Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Human Rights Service of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The Human Rights Officer will be based in Kandahar, an “E” hardship and a non-family duty station, and will serve as Human Rights Officer/Team Leader under the guidance and supervision of the Senior Human Rights Officer and overall direction of the Chief, Human Rights Service.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties: Leads the management and implementation of the human rights work in the assigned area, in accordance with the UNAMA Human Rights Service workplan, and management of Team members. Plans, coordinates and leads activities related to the UNAMA’s human rights mandate, including from a gender perspective, inter alia, protection of civilians, right to life, liberty and integrity; issues related to the rights of women, children, persons deprived of their liberty; human rights defenders, media workers and other vulnerable groups; and monitoring of fundamental freedoms, civic space, and the economic, social and cultural rights situation of the region of assignment. Devises advocacy strategies, advocates and advises relevant de facto authorities, civil society, the UN Country Team (UNCT) on strategies to better protect and promote human rights and mechanisms to stop impunity and redress human rights violations in the mission area. Establishes and maintains contact with de facto authorities, armed groups, civil society, UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes with complementary mandates, and other relevant partners to inform on the human rights situation in the mission area and advise on strategic and policy issues to better protect and promote human rights. Support a human-rights based approach in the design and implementation of UNAMA’s preventive diplomacy, good offices, national dialogue, mediation initiatives, and other matters, as appropriate. 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. Contributes to the integration of human rights in humanitarian action, through participating or coordinating emergency preparedness and response activities including in the work of the Protection Cluster, as appropriate. Plans and/or coordinates the collection and analysis of human rights monitoring data and information, as well as the preparation of data presentations and reports, for information-sharing, responding to queries, knowledge-management, planning and decision-making. Plans and/or coordinates visualisations and the updating of information materials, such as brochures, web pages, etc. Works directly with other components of the UN peace operation to integrate human rights considerations into the planning and review of their programs and operations, including through developing procedures and policies, as appropriate. Designs, delivers, coordinates and evaluates human rights awareness-raising initiatives for national and subnational stakeholders. 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. Contributes to the integration of gender perspectives/considerations and specific women/girls’ rights issues in all activities, programmes and strategies. Assists in the coordination and implementation of the Human Rights Service work plan; evaluates or assists in the evaluation of its progress and suggests adjustments as needed. Represent the UNAMA Human Rights Service at meetings and thematic events related to the UNAMA human rights mandate in the region of assignment. Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Good knowledge of human rights issues and ability to identify related problems in their political, ethnic, racial, gender equality and socio-economic dimensions in a humanitarian and conflict setting. Good knowledge of international human rights law standards and international humanitarian law. Good knowledge of the human rights-based approach to human rights field work. Good knowledge of operational methods of work on: protection of civilians; right to life, liberty and physical integrity; protection of women and children, victims of torture and ill-treatment, human rights defenders and civic space; and monitoring of fundamental freedoms and economic, social and cultural rights. Good research and analytical skills, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the human rights situation in the area of assignment, and ability to identify and participate in the resolution of human rights issues. Ability to identify sources for data collection, research and analyze information, and draft human rights reports. 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; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. 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. Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in law, human rights, political science, international relations, social sciences, humanities 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.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in human rights issues and relevant professional experience is required, particularly on issues of protection of civilians, right to life, liberty and integrity, gender, violence against women, child protection, prohibition of torture and ill-treatment, human rights defenders, media, civic space, fundamental freedoms and on economic, social and cultural rights. Experience in leading and conducting human rights fact-finding missions in a UN peace operation, UN human rights presence or equivalent international organisation – outside the country of origin – is required. Experience in leading, managing and supervising a multicultural team is required. Experience in human rights case management and data analytics, human rights analysis and human rights reporting, is desirable. Experience working in Afghanistan is desirable.

Languages

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

Assessment

Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.

Special Notice

This “Recruit from Roster” job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities.

United Nations Considerations

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, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, 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. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. 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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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.

No Fee

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.