Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRC) in Bujumbura, Burundi. The incumbent reports to the UN Resident Coordinator and to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights through the Regional Director for Central and West Africa, Global Operations Division, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRC), and with functional support and guidance from OHCHR through the Regional Director for Central and West Africa, the Senior Human Rights Adviser (HRA) will be responsible for the following duties: – Supports the UNRC and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in integrating human rights into their programmes and activities, including on development, in particular the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and other key strategic planning tools, including by building UNCT capacities to apply a human rights-based approach to their programmes and activities, conducting situational assessments and a mapping of UNCT capacities and needs, facilitating country level coordination and acting as a resource person in programme activities implemented by the UNCT; – Advises the UNRC and the UNCT in developing strategies and programmes to build and strengthen national capacities and institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, based on assessment of national context, capacities and priorities and facilitate access to specific human rights expertise, including by drawing from human rights resources and tools available; – Supports the UNRC and UNCT in promoting human rights as a common UN value and upholding international norms and standards through advocacy and awareness raising. Engages regularly with national stakeholders, including national authorities, democratic institutions, civil society and development partners on human rights issues and analysis; – Supports the UNRC and UNCT and national partners in their engagement with international human rights mechanisms such as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, as well as those under relevant international instruments of specialized agencies, including by supporting the dissemination and sharing of information, coordinating or facilitating the UNCT’s contributions and programmatic follow-up to the recommendations of these bodies, and helping the UNCT to provide timely and effective support to relevant country missions of Special Procedures mandate holders and other UN mechanisms; – Upon request, and under the direct supervision and guidance of the UNRC, provides advice, training and technical assistance to the Government and other national stakeholders with a view to further catalyzing coordinated UN responses in order to strengthen national capacity for the promotion and protection of human rights, including follow up to recommendations from the human rights mechanisms; – And performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Comprehensive knowledge of and exposure to a range of human rights issues, including: approaches and techniques to address sensitive and complex issues; very good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines related to all human rights including the human rights mechanisms and treaties; operational activities for development, peace and security and humanitarian affairs and good practical knowledge of development programming including on economic, social and cultural rights, women’s rights and gender equality. Comprehensive knowledge of the region or country of assignment, including its human rights and political situation, as well as its culture, history and traditions; demonstrated ability to complete in-depth analysis and reach conclusions on possible causes and solutions to human rights issues; good political judgment and advocacy skills and the ability to understand and respond to sensitive and complex political and social events; ability to describe human rights issues and perspectives, including gender issues. 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. COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. 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. LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow; empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. 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 that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision ; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in law, political science, international relations or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience at the national and international levels in the field of human rights, including experience in development and/or humanitarian contexts, is required. Experience implementing human rights technical cooperation or mainstreaming activities is required. Experience working on human rights issues related to the Central Africa region or similar field contexts is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English

and

French are required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult

https://languages.un.org

for details).

Required Languages

Language

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

English

UN Level III

UN Level III

UN Level III

UN Level III

French

UN Level III

UN Level III

UN Level III

UN Level III

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be…