* This position is open to Uzbekistan nationals ONLY

BACKGROUND

The UN Human Rights Office in Central Asia covers the five post-Soviet countries of Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It is based in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) with small national presences (one post each) in Astana (Kazakhstan), Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Ashgabat (Turkmenistan) and Tashkent (Uzbekistan) as well as a limited presence in Osh (Kyrgyzstan).

ROCA engages in general human rights monitoring across the region, provides comprehensive capacity building for duty bearers and rights holders and works towards mainstreaming human rights and gender into all UN programmes in the office’s target countries. ROCA’s programming cycle has been designed with a view on two of the four programmatic shifts of OHCHR. This includes (1) Building a global constituency for human rights and (2) Protecting and expanding civic space – for both from the perspective of some of Central Asia’s particularly vulnerable groups, i.e. women, youth, people with disabilities and ethnic minorities. ROCA sees both shifts as intrinsically connected and results in one will ultimately feed into the achievement of the other.

ROCA will continue its work on support introducing a human rights-based approach to country-level reforms in the Central Asia region. At the same time institutionalization of human rights in state-led training programmes is a priority for ROCA in all of the five countries. This work is buttressed by ROCA’s work on rendering National Human Rights Institutions in Central Asia more effective, independent and interconnected and allowing them to play a leading role in the protection and promotion of human rights at national and sub-regional levels. In particular, and by way of several dedicated projects, ROCA will aim at civil society actors and marginalized groups being able to increasingly claim rights for themselves and their constituencies and at obtaining more opportunities for effective participation in public life. This work will have a specific focus on civic space and fundamental freedoms.

Finally, ROCA will focus on integrating human rights in sustainable development, with a specific focus on increasing the number of the Central Asian States and UNCTs that have adopted a Human Rights-Based Approach to the implementation of SDG and other development plans, including by integrating human rights mechanisms’ outcomes in their national implementation plans.

The position is located primarily in the OHCHR Regional Office for Central Asia. Incumbents will report to Regional Representative and directly reports to Deputy Regional Representative.

Position Purpose

Under the overall supervision of OHCHR Regional Representative for Central Asia and under the guidance and direct supervision of the Deputy Regional Representative National Programme Officer will provide a high-quality services to the OHCHR Programme to ensure timely and efficient coordination and monitoring over implementation of respective Programme Output. The National Programme Officer promotes a client, quality and results-oriented approach.

Key Duties and Accountabilities

Coordination of programmatic activities 

•              Contribute to planning, implementation and evaluation of activities under the annual work plan/cost plan with a specific focus on contributing to the capacity building of relevant stakeholders in Uzbekistan for implementing recommendations of UN human rights mechanisms.

•              Assist in providing technical assistance and help deliver trainings to relevant partners on international human rights mechanisms, human rights law and other related thematic areas.

•              Advise UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan and members of UNCT on international human rights mechanisms, human rights law and other related thematic areas.

•              Assist the Regional Office in implementing specific projects on certain topics including efficient and timely delivery of outputs and preparation of reports, in line with the regulatory framework of the respective contracting authority.

•              Drafts reports, projects proposals, oral and written briefings, and draft correspondence, as necessary, on the human rights situation as well as on the activities of the Regional Office, bearing in mind the results-based management and logical frameworks.

•              Keep abreast of general political, economic, social and legal developments in Uzbekistan and report to the Regional Office with a view to ensure appropriate, efficient and effective development-oriented programming of the Regional Office.

•              Supports the Regional Representative in maintaining close contact with state authorities, civil society actors, international organizations and other partners of the Regional Office.

•              Initiate, organize and coordinate programmatic and administrative arrangements for meetings, seminars, conferences, workshops, round tables and similar activities as foreseen by the work plan.

•              Organize and support substantively, and logistically if necessary, missions of OHCHR staff members and UN independent Experts within the country.

•              Serve as the focal point for the coordination and implementation of activities in Uzbekistan implemented through regional OHCHR initiatives in Central Asia.

•              Assist the Regional Office with interpretation and translation from and to English, when required.

•              Performing other duties as required.

Monitoring and Analyze

•              Monitor, analyze and report on human rights developments in the countries covered by the Office and advise on follow-up actions.

•              Monitor the OHCHR projects for Uzbekistan substantively and financially to ensure the efficient and timely delivery of inputs and the realization of the targeted expenditure/delivery rate and provide periodic assessment of the realization of objectives and results.

•              Provide regular inputs into various reports, oral and written briefings by the Office and monitor political and legal developments that affect human rights compliance of Uzbekistan in the thematic priorities assigned to the incumbent.

Resource mobilization, advocacy and coordination support functions

•              Provide inputs to resource mobilization strategies, i.e. analyze information/databases on potential and actual donors and develops and prepare project proposals to donors.

•              Prepare information for advocacy, identify and communicate relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating OHCHR’s mandate.

•              Visit project activities, providing substantive guidance to others involved in the implementation of the project, in consultation with the supervisor.

Requirements:

Education

•              Master’s degree or equivalent in Human Rights, Law, Social Sciences, or related field.

•              A first-level degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

•              A minimum of two years of professional experience, in particular working on issues related to human rights, or 4 years (with Bachelor’s degree) with qualifying experience may be accepted.

•              Past experience in implementing and managing project activities required;

•              Background in working with the United Nations, or other regional or international intergovernmental / non-governmental organizations preferred.

•              Outstanding communication, drafting and advocacy skill and ability to navigate politically sensitive contexts required;

•              Ability to work under pressure, to manage complex assignments with tight deadlines and to handle multiple tasks simultaneously required;

•              Excellent computer skills with the ability to use information technology as a tool and resource (in particular word and spreadsheet processors, internet applications) required, as well as experience with knowledge management platforms preferred

Language requirements

•              Full proficiency in English and Russian, both oral and written.

•              Knowledge of Uzbek and other languages spoken in the region would be an asset. Ability to interpret and translate desirable.

Expected Demonstration of Competencies

Core

Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

Learn Continuously LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Business Direction and Strategy – Strategic Thinking Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with OHCHR’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 OHCHR.

Knowledge and understanding of sustainable development theories, concepts and approaches. Ability to identify and develop sources for data collection.

Ability to undertake research, analyze data, make recommendations and write draft reports on sustainable development issues.

Ability to demonstrate professional competence and mastery of subject matter; to be conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; to be motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; show persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remain calm in stressful situations.

Ability to take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensure equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Business Direction and Strategy – Effective Decision Making Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.

Ability to develop clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identify priority activities and assignments; adjust priorities as required; allocate appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresee risks and allow for contingencies when planning; monitor and adjust plans and actions as necessary.

Ability to take ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; deliver outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operate in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; support subordinates, provision of oversight and take responsibility for delegated assignments; take personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Business Management – Portfolio Management  Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.

Ability to actively seek to improve programmes or services; offer new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; ability to promote and persuade others to consider new ideas; take calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; think “outside the box”; take an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; ability to be not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Business Management – Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.

Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Business Management – Partnership management Ability to build and maintain partnerships wth wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with OHCHR strategy and policies

Business Management – Resource management Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability and integrity.

Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements

2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness – Crisis and Fragility Policy and Engagement Crisis risks and early warning

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