The Position:
Under the overall supervision of the UNFPA Representative and direct supervision of the Programme Specialist, and Head of Gender, Culture and Human Rights Unit, the Human Rights Officer supports the integration of human rights issues in all programmes and work of UNFPA Ghana Country Office and provide needed support to the UN system in general and to national partners.
The Human Rights Officer will (1) support the integration of human rights across programmes and work of UNFPA along the three transformative results of ending unmet need for family planning, ending preventable maternal deaths and ending GBV and harmful practices including child marriage and female genital mutilation; (2) provide technical and programmatic support to the planning, implementation and reporting on human rights issues in the UN Cooperation Framework and the 8th Government of Ghana/UNFPA Country Programme; (3) support the programme on “Scaling Up Access to Integrated and Rights based GBV Services in Ghana.”
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
You would be responsible for:
- Integrate human rights into programmes of UNFPA in Ghana
- Supports the Ghana Country Office and the UN system by integrating human rights into the Government of Ghana/UNFPA 8th Country Programme and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) including by building capacities partners and staff to apply a human rights-based approach to their programmes and activities;
- Advise Management and Programme Team in developing strategies and programmes to build and strengthen capacities of institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights based on assessment of national context, capacities and priorities and facilitating access to specific human rights expertise, including by drawing from human rights resources and tools available;
- Support UNFPA senior management and national partners in their engagement with human rights mechanisms such as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) including by supporting the dissemination and sharing of information, coordinating or facilitating UNFPA's contributions and programmatic follow up to the recommendations of these bodies.
2. Provide programmatic and technical support on human rights
- Analyse human rights issues/events and assess their impact on human rights situation, and provide inputs into political, human rights and related reports in national and international documents on human rights in line with UN and UNFPA mandates, especially those relating to women, girls and young people, and vulnerable and key population in line with the SDG principle of “leaving no one behind”.
- Upon request, provide advice, training and technical assistance to the Government and other national stakeholders with a view to strengthen national capacities for the promotion and protection of human rights, including follow up to recommendations from the human rights mechanisms as related to advancing the ICPD agenda
- Provide guidance and maintain collaborative relationship with counterparts in government, development partners, civil society organisations and networks including rights-defenders and south-south arrangement to advance human rights in the context of peace, development and humanitarian programming in Ghana.
3. Support programme on scaling up access to GBV Services in Ghana
- Support the Gender and Human Rights Unit to plan, implement, monitor and report on the programme on Scaling Up Access to Integrated Rights Based GBV Services.
- Provide research, advisories, reviews and monitoring as required to implement the programme successfully, and represent UNFPA in advancing human rights in related fora
- Prepare correspondences, best practice documentation, briefing materials, mission briefs, talking points and project information for publication related to the programme
- Facilitate internal meetings, inclusive of logistics and preparation of meeting records on human rights related issues,
4. Any other duties
Perform any other duties as required by the Representative and/or senior management
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
A master's degree in a discipline relevant to human rights is required. Preferred subjects include law, human rights, gender studies, political science, international relations and diplomacy.
Knowledge and Experience:
- A minimum of 3 years of responsible experience at national level and in working on human rights programming or programme management and advocacy is required.
- Experience in working with international organisations, donor institutions, government entities or NGOs is required.
- Conversant with national frameworks and policies on human rights, reproductive health and other population issues and their linkages with changing global environment.
- The ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural work environment and a good team player.
- Experience in using computer software for office functions is required
Languages:
- Fluency in oral and written English.
- A second UN language is an asset
Required Competencies:
Values:
Exemplifying integrity,
Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
Embracing cultural diversity,
Embracing change
Core Competencies:
Achieving results,
Being accountable,
Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
Thinking analytically and strategically,
Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
Functional Competencies:
Implementing management systems.
Business acumen and ability to multi-task and balance competing priorities.
Innovation and marketing of new approaches.
Pro-activeness and client orientation.
Organizational awareness.
Job knowledge/technical expertise
Managerial Competencies (if applicable):
<Managerial Requirements>
Compensation and Benefits:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
UNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.
Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.
