Associate Human Rights Officer - Sudan Response

Mission and objectives

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Country Office in Sudan (UN Human Rights Sudan) was established pursuant to an Agreement signed with the Government of Sudan on 25 September 2019, with a full mandate to provide advisory services and technical assistance to national institutions; monitor, document and report on the human rights situation; and support stakeholders including civil society. Since its establishment in Sudan, UN Human Rights has contributed to enhancing and promoting accountability through its engagement with national institutions, informed by its monitoring and documentation, and engagement with civil society. This broad human rights promotion and protection mandate which also includes technical assistance and capacity building for various actors including for civil society, places the Office in a unique position to monitor and document violations of international humanitarian and international human rights law in support of future accountability, and to support human rights protection in partnership with a broad range of stakeholders including civil society and international actors, towards a post-conflict democratic transformation that respects the rule of law. UN Human Rights is the lead UN entity on human rights and plays a key role in responding to the crisis in Sudan across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. Based on its monitoring and analysis, and engagement with human rights defenders, civil society and other stakeholders, UN Human Rights integrates a human rights-based approach in humanitarian action, in recovery and development, in social cohesion and peace building, and in political and mediation efforts. In doing so, gender, youth and addressing inequalities underpin UN Human Rights’ work.

Context

Sudan continues to face one of the world's most severe humanitarian and human rights crises. Since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, widespread violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, large-scale displacement, conflict-related sexual violence, attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, shrinking civic space, and the collapse of public institutions have created unprecedented protection challenges. UN Human Rights Sudan plays a critical role in monitoring and documenting violations, supporting protection of civilians, advancing accountability and supporting civil society engaged in human rights protection and promotion. The Sudan Country Office is currently operating in a highly dynamic environment, with staff deployed both inside Sudan, an office in Nairobi and a hub in Abéché, Chad to ensure continued engagement despite access and security constraints. The Office works closely with UN agencies, the UN Country Team and Humanitarian Country Team, humanitarian and development partners, regional organizations, diplomatic missions, national institutions where feasible, and Sudanese civil society organizations, including human rights defenders, including women's organizations, organisations of persons with disabilities and local responders working on human rights protection. The UN Volunteer will work within the LNOB and Humanitarian Unit, a multidisciplinary and collaborative team supporting programme implementation, partnerships and coordination across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. The assignment offers a unique opportunity to contribute to high-impact human rights programming in one of the UN's largest and most complex emergency contexts while working closely with national and international partners to strengthen protection, accountability and the meaningful participation of rights-holders.

Task Description

This post is based in Nairobi. The UN Volunteer works under the overall supervision and guidance of the Head of Office, and reports to the Leave No One Behind Team Leader. The UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Contribute to human rights mainstreaming efforts by integrating and promoting centrality of protection and human rights norms and standards into humanitari-an and development frameworks including in the Humanitarian Country Team, Pro-tection Cluster, and United Nations Country Team. • Conduct monitoring and reporting of violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law including those against women, girls and per-sons with disabilities including gender-based violence and economic, social and cultural rights violations. • Support the design and delivery human rights capacity-building programmes for civil society, including local humanitarian responders on inclusion, in particular gender, disability and leave no one behind perspective • Support the design and delivery of programmes to empower and protect Human Rights Defenders, with particular focus on local humanitarian responders, women led organisations and organisations of persons with disability, including through doc-umentation and advocacy, enhancing protection referral pathways and capacity building. • Performs other duties as required. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Competencies and values

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to [OHCHR Sudan]; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to [OHCHR Sudan] procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and [OHCHR Sudan] in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards [OHCHR Sudan]’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Living conditions and remarks

Nairobi, Kenya is a family duty station. The UN Human Rights Sudan Office is located in the UN Office Nairobi compound. The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. A UN Volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) per month and is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications and other basic needs. Visa process: To travel to Nairobi, Kenya, the UN Volunteer will need to obtain Electronic Travel Authorisation through the dedicated website (https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en). The processing time is three (3) working days but in some cases it may take longer. OHCHR will provide supporting documentation and process relevant stay permits request upon arrival.