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.

Office/Unit/Project Description 

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. The Global Programme is guided by and aligned with the UNDP Strategic Plan for 2022-2025 and provides tailored, context-specific technical, financial, and strategic support to contexts across the development spectrum.

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:

• Governments (across sectors): in upholding their duty to protect human rights from businesses’ abuses, including by strengthening and enforcing robust regulatory frameworks on BHR;
• 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;
• 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.

The Business and Human Rights Specialist will work under direct supervision of the Global Policy Adviser on BHR, and in close coordination with the Senior 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 Focal Points at the Country Office level, as needed.

Scope of Work

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

• Advising and supporting the implementation of the global, regional, and Country Office level donor-funded projects (e.g., JSB projects, ‘Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking’ initiative, ‘Investing the Rights Way’ Guide for Investors, ‘Asia-Pacific Stakeholders against Slavery, Exploitation, and Trafficking’ initiative, etc.);
• Operationalizing the UNDP Practical Tool on Human Rights Due Diligence and the Environment (e.g., piloting it with selected businesses, producing training tools, providing capacity-strengthening support to B+HR Focal Points at the Country Office level);
• Supporting the preparation of regional Forums/Dialogues on BHR in Africa and Arab States Regions, and contributing to UNDP’s substantive participation in the UN Annual Forum on BHR;

2. Provide technical support in scaling up global initiative on B+HR, 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 and supporting 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);
• Advising and supporting the financialization of the multi-partner arrangements of the ‘Responsible Business Conduct in Africa’ Project;
• Developing new thematic offers (e.g., modern slavery due diligence, critical minerals) and internal strategies for way forward of the existing thematic programming (e.g., on BHR and the environment);

3. Contribute to the UNDP’s knowledge generation on BHR, 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.;

4. Lead 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 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 Arrangements

The Business and Human Rights Specialist will work under direct supervision of the Global Policy Adviser on BHR, and in close coordination with the Senior 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 Focal Points at the Country Office level, as needed.

Expected Demonstration of Competencies

Core Competencies

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

Think Innovatively:  LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously:  LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility:  LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands  

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner:  LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion  LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Required Education, Experience, Skills and Competencies

Minimum Education requirements

Advanced University Degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Law, Human Rights, Corporate Responsibility, International Relations, Political Science, Development, or relevant field is required. Or

A first-level university degree (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.

Minimum years of relevant work experience

• A minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience on human rights and/or BHR is required.
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience with intergovernmental organizations is required.

Required skills 

• Expertise in human rights due diligence, particularly in the context of the triple planetary crisis 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, MNEL, partnerships, visibility, reporting, etc is required.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Knowledge of the application of the UNGPs to the financial sector is an asset.
• Experience and knowledge of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) is an asset.
• Previous experience working on human rights with UNDP and/or other UN Agencies is an asset.
• Expertise in modern slavery 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 Language (s): 

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

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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Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements