Senior Human Rights Adviser

Job Posting Organization:
The position is located within the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinators (UNRC) in Lusaka, Zambia. The UNRC's mission is to coordinate the efforts of the United Nations in the country, ensuring that the UN's work aligns with national priorities and supports the development goals of Zambia. The UNRC operates in various countries, focusing on integrating human rights into development and humanitarian efforts. The organization emphasizes the importance of human rights in all its activities and aims to promote and protect these rights through various programs and initiatives.

Job Overview:
The Senior Human Rights Adviser (HRA) plays a crucial role in supporting the UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in integrating human rights into their programs and activities. This includes working on the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and other strategic planning tools. The HRA is expected to build the capacities of the UNCT to apply a human rights-based approach, conduct situational assessments, and facilitate country-level coordination. The role also involves advising on strategies to strengthen national capacities for human rights promotion and protection, engaging with national stakeholders, and supporting the UNCT's engagement with international human rights mechanisms. The HRA will provide advice, training, and technical assistance to national stakeholders to enhance coordinated UN responses and strengthen national capacities for human rights.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Human Rights Adviser will be responsible for a variety of duties, including:

• Supporting the UNRC and UNCT in integrating human rights into their programs and activities, particularly in relation to the UNSDCF.
• Advising on the development of strategies and programs to strengthen national capacities for human rights promotion and protection.
• Engaging with national stakeholders, including authorities and civil society, to promote human rights as a common UN value.
• Supporting the UNCT in their engagement with international human rights mechanisms, including the Universal Periodic Review and Treaty Bodies.
• Providing advice, training, and technical assistance to the Government and national stakeholders to enhance their capacity for human rights promotion.
• Performing other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a comprehensive knowledge of human rights issues, including institutional mandates, policies, and guidelines related to human rights mechanisms and treaties. They should have good practical knowledge of development programming, particularly concerning economic, social, and cultural rights, women's rights, and gender equality. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills, political judgment, and advocacy skills, along with the ability to navigate sensitive political and social events. Professionalism, effective communication, teamwork, leadership, and sound judgment are essential competencies for this role.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
Candidates must have at least ten years of progressively responsible experience in the field of human rights at both national and international levels. This experience should include development and/or humanitarian work, as well as implementing human rights technical cooperation or mainstreaming activities. Experience working on human rights issues related to the African region or similar contexts is desirable.

Languages:
English is required for this position, with a minimum proficiency level of UN Level II in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. French is considered desirable, also requiring a minimum proficiency level of UN Level II in all language skills.

Additional Notes:
This position is temporarily available for three months, with the possibility of extension subject to the availability of funds. If the selected candidate is a current staff member of the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be treated as a temporary assignment. The position may be limited to internal candidates, and applicants must adhere to the United Nations' commitment to diversity and inclusion. The recruitment process does not involve any fees, and the United Nations does not concern itself with applicants' bank account information.