Background

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) established its Country Office in Sana'a, Yemen in September 2012. In May 2019, OHCHR opened another office in Aden. In accordance with its mandate, as set out in General Assembly resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, OHCHR advises and assists with strategies, programmes, and measures to promote and protect human rights in Yemen, in compliance with international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Position is located in Aden, Yemen. The Human Rights Officer monitors human rights issues in the prescribed area, including their gender dimensions, with the aim of promoting and protecting human rights, in compliance with international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Head of Office of OHCHR Yemen Country Office in Aden, and the direct supervision of the designated supervisor, the Human Rights Officer is responsible for covering all human rights-related issues as follows:

• Researches and collects information pertaining to human rights matters, including their gender dimensions from a variety of data sources (e.g. communications, publications, the press) to keep abreast of issues/events and provide up-to-date information; assists in the analysis of information, to include the impact on the countries and thematic mandates on the human rights situation in assigned area.
• Drafts a variety of reports and correspondence relating to human rights matters.
• Participates in hearings and consultations; prepare summaries of results.
• Maintains awareness of current human rights issues, to include relevant political and legal developments in the country(ies) concerned.
• Participates in human rights training programmes for national law enforcement officials, representatives of the civil society and human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in order to promote national capacity building.
• Reviews human rights issues, including their gender dimensions, and participates in discussions with other Human Rights Officers (HROs) on the integration of these issues into political, humanitarian and economic efforts and programmes.
• Assists in promoting efforts for community mobilisation and those that focus on exercise of rights of population.
• Participates with other HROs in discussions with relevant authorities and other influential actors with the aim of stopping or preventing human rights violations or seeks other remedial action by the authorities to prevent similar violations occurring in the future.
• Liaises with government, NGOs, Civil Society organizations, UN agencies and other partners to create baseline data on the human rights situation, with special attention to vulnerable groups.
• Designs and maintains database to track project progress. 
• Contributes to the collection and analysis of data as well as identification of trends or patterns and provides draft insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

Core

Achieve Results - LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.

Think Innovatively - LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements. 

Learn Continuously - LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.

Adapt with Agility - LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible. 

Act with Determination - LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner - LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion - LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination. 

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies 

Business Management - Project Management

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Business Management - Communication

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience; and ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Professionalism: 

• Knowledge of human rights issues and ability to identify related problems in their political, ethnic, racial, gender equality and socio-economic dimensions.
•  Knowledge of institutional mandates of human rights organizations, prevailing policies and procedures. 
• Research and analytical skills, including ability to identify and participate in the resolution of human rights issues. 
• Ability to identify sources for data collection, analyze information and draft human rights reports. 
• 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. 
• Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management.

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.

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;
• Clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients.

Planning & 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.

Accountability: 

• Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; 
• Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; 
• Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; 
• Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; 
• Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Creativity: 

• Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; 
• Offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; 
• Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; 
• Takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; 
• Thinks “outside the box”; 
• Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Client Orientation: 

• Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; 
• Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; 
• Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; 
• Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; 
• Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; 
• Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Commitment to Continuous Learning: 

• Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession; 
• Actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally; 
• Contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates; 
• Shows willingness to learn from others; 
• Seeks feedback to learn and improve.

Technological Awareness: 

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

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• An advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in law, sociology, political science, economics, other social science or related fields is required. 
• A first-level degree (Bachelor's or equivalent) in law, sociology, political science, economics, other social science or related fields with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree in the specified fields of studies. 

Experience:

• With an advanced degree, a minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience at the national level in the human rights field, including the promotion and protection of the rights of the child in accordance with international standards is required. With a bachelor’s degree, four years of relevant experience is required.
• Demonstrated experience in using human rights methodology and/or the use of databases for documentation and analysis is desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and maintaining a diverse network of sources of human rights information in a given area of Yemen or sector is desirable.
• Proven knowledge of, and experience in, the application of international human rights law, international humanitarian law and national law is desirable.
• Experience in designing and delivering human rights trainings is desirable.

Language:

• Fluency in Arabic (both oral and written) and English is required.

Applicant information about the OHCHR rosters

OHCHR 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 OHCHR at the same grade level and with similar job descriptions, experience, and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

• OHCHR has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 
• OHCHR is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin, or other status.

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