General Human Rights Associate

UNOPS mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peace building, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need. Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, UNOPS vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness. By assisting UN organizations, international financial institutions, governments and other development partners, UNOPS makes significant, tangible contributions to results on the ground. UNOPS employs around 3,500 personnel annually and on behalf of its partners creates thousands more work opportunities in local communities. With its headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, a network of five regional offices and a further 20 operations and project centers, UNOPS oversees activities in more than 80 countries. UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce. In an effort to promote organizational excellence, UNOPS seeks highly qualified individuals for the following position:

Vacancy code VA/2012/B5106/749
Position title General Human Rights Associate
Department/office EMO, Jerusalem
Duty station Ramallah, occupied Palestinian territory
Contract type Local ICA Support
Contract level LICA-4
Duration One year with possibility of extension
Application period 06-Jul-2012 to 16-Jul-2012



Background Information - UNOPS

“UNOPS plays a critical role in providing management services for our life-saving, peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. I have seen many examples of how these activities help suffering people in troubled parts of the world.”
-Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General

UNOPS mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, UNOPS vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness.

By assisting UN organizations, international financial institutions, governments and other development partners, UNOPS makes significant, tangible contributions to results on the ground.

UNOPS employs around 3,500 personnel annually and on behalf of its partners creates thousands more work opportunities in local communities. With its headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, a network of five regional offices and a further 20 operations and project centres, UNOPS oversees activities in more than 80 countries.

UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce.
Background Information - Jerusalem

Jerusalem

The UNOPS Jerusalem office opened in 2006 and now has sub-offices in East Jerusalem, Ramallah and Jericho. The portfolio includes infrastructure, procurement, human resources, capacity building, access coordination and security projects for partners and beneficiaries throughout the occupied Palestinian territory.
Background Information - Job-specific

UNOPS JMPC is supporting the Canadian government with the implementation of two components of the Sharaka project, a 5-year CIDA-funded program of assistance directed at strengthening the Office of Attorney General/Public Prosecution (OAG/PP) in order to enhance its contribution to the stability, prosperity and democratic development of the West Bank.  The first component is a procurement component, which will satisfy a substantial part of the operational objectives of the project by supplying concrete and tangible support to the PA through (i) retrofitting the new OAG headquarters building; (ii) furnishing and equipping PP district offices; (iii) equipping the OAG/PP offices with IT equipment; (iv) providing videoconferencing facilities for the OAG/PP; and (v) purchasing vehicles for use by the OAG/PP.  The second component is a technical legal assistance component, which will satisfy the structural, knowledge and capacity building objectives of the project by supplying assistance to the OAG/PP in the following areas: (i) supporting the creation of a Planning Unit within the OAG; (ii) strengthening the internal structure, organization, management and operational capacity of the OAG/PP; (iii) creating human rights and gender units; (iv) providing targeted training support; and (v) supporting Canada’s coordinating role for donor and implementing agency activities within the OAG.
 
The Canadian-funded Sharaka Project requires the services of a qualified Associate to provide support to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) in Ramallah and the Public Prosecution Service (PP) across the Palestinian Authority in the area of human rights (general).  The Associate will work with OAG management to establish a Human Rights Unit for the institution and to begin to advance the Unit’s mandate.  The Unit’s mandate is two-fold: the proactive mandate will focus on building the internal human rights capacity of the institution by overseeing and coordinating human rights training and developing a centre of expertise on human rights within the institution; the reactive mandate will focus on developing an internal redress mechanism within the OAG/PP through which prosecution-related human rights complaints or issues can be addressed.  The reactive mandate will include the drafting of human rights standards prosecutors and other OAG/PP staff must adhere to when carrying out their duties, and making these standards readily available to the public (e.g., though online publication) so as to provide a transparent means by which the actions of prosecutors and other OAG/PP staff may be judged.  An early focus of the Associate will be to oversee – in coordination with other OAG/PP specialists, contractors or staff – the implementation of a human rights training program for OAG/PP officials.
 
The Associate will be embedded with the OAG for the duration of the contract and will provide services directly to the Attorney General and his staff.  Management of the position will be provided by United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in conjunction with the OAG and the Sharaka Project.  UNOPS will be responsible for remuneration and contract related matters.  The Sharaka Project, headed by the Sharaka Field Director, will be the Project Authority and will be responsible for providing overall project-related direction to the Associate in his/her support to the OAG.  The OAG, through the specific Unit Head, will act as the Technical Authority providing daily supervision and substantive guidance to the Associate on matters of internal OAG management, needs and priorities, and will facilitate the Associate’s integration with the OAG.  In all of his/her dealings, the Associate will be driven by a focus on attaining the strategic objectives of the OAG and will work closely with the heads of OAG divisions and Sharaka team members in order to achieve this.


Functional Responsibilities

The Associate core duties will include, but are not limited to, assisting OAG management to:
-Establish a formal Human Rights Unit;
-Develop the necessary human rights expertise within the Unit related to the prosecution function;
-In coordination with other OAG/PP specialists, contractors or staff, oversee the implementation of a human rights training program;
-Analyze and identify systemic human rights issues and develop strategies or tools to address them;
-Monitor compliance with, reporting on, and accession to regional and international human rights instruments;
-Devise and implement a strategy to systematize the periodic inspection of detention facilities (e.g., correctional and rehabilitation facilities) in order to monitor the treatment and status of detainees;
-Prepare educational material advising the public of their rights;
-In coordination with other OAG/PP specialists, contractors or staff, oversee the development of an internal redress mechanism within the OAG/PP whereby the public may register complaints of alleged human rights violations by OAG/PP prosecutors and other staff;
-Begin to develop practical and concrete human rights standards to guide the day-to-day work of prosecutors and other OAG/PP staff;
-Make these human rights standards readily available to the public (e.g., through publication in the OAG/PP website); and
-Develop networks with civil society organizations, universities and other institutions working in the field of human rights.

Competencies

-Ability to relay information, as appropriate, and to collect, analyze and evaluate data for reports and future planning;
-Possess tactfulness and the ability to provide professional leadership;
-Ability to work effectively under conditions of limited or dual supervision, high stress and rapidly changing situations and circumstances;
-Ability to transfer knowledge or skills;
-Ability to set priorities and meet deadlines;
-Ability to use computer software related to an office environment (Microsoft Office Suite or equivalent);
-Ability to work collaboratively with other professionals, both Palestinian and international; andA demonstrable understanding and acceptance of the mission, values, goals and objectives of the Sharaka Project and the OAG/PP.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

a-Education
-Master’s degree in Human Rights, International Law, Planning and Administration or related field; Additional years of relevant work experience, preferably in combination with a bachelor degree in Psychology, Sociology or any other related Social Science degree, may substitute for the requirement for a master’s degree.


b-Work Experience
-Five (5) years of experience, including demonstrable experience related to human rights.

c-Languages
-Strong written and verbal communication skills in Arabic,
-Intermediate written and verbal communication skills in English.
 
d. Others
-Experience working with the Palestinian justice sector is a distinctive advantage;
-Experience working in the public sector is preferred;
-Previous experience working with lawyers or other legal professionals is preferred;
-Previous experience building human rights capacities in a large institution;
-Previous experience in developing strategies and plans is preferred
-A demonstrable understanding and acceptance of the mission, values, goals and objectives of the Sharaka Project and the OAG/PP; and
-Ability to work collaboratively with other advocacy, communications and outreach professionals, both Palestinian and international.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement - LICA
Contract level: LICA level 4
Contract duration: One year with possibility of extension

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
http://www.unops.org/ENGLISH/WHOWENEED/CONTRACT-TYPES/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements-ICA s.aspx

Additional Considerations
-Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
-Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
-Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
-Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
-UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below the advertised level of the post
-The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.