General
Description of assignment title
UNV Associate Human Rights Officer (Climate and Environmental Action)
Assignment country
Samoa
Expected start date
01/10/2024
Sustainable Development Goal
13. Climate action
Volunteer category
International UN Youth Volunteer
Host entity
OHCHR
Type
Onsite
Duration
12 months
Number of assignments
1
Duty stations
Apia
Details
Mission and objectives
The Office pf the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights) is the leading UN entity on human rights. UN Human Rights represents the world’s commitment to the promotion and protection of the full range of human rights and freedoms set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. UN Human Rights has a unique role in promoting and protecting all human rights; help empower people on human rights issues; assist governments in respecting, protecting, and fulfilling human rights through technical cooperation and capacity building initatives; and inject a human rights perspective into all UN programmes. UN Human Rights, Pacific Regional Office (PRO) based in Suva, Fiji covers Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The Human Rights Adviser in Multi-Country Officer Samoa covers Cook Islands, Niue and Samoa and works closely with PRO. UN Human Rights considers climate and environmental action as a strategic direction of its 2024-2027 Organizational Management Plan (OMP). This is clearly reflected in the UN Human Rights, Pacific Regional Office 2024-2028 Country Programme,, where climate change and environmental action is identified as a key lever for contributing to 3 major outcomes: a) At least one Pacific Island Country develops a national or regional policy, programme or legislation – influenced by the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment on climate change, business, clean air, health ecosystems and biodiversity, safe and sufficient water, healthy and sustainable food, not-toxic environment; b) At least two Pacific Island Countries have increased knowledge and skills to apply a human rights-based approach in the development and implementation of National Development Plans, Voluntary National Reviews and other national plans, programmes and processes; and c) Increased knowledge and skills of the UN Country Team and UN agencies in the Pacific to apply a human rights-based approach to programmes, policies and projects to advance sustainable development, the right to development and the right to a healthy environment in the region. These outcomes and corresponding outputs are closely aligned with the 2024-2028 UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).
Context
The Human Rights Adviser in Samoa seeks to ensure the meaningful participation of women, children, persons with disabilities and local communities in the development and implementation of climate change and disaster risk reduction frameworks. Specifically, networks of Human Rights Defenders, along with other civic space actors, remain weak. There is overall limited capacity to apply intersectionality and other human rights-based approaches to widen and deepen the space for engagement of/with other groups such as LGBTQI+, indigenous and local communities, etc. vis-à-vis issues like environmental degradation and climate change. Women Human Rights Defenders intersectional efforts to work on land and environmental issues, and to collaborate with LGBTQI+ human rights defenders, in particular, need increased coordination within civil society, as well as support from government, the UN and the international community. The 2023-2027 UNSDCF needs to be implemented in a manner that identifies, targets, and concretely redounds to the benefit of groups experiencing greater deprivation and vulnerability due to changing migration, cultural and economic patterns brought about by the triple planetary crisis. OHCHR is uniquely positioned to do this within the UN Pacific Country Team against a backdrop where like many member states, Pacific Island Countries are at risk of failing in its duty to protect against human rights abuses by businesses and other economic actors.
Task description
Under the overall supervision of the Pacific UN Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Representative and direct, delegated supervision of the Human Rights Adviser, RCO Samoa, based in Apia, the UN Volunteer will be expected to support capacity building, technical assistance, research and human rights monitoring activities in the Pacific and undertake the following tasks: 1). Support the creation and/or strengthening of networks for land and environmental human rights defenders working to address impacts of climate change in Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau with a view to amplifying their voices and participation in decision-making processes. 2). Conduct substantive research and analysis on challenges related to the right to clean, healthy and sustainable environment, including the impact of climate change in Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau. 3) Support the Human Rights Adviser in the drafting of a variety of internal and external reports, communications, briefings, statements, including to policymaking bodies. 4) Engage in educational and promotional activities in the country to raise awareness on the linkages between human rights and the environment. 5) Develop and implement a communication strategy to increase external engagement on these issues, and among others, will include the sharing of information of related activities on social media; and 6) Performs other related duties as required.
Eligibility criteria
Age
18 – 80
Additional eligibility criteria
This assignment is funded by the Government of the Republic of Ireland and therefore specific criteria apply: – Only the following are eligible to apply: Irish citizens or a European Economic Area nationals with an unrestricted right to reside in Ireland or have a declaration of refugee status from the Minister for Justice and Law Reform.
Nationality
Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.
Donor priorities
–
Requirements
Required experience
1 years of experience in human rights law, climate change and environment, international relations, peace and conflict studies or a related area Knowledge of international human rights instruments and mechanisms. Good communication and analytical skills. Experience in capacity building for the promotion and protection of human rights is desirable. Experience in data collection and dissemination through various platforms is desirable.
Area(s) of expertise
Legal affairs, Community development, Energy and environment
Driving license
–
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required
Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in human rights, law, political science, climate change/environment, international relations, community development, sociology, peace and conflict studies or related field.
Competencies and values
☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Client Orientation ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Communication ☒ Creativity ☒ Ethics and Values ☒ Integrity ☒ Knowledge Sharing ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Self-Management ☒ Working in Teams
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
In the 2022 classification exercise of duty stations according to conditions of life and work, Samoa has received a B hardship classification. The selected candidate will be responsible for arranging her/his own housing and other living essentials.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy
