Business & Human Rights Specialist United Nations Development Programme Experience: 5 to 10 Years Islamabad, Pakistan Apply By: 13-09-2024

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Job Description

Decentralization, Human Rights and Local Governance is a multi-sector project aimed at strengthening rights-based development, community stabilization, gender equality and social inclusion across all regions and provinces of Pakistan. The core objective of the project is to ensure inclusive and equitable service delivery by providing technical assistance and capacity development support to relevant federal ministries, provincial line departments, statutory bodies, civil-society and private sector organizations. A key aim is to support the creation of an enabling environment for accelerated access to rights, people centered justice and people centered security. The project is aimed at institution building while connecting with vulnerable and at-risk communities to build trust between rights holders and duty bearers, for inclusive, expeditious and transparent access to rights and services.

The Project will work with key UN partner agencies including OHCHR, UNHCR, UNWOMEN, ILO and IOM in line with the One-UN strategy to leaving no-one behind. Key beneficiaries will include vulnerable and at-risk men, women, girls, transgender persons, persons with disabilities as well as marginalized and vulnerable populations in general. UNDP will leverage its partnerships with government, statutory bodies, private sector and civil-society stakeholders at the national and sub-national levels for the institutionalization of a rights-based approach to development across Pakistan.
A cross-cutting programmatic area of the DHL project is its interventions related to supporting the multistakeholder implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights in Pakistan.
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization in fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.

Duties and Responsibilities

Business & Human Rights Project Implementation & Strategic Advice

Lead implementation of the Business & Human Rights (BHR) pillar of the EU funded Human Rights Project across Pakistan in line with donor requirements, ensuring strategic alignment of activities with other relevant programmatic priorities including environmental justice, social inclusion, education and gender equality.
Provide capacity development support to the Government of Pakistan on roll out of key initiatives under the EU project such as mid-term review of the National Action Plan on BHR (NAP-BHR), drafting of 2nd NAP, and federal & provincial coordination for ongoing implementation of the NAP
Regularly coordinate with UNDP’s Global Business & Human Rights team—under the Global Programme for Strengthening the Rule of Law, Human Rights, Justice and Security for Sustainable Peace and Development—to ensure synchronization of UNDP Pakistan’s BHR initiatives with regional and global trends
Regularly monitor and disseminate BHR related national and international updates relevant to programmatic implementation to international funding partners, especially the EU.
Providing technical advice to the Procurement Officer in contracting qualified and tracking progress against deliverables of Individual Contractors, Vendors, Implementing Partners and private sector organizations to ensure high-quality and timely technical delivery in support of the BHR pillar.
Lead the preparation of concept notes, project proposals and budgeted workplans for submission to potential funding partners for expansion and sustainability of UNDP’s BHR interventions in Pakistan.
Coordinate with government counterparts for exchange of best practices on effective rights-based development between provinces.
Ensure alignment and linkages of DHL’s BHR and environmental justice programming, particularly harmonization of capacity-building initiatives for the private sector on human rights & environmental due diligence.
Coordinate with the project’s subject specialists and experts, including other thematic leads for the EU project (governance; human rights education; and NHRIs) and provincial Project Officers in to ensure a cohesive approach to implementation between the provinces.
Contribute to South-South peer learning activities on Business & Human Rights and rights-based digital governance
Support participation of Pakistani stakeholders in BHR-related national, regional, and global events to promote Pakistan’s initiatives on BHR, and leverage opportunities for international-peer learning
Supporting the Operations Manager to ensure the implementation of UNDP Procedures and Policies in the Project’s activities under the BHR Pillar.

Establish partnerships and open channels of communication.

Conduct analysis of donor funding strategies, state priorities and beneficiary demands – with a particular focus on human rights ecosystem as it relates to business activity in Pakistan
Build and manage partnerships with stakeholders representing government, private sector, civil society and others related to current project activities and identifying future opportunities
Design and develop concept notes and project proposals along with aligning financial resources in accordance with UNDP corporate requirements.
Coordinate across the UN system, including other UNDP Projects as well as focal points of other UN agencies to build synergies and develop coordinated and joint projects related to Business & Human Rights
Present thematic and evidence-based updates identifying programmatic opportunities to international funding partners, donor organisations and government counterparts as and when needed

Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set.

Lead BHR reporting and updates for internal and external stakeholders, including DGU, Country Office, RBAP, donors, etc.
Prepare regular reports on activities, outputs and outcomes for internal and external consumption
Liaise with the UNDP CO for strategic communication, reporting and coordination – while providing guidance to DHL Provincial Project Officers, ICs, and other relevant staff on a synergetic approach to project reporting and communication
Conduct periodic visits to the project implementation areas to review compliance with the required UNDP procedures
Support the CTA in preparation of project’s mid-term, annual and terminal reports
Assist to meetings required in the frame of the project with government and non-government fora on Business & Human Rights

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in International Relations, Law, Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field is required, or
A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Experience:

Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in the development sector leading implementation of donor-funded projects focused on Business & Human Rights.
Strong understanding of UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights, and associated national and international context
Strong understanding of Pakistan’s private sector landscape as it pertains to human rights due diligence
Strong understanding of human rights institutional environment of Pakistan
Strong public speaking skills and ability to speak at/moderate high-level conferences
Experience supporting Government of Pakistan on Business & Human Rights policy development and implementation is an asset
Strong communication (spoken and written) skills and ability to articulate ideas in a clear, concise style
Proficiency in Microsoft Office
Prior experience in the UN system, especially UNDP, leading projects focused on Business & Human Rights and related areas is desirable
Prior working experience providing technical support to Government of Pakistan on Business & Human Rights
Prior experience building multi-stakeholder partnerships to advance responsible business practices in Pakistan
Prior experience organising various capacity-building events related to Business & Human Rights
Experience of donor report writing, analysis and review
Experience supporting Government of Pakistan on Business & Human Rights policy development and implementation