Finance and Human Rights Specialist (Office-Based)

Duties and Responsibilities

Office/Unit/Project Description   

As the UN’s lead agency on international development, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) works in 170 countries and territories, incl. those fragile and experiencing crisis, to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. UNDP helps countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, and institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s work is concentrated in three focus areas: (1) sustainable development, (2) democratic governance and peacebuilding, and (3) climate and disaster resilience.

The Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH), housed within the UNDP Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), partners with governments, the private and financial sectors, UN Agencies and other intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions (IFIs), and others to align finance and unlock capital for the SDGs. The SFH’s work focuses on the following four offers: 

1. Aligning public finance with the SDGs, incl. through raising domestic revenues, sovereign risk financing instruments to protect assets and enable investment, and fiscal planning and expenditure management;
2. Aligning and mobilizing private capital towards the SDGs, incl. through originating investment project pipelines, accessing public and private capital, aligning business operations, and supporting and enabling policy environment;
3. Shifting the current systems of decision-making towards investment with a positive impact on people and the planet, incl. through policy frameworks and accountability for impact measurement and management (IMM), public sector systems for tracking public and private finance, and impact assurance and standards for public and private actors;
4. Mobilizing and aligning financing for the SDGs at the country level, incl. through designing integrated national financing frameworks, delivering risk-informed financing strategies, building Country Office (CO) SDG Finance portfolios, and accessing knowledge and expertise.

As of April 2024, the SFH has delivered one or more of the four offers in 145 countries through 1,055 initiatives.

Since 2024, Phase 3 (2024-2030) of the Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAST) Project, funded by the Government of Liechtenstein and other donors, will be implemented by the SFH in strong coordination with the Business and Human Rights (B+HR) Global Initiative and relevant contributions from the Anti-Corruption Initiative.

During Phase 3, the Project will continue mobilizing the finance sector to contribute to the achievement of SDG 8.7 to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and other interrelated SDGs globally and in target (high-risk) countries. 

Phase 3 of the Project will be delivered through the following three Outputs – with a detailed activity-based workplan to be developed annually, based on the Project’s interim achievements and lessons learnt, UNDP’s and donors’ priorities, and funds available: 

1. Output 1: The business case for sustainable finance as an enabler for preventing modern slavery and human trafficking globally and in target countries is developed;
2. Output 2: The capacity of finance sector actors globally and in target countries to prevent and address modern slavery and human trafficking, with which they are involved, is enhanced;
3. Output 3: The capacity of finance sector actors globally and in target countries to enable effective remediation of modern slavery and human trafficking, with which they are involved, is enhanced.

Scope of Work   

Working under the direct supervision of the SFH Sustainable Finance Impact Manager and in strong coordination with the Global Policy Advisor on B+HR, the Finance and Human Rights Specialist will oversee the implementation and expansion of Phase 3 of the FAST Project, with a focus on the following tasks:

1. Develop and implement annual workplan(s), incl. through the development of a Results Framework (RF), monthly monitoring of both programmatic activities and expenditures against the RF across the SFH and the B+HR Global Initiative;
2. Facilitate the establishment of the Advisory Board, and ensure its ongoing guidance for the Project’s overall implementation and expansion, as well as its participation in decision-making, as required;
3. Provide technical and coaching guidance to target COs and contribute to quality control and coherence of their activities, incl. through on-a-job training for COs’ Focal Points, bi-weekly calls with them, and guidance of the development and implementation of CO-level activities;
4. Support sub-contracting of Individual/Firm Consultants and provide quality control of their work, incl. developing their TORs, monitoring the implementation of deliverables on a monthly basis, reviewing and providing feedback on their outputs;
5. Provide research and technical guidance to contracted Individual/Firm Consultants and contribute to quality control and coherence of their activities. 
6. Develop and oversee the implementation of a Communication Plan, incl. regular posting on the websites and social media platforms (UNDP and FAST), and circulate the Project’s newsletters to its partners and followers on a monthly basis;
7. Develop monthly and annual progress reports for Liechtenstein, the Advisory Board, and other relevant partners, as required, incl. by collecting and systematizing result data across the SFH, B+HR Global Initiative, and from the CO-level;
8. Facilitate strengthening/building relationships and ensure coordination with the work of relevant UN Special Procedures (e.g. UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery and UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights), UN Agencies and INGOs with expertise and programming on the finance sector, modern slavery, and human trafficking (e.g., ILO, IOM, OHCHR, UNEP FI, UNICEF, and UNODC, as well as the Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Trafficking, Walk Free, Hope the Justice, Free the Slaves, Alliance 8.7, Anti-Slavery International, BankTrack, PRI, and CCLA Good Investment), and survivor-led coalitions and organizations (e.g., Survivor Alliance and Footprint to Freedom);
9. Support the development and implementation of the Project’s resource mobilization strategy, incl. by designing project proposals to implement certain activities planned under Phase 3 of the Project.
10. Assist with daily operations, including the deployment and onboarding of consultants.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement 

The Finance and Human Rights Specialist will be directly supervised by and report to the SFH Sustainable Finance Impact Manager. They will liaise regularly and seek advice from across the SFH and the B+HR Global Initiative – at the HQ, regional, and CO levels. 

Finance and Human Rights Specialist will work closely with the operations team on administrative issues. 

Competencies:

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSA

Min. Academic Education  

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in International Relations, Development Economics, Finance, or other relevant fields such as Social Science, Economics, Business Administration, or other relevant field is required. OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Min. Years of relevant Work experience   

A minimum of five (5) years (with a master's degree) or seven (7) years (with a bachelor's degree) of experience in program/project management and coordination in any of the following areas: sustainable development, sustainable finance, modern slavery and human trafficking, corporate governance, human rights, business and human rights or a related field is required.

Required Skills and Competencies             

• Demonstrated experience in working with Modern Slavery/Human Trafficking (MS/HT) organizations and/or ethical survivor engagement at the global level. 

Desired additional skills and competencies       

• Experience managing relationships and working with governments, finance sector, non-profit organizations in Asia Pacific, Africa, and Latin-America.
• Proven track record in policy and field research on sustainable and economic development for vulnerable populations in fragile contexts.
• At least 2 years’ experience with global grant-funded project implementation 
• Previous work experience with the UN  in similar functions.
• Demonstrated experience in event management.

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in English is required.
• Working level of other UN languages, especially French and Spanish is an asset.

Travel

• UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the Finance and Human Rights Specialist, to the duty station, as well as their return upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and exclude working-from-home arrangements.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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