Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRC), in Apia, Samoa. The incumbent reports to the UN Resident Coordinator in the country of assignment and to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights through the Regional Representative for the Pacific based in Suva, Fiji at the Pacific Regional Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Responsibilities

The Human Rights Adviser (HRA) will be responsible for the following duties: - Support the UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) and the UN Country Team (UNCT) in integrating human rights into their programmes and activities, in particular the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework; - (UNSDCF) and other key strategic planning tools, including by building UNCT capacities to apply a human rights-based approach to their programmes and activities, conducting situational assessments and a mapping of UNCT capacities and needs, facilitating country-level coordination and acting as a resource person in programme activities implemented by the UNCT; - Advise the UNRC and the UNCT in developing strategies to build and strengthen national capacities and institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, based on based on assessment of national context, capacities and priorities and facilitate access to specific human rights expertise, including by drawing from human rights resources and tools available; - Support the UNRC and UNCT in promoting human rights as a UN common value and upholding international norms and standards through advocacy and awareness-raising - Where applicable, in coordination with the Pacific Regional Office’s Emergency Responses Team advises on integrating human rights in the humanitarian response and post-crisis recovery under the direction of the RC/Humanitarian Coordinator, should a humanitarian emergency be declared in the country of assignment; provides support and advice to the Protection Cluster as requested. - Report and regularly liaise with the Regional Office; seek support from different areas of expertise present in the Regional Office and offer good practices and lessons learned from Samoa; participate in weekly team meetings of the OHCHR Pacific Office; participate in the annual retreat and annual planning and reporting process of the Regional Office; - Support the UNRC and the UNCT and national partners in their engagement with international human rights mechanisms such as the Universal Periodic Review (.UPR), Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, as well as those under relevant international instruments of specialized agencies, including by supporting the dissemination and sharing of information, coordinating or facilitating the UNCT's contributions and programmatic follow-up to the recommendations of these bodies, and helping the UNCT to provide timely and effective support to relevant country missions of Special Procedures mandate holders and other UN mechanisms; - Upon request, and under the direct supervision and guidance of the OHCHR Regional Representative and UNRC, provide advice, capacity building and technical assistance to the Government and other national stakeholders, in particular the Ombudsman Office/ National Human Rights Institution with a view to further catalysing coordinated UN responses in order to strengthen national capacity for the promotion and protection of human rights, including follow up to recommendations from the human rights mechanisms; - Perform other related duties as required, including supervision of staff/UNVs

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM : Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to particular sector, functional area or other specialized field. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the Internet, intranet and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. 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. LEADERSHIP : Serves as a role model that other people want to follow ; Empowers others to translate vision into results ; Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives ; Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support ; Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions ; Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo ; Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. JUDGMENT / DECISION-MAKING : Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly ; Gathers relevant information before making a decision ; Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them ; Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization ; Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information ; Checks assumptions against facts ; Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision ; Makes tough decisions when necessary

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) preferably in law, political science, international relations or related field. A first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience at the national and international levels in the field of human rights is required. Experience in development and/or humanitarian contexts is required. Experience working on human rights issues in a field office is desirable. Experience supporting inter agency coordination; or designing/implementing capacity building initiatives is desirable. Experience working with international human rights mechanisms or treaty bodies is desirable.

Languages

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. Please note that pursuant to the Staff selection system policy (ST/AI/2025/2): (1) Applicants for positions in the Field Service category cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located, and (2) Applicants for positions in the Professional and higher categories in a mission, field operation, or resident coordinator’s office cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located. For currently serving staff of a United Nations Common System organization, only the UN-recognized nationality will be considered for the purposes of these restrictions.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.