledge extraction, analysis, documentation, codification of results/lessons learned in the specific thematic area, and verify that knowledge sharing and content management is in line with guidelines and performed using corporate tools.

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.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in law, governance, economics, social sciences or related disciplines.

• A minimum of 7 years of professional work experience providing policy advice and programme support in the general area of Human Rights, Rule of Law, Justice and Crisis Prevention in different development contexts;
• 5 years’ experience working in developing country settings is required;
• Demonstrated experience in partnerships development within the rule of law and human rights sphere, with other agencies, donors and other development partners is considered highly desirable;
• Demonstrated experience in developing knowledge management outputs/products within the rule of law and human rights sphere is preferred;
• Experience in crisis contexts is an asset;
• Experience in project and programme management is an asset.

Language Requirement:

• Fluency in English, both written and oral;
• Working knowledge of another UN language would be an advantage.