Business and Human Rights and Peace Specialist (Home-based)

Job Description

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

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 as the UN lead agency on international development, UN Development Programme (UNDP) works in 170 countries and territories, including those fragile and experiencing crisis, to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. UNDP helps countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s work is concentrated in three focus areas: (1) sustainable development, (2) democratic governance and peace building, and (3) climate and disaster resilience.

UNDP’s Rule of Law, Security, and Human Rights Team: The UNDP’s Rule of Law, Security, and Human Rights (RoLSHR) Team is responsible for policy and practice development in the areas of the rule of law, justice, security, human rights, including business and human rights (BHR), through the implementation of the UNDP Global Programme on Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights for Sustaining Peace and Fostering Development for 2022-2025.

UNDP’s B+HR Initiative: The RoLSHR’s programmatic work on BHR is provided through the global initiative on B+HR currently implemented in 42 countries (and growing) in Africa, the Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, focusing on supporting:

1. Governments (across sectors): in upholding their duty to protect human rights from businesses’ abuses, including by strengthening and enforcing robust regulatory frameworks on BHR;
2. Businesses (across industries): in embedding their responsibility to respect human rights throughout their operational policies and practices, including to carry out human rights due diligence across supply chains, through the B+HR Academy, which trains approximately 1,300 businesses per year;
3. Civil society and other relevant stakeholders: in monitoring businesses’ human rights performance, advocating for advancing corporate respect for human rights, and providing ‘routes to remedy’ to people adversely affected by businesses.

The UNDP’s global initiative on B+HR is coordinated from the Geneva Office (Switzerland) and led by the Global Policy Adviser on BHR, which supports and guides Regional B+HR Focal Points. Regional Focal Points are the entry point for requests of guidance coming from B+HR Focal Points at the Country Office level.

The UNDP’s global initiative on B+HR is supported by the Governments of Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, and the EU, and is part of the UNDP Global Programme on Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights for Sustaining Peace and Fostering Development for 2022-2025.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Provide technical and programmatic advisory support in implementing the existing activities of the UNDP’s global initiative on B+HR and Peace, including by:

• Advising and supporting the implementation of the global, regional, and Country Office level donor-funded projects (e.g., JSB projects, Responsible Business Conduct in Africa project, Business and Human Rights in Asia, ‘Investing the Rights Way’ Guide for Investors, etc.);
• Guiding and supporting the preparation of regional Forums/Dialogues on BHR in Africa, Asia, Europe and Central Asia, and Arab States Regions, and contributing to UNDP’s substantive participation in the UN Annual Forum on BHR.

• Provide technical and programmatic advisory support to further UNDP’s promotion of B+HR and Peace, including by:

• Providing technical support to Businesses, Country Offices, Governments, Civil Society and other stakeholders on ensuring business positively impact human rights and peace in crisis settings, including through provision of training and advice to businesses and other stakeholders;
• Advising and supporting the development and implementation of UNDP’s tools on so-called heightened Human Rights Due Diligence (hHRDD), including the Guide for Business on Heightened Human Rights Due Diligence, and the development of a training guide on hHRDD and an e-learning course on hHRDD;
• Promoting UNDP’s engagement in the growing Community of Practice on Business and Conflict, consisting of independent practitioners engaged in promoting responsible business practices in crisis settings;
• Contributing to the mobilisation of resources from development partners, businesses and other donors targeted at promoting a positive contribution of businesses to human rights and peace in crisis settings;
• Strengthening the in-house capacities of UNDP’s Crisis Bureau, Bureau of Policy and Programme Support, and links with the Peacebuilding Support Office and the Peacebuilding Fund, on Business, Human Rights and Conflict.

• Provide technical support in scaling up global initiative on B+HR and Peace, including by:

• Guiding the implementation of the resource mobilization strategy (e.g., providing thematic and regional/country-specific research, liaising and partnering with other UN Agencies for joint resource mobilization initiatives and other UNDP Teams for portfolio programming, drafting project concept notes and documents, developing workplans and activity-based budgets);
• Promoting the positioning of UNDP as a ‘practice setter’ on BHR (e.g., ensuring its global visibility, contributing to the work of the Human Rights Council, UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights and other UN Special Procedures, participating in global and regional multi-stakeholder platforms);
• Developing and negotiating the multi-partner arrangements with other UN agencies and implementing partners for the ‘Responsible Business Conduct in Africa’ Project;
• Developing new thematic offers (e.g., community of practice on stakeholder engagement, business case on human rights, critical minerals) and internal strategies for way forward of the existing thematic programming (e.g., on BHR and Peace);
• Providing ad hoc support to global, regional and Country Office units in developing initiatives on Business and Human Rights.

• Contribute to the UNDP’s knowledge generation on BHR and Peace, including by:

• Leading the development of knowledge products on human rights due diligence, EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and other mandatory human rights due diligence legislation, modern slavery, Universal Periodic Review, etc.;
• Providing peer review of knowledge products of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights and other UN Special Procedures, UN Agencies, UN Teams, multi-stakeholder platforms, etc.;
• Providing peer review and support to the development of global, regional and Country Office knowledge products on B+HR and Peace.

• Leading the implementation of the human rights offer to the business sector of the global initiative on B+HR, including by:

• Leading the outreach to potential business-partners, carrying out UNDP corporate private sector due diligence, and developing and implementing Development Service Agreements with business-partners at the global level;
• Guiding regional and country offices in developing private sector engagement strategies in line with UNDP’s private sector offer;
• Guiding Country Offices in carrying out UNDP corporate private sector due diligence and supporting them in developing and implementing Development Service Agreements with business-partners at the country level;
• Providing in-house capacity-strengthening and/or other services under global and/or country-level Development Service Agreements.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The Business and Human Rights and Peace Specialist will work under direct supervision of the Global Policy Advisor on BHR, and in close coordination with the BHR Specialist. They will also work directly with Regional Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights Focal Points and/or B+HR Focal Points and provide technical and capacity-strengthening support to B+HR and Peace Focal Points at the Country Office level, as needed.

Competencies

Core Competencies

• Achieve Results:

• LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.

• LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.

• LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.

• LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.

• LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.

• LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.

• LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies

• System Thinking:

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

• Identify and seize opportunities to service and add value to clients, create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners, develop clear service offers responding to client needs in line with UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate.

• Business and Human Rights.
• Human Rights/HRBA.

• Ability to identify, conduct outreach, and manage relationships with the private sector.

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goal.

• Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

Education

Required Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in Law, Human Rights, Corporate Responsibility, International Relations, Political Science, Development, Peace Studies or relevant field is required, OR;
• Bachelor’s degree in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience in human rights and/or BHR is required.
• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience with intergovernmental organizations is required.

Required Skills

• Expertise in human rights due diligence is required;
• Previous experience in drafting project concept notes and documents and successful resource mobilization initiatives on human rights and/or BHR is required;
• Previous experience in global project management, including quality assurance, monitoring and evaluation, partnerships, visibility, reporting, etc is required.

Desired Skills

• Previous experience working on human rights with UNDP and/or other UN Agencies is an asset;
• Expertise on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) is an asset;
• Knowledge of the application of the UNGPs to conflict settings is an asset;
• Expertise in heightened human rights due diligence is an asset;
• Previous experience in developing and implementing human rights-related services to the business sector is an asset;
• Expertise and previous experience in communications for development/human rights is an asset.

Required Languages

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.

Travel

UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the Business and Human Rights and Peace Specialist to the Duty Station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the Duty Station and excludes working from home arrangements.

Disclaimer

Applicant Information About UNDP Rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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