National Human Rights Officer at United Nations

Job ID: 22140
Location: Makurdi
Grade: SB5
Vacancy Type: Service Contract (SC)

Background

• In Nigeria’s Middle Belt, violence between nomadic herdsmen and sedentary farming communities has increased in recent years resulting in over 2,500 fatalities in 2016 -more than the total killed in Boko Haram hostilities during the same year.
• During the first three quarters of 2018, over 2000 Nigerians lost their lives in similar clashes. Inability of Government to respond to the crisis and hold perpetrators to account has fostered a climate of impunity and a cycle of violence characterized by retaliatory attacks.
• In partnership with other UN agencies, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has designed a programme of intervention to support and strengthen Government response to the crisis and mitigate the consequences thereof. 
• OHCHR engagement in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission will focus on establishing an effective mechanism for monitoring and reporting linked to accountability in Benue state, one of the three states of project implementation -the others being Nasarawa and Taraba.
• This project will galvanize action by OHCHR in collaboration with UN agencies and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to ensure that human rights considerations are mainstreamed in the peacebuilding response in the Middle Belt. This intervention will assist in fostering peace and mitigating risks for the most vulnerable individuals and groups, especially women and children.
• It will also support the engagement and participation of national and state actors, international human rights mechanisms and human rights organizations in emergency response and peace building.
• The human rights programme to be implemented in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission aims to support the deployment of personnel to monitor and report on the developments and enhance the operations of accountability mechanisms. Specifically, the programme will aim to: (i) establish framework for monitoring and reporting linked to accountability; (ii) undertake a mapping of the farmer-herder clashes in Benue State; (iii) support advocacy in developing and implementing effective responses to the clashes; and (iv) improve understanding of the crisis and encourage evidence-based advocacy and effective response.

Duties and Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, under the supervision of the Senior Human Rights Adviser, the National Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Researches, collects, verifies, analyses information relevant to the observance of international human rights and humanitarian law in the mission area;
• Supports and advises UN and humanitarian actors in mission area on compliance with human rights and where appropriate, relevant authorities, including on the implementation of human rights recommendations by the UN;
• Conducts investigations of abuses and violations human rights and international humanitarian law violations;
• Ensures, and where relevant supervises, the timely entry of accurate and verified human rights cases in an established database in compliance with established standards;
• Integrates UN-developed methodology into human rights monitoring, reporting and investigation activities and supports the operational aspects of planning and of carrying monitoring and investigation activities;
• Writes, reviews, coordinates, if needed, and ensures the timely delivery of a variety of reports, briefings and other types of communications in compliance with established standards and in particular with respect to reporting on human rights situation ;
• Liaises with other UN actors present in the mission area for the collection and verification of information on the human rights situation and informs on human rights considerations that should be taken into account by other actors, including those delivering humanitarian response or coordinating emergency preparedness and response activities, as well as by the UN mission in respect of future operations;
• Advocates with relevant authorities and other influential actors to stop or prevent human rights violations, seeks remedial action by the authorities to prevent similar violations from occurring in the future;
• Advises the human rights team on the coordination of initiatives to strengthen the response to systematic and/or emerging patterns of human rights violations and abuses as per the monitoring activities undertaken;
• Advises the human rights component on other monitoring activities that may complement the collection and verification of human rights and humanitarian law violations;
• Contributes to the integration of gender perspectives/considerations and specific women/girls’ rights issues in all activities;
• Ensures cooperation and appropriate communication with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the sharing of human rights information and with respect to the project implementation;
• Supports more senior staff and/or team leaders in staffing, planning and budgeting as required;
• Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies
Rofessionalism:

• Proven sensitivity to the political and social environment and ability to adjust behaviours accordingly;
• In-depth knowledge of human rights principles, international mechanisms and related concepts, including protection of civilians, transitional justice, humanitarian action, DDR, legislative and rule of law reforms, gender mainstreaming and conflict-related sexual violence;
• Good knowledge of institutional mandates, organizational policies, and methodologies relating to human rights;
• Capacity to monitor and coordinate human rights-related matters with other UN, NGO, state and/or government stakeholders and to advocate for the respect and integration of human rights in various fora;
• Good analytical and research skills, including the ability to gather, validate, evaluate and integrate relevant human rights information from a variety of sources, to assess their impact and to provide recommendations to redress situations;
• Commitment to seek new and improved methods of work for accomplishing the work of the human rights component;
• Ability to relate to and integrate human rights issues and perspectives into other fields, including humanitarian action, development, rule of law, legislation reforms and election support, to human rights issues and activities and vice versa;
• Good knowledge of planning, implementation, coordination and evaluation of human rights capacity development initiatives for multiple stakeholders;
• Capacity to serve as internal resource person, share knowledge and to deliver training for colleagues and external stakeholders alike; Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Planning and organizing:

• Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies;
• Identifies priority activities and assignments;
• Adjusts priorities as required;
• Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work;
• Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary;
• Uses time efficiently

Communication:

• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively;
• Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately;
• Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication;
• Tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience;
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Technological Awareness:

• Keeps abreast of available technology;
• Understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office;
• Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks;
• Shows willingness to learn new technology.

Teamwork:

• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals;
• Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others;
• Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position;
• Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Required Skills and Experience

• Good presentation skills
• Good Reporting skills
• Excellent Research skills