Project Manager, Business and Human Rights

UNDP works to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities through the sustainable development of nations, in more than 170 countries and territories. The Regional Bureau of Asia has the responsibility to guide and support 24 Country Offices in achieving the objectives of UNDP’s Strategic Plan.  RBAP staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, governments and other relevant stakeholders; advocates for UNDP corporate messages and represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, South-South and Triangular cooperation initiatives, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. 

Rapid and continued economic dynamism has translated into growth and reduced poverty levels in several countries in Asia and the Pacific. Greater foreign direct investments and capital movements, accentuated by higher regional mobility, are reasons for further optimism for future regional growth. This progress has often come at the expense of the human rights of minorities, marginalized and disadvantaged and at-risk groups in the interest of investments and financial gains.

The UNDP Asia-Pacific, Governance and Peacebuilding Team, Business and Human Rights (BHR) Unit, is currently engaged in promoting the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP). The UNGP clarifies the duty of states and the responsibility of businesses to uphold international norms and treaties on human rights. These Guiding Principles rest on three pillars: 1) the State’s duty to protect human rights; 2) the corporate responsibility to respect human rights and; 3) the joint-responsibility of both the State and businesses sector to provide access to remedy for victims of business-related abuses. 

Momentum supporting the implementation of the UNGPs through National Action Plans (NAPs) is developing quickly in the region. Nurturing this, an already well-developed community of industry advocates, human rights activists, and development practitioners are deepening their work on a wide variety of thematic area or industry-specific BHR activities. While leading national and multi-national corporations are embedding human rights due diligence approaches into their operational policies and corporate communication profiles. 

B+HR Asia: Enabling Sustainable Economic Development through the Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework supports the implementation of the UNGPs in close partnership with Asian governments, business, and civil society, through dialogue, training, research, small grant provision and awareness raising activities.

The project is focused on seven Asian countries; India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand implementing a broad range of activities targeting a variety of stakeholders including governments, state officials, members of the business sector, Civil Society Organizations, National Human Rights Institutions, UN entities and international organizations, and influencers in the area of business, human rights and economic polic y with funding from from the European Union’s Partnership Instrument.

The Business and Human Rights Specialist, based in Bangkok, is responsible for contributing to policy and project support to Country Offices in Asia (with an emphasis on Southeast Asia) on Business and Human Rights. S/he will provide management support for Business and Human Rights project planning, administration and reporting, undertake policy research and develop knowledge products as well as support communication, partnership-building and resource mobilization. 

 S/he acts under the guidance of the Rule of Law and Human Rights Regional Advisor in response to requests from country offices and in collaboration with the Governance and Peacebuilding team. S/he works with teams across the Regional Hub, Country Offices, Global Policy Centers and the UN system to ensure the execution of quality and coherent policy and project advisory services within their region as well as alignment with the Strategic Plan. S/he is responsible for performing and contributing to the following:

• Project Management 
• Supervision of project staff
• Communication, Partnership-Building and support to Resource Mobilization
   

Project Manager will work under the guidance and direct supervision of Rule of Law and Human Rights Regional Advisor. 

Project Management 

• Provide project management expert support through effective planning, administration, coordination with country offices and partners;
• Technically support country offices in developing and implementing country level work-streams on Business and Human Rights, particularly in light of the 2030 Agenda;
• Conduct expert visits to focus countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia, to provide high level advice to government agencies, private sector actors, UN system entities, regional organizations, civil society, and National Human Rights Institutions
• Provide analytical inputs on Business and Human Rights National Action Plans, legislation, strategies and initiatives;
• Draft ad hoc and yearly reports to highlight key issues, trends, emerging opportunities, risks, potential project partners, and entry-points for the regional programme in focus countries. Draft Reports to donors
• Provide any other Technical Assistance in the implementation of the regional programme at country-level
• Draft Speeches and Talking Points for UNDP Senior Management (UN Resident Coordinators and UNDP RRs) 
• Coordinate work with other project specialists working as part of the Business and Human rights program as well as the Bangkok Regional Hub. 

Strategic partnerships, resource mobilization and knowledge management initiatives

• Develop and maintain active relationship and partnerships with the Governments, NGOs, the UN system and development partners, institutes, academia, the media, and private sector on Business and Human Rights to enhance collaboration, resource mobilization and/or share ideas and to influence agenda and priority setting.
• Lead knowledge management strategies and methodologies; manage the process of identifying and synthesizing of best practices, innovations and lessons learned that are directly linked to the implementation of the programme and contribute to their global dissemination and supports further programmatic expansion. 

Supervision of project staff

• Supervise three project staff members based in Bangkok and be a matrix supervisor for the 7 National Specialists based in the COs
   

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 

2030 Agenda: Peace

• Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights: Human rights/HRBA
• Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights: Human Rights institutions/compliance

Business Management

• Results- Based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with focus at improved performance and demonstrate result

External Relations & Advocacy

• Partnerships management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and other in-line with UNDP strategy and policies