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Job Description
Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is found in the Regional Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Addis Ababa. The incumbent reports to i) the UN Human Rights Regional Representative and ii) OHCHR’s Chief of the Sustainable Development Section, Geneva.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Human Rights Officer will have regional responsibility and will be responsible for the following duties:
Human Rights & Liberties
• Assists the work of OHCHR at the regional level and provides analysis and advice on policy, programming and capacity development in relation to human rights-based economic and social policies, development and advancing human rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• Provides advice on integration of human rights into State and UN development policy and practice, as well as UN Common Country Analysis (CCA) and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCF) as well as national development strategies.
• Provides policy advice and technical assistance to strengthen national capacities.
• Reviews, monitors and evaluates activities relating to the implementation of international human rights instruments, including recommendations of treaty bodies and mechanisms of the Human Rights Council.
• Prepares relevant human rights parts of reports for the General Assembly, HRC, etc. Meets regularly with the relevant units and teams including field staff, to plan projects, provide concrete guidance/inputs and review project activities in the area of human rights integration in development policy and practice
• Works with UN – including regional development coordination mechanisms such as the Peer Support Group -, States, non-governmental programmes and international organisations including international financial institutions, in the country/region to integrate human rights, including their gender dimensions in their programs and keeps abreast of relevant developments; helps design and implements the human rights program and designs the organization and focus of the evaluation.
Multilateral Organizations
- • Ensures up-to-date information regarding substantive matters in the field of economic policy, development and human rights and makes recommendations on actions to take.
- • Makes contact with other sectors of the UN, other international organizations, including international financial institutions, governments and state authorities including NHRIs and national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up, on coordination and policy matters; brief representatives and provides, as appropriate suggestions and recommendations.
- • Assists country offices and relevant components of UN country teams and peace missions to develop and implement a training program, with attention to gender perspectives.
- • Coordinates closely with the Sustainable Development Section in Geneva in order to ensure that developments and trends in the region as well as the work undertaken by the Regional Office in the area of sustainable development are routinely contributing to and informed by the global work by OHCHR.
• Trains and supervises new/junior staff.
• Performs other related duties as required.
Competencies
- PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of and exposure to a range of human rights and economic policy and development issues including approaches and techniques to address sensitive and complex human rights problems in their political, ethnic, racial, gender and socio-economic dimensions. Knowledge of institutional mandates of human rights organizations, prevailing policies and procedures. Ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the human rights situation in the region or country of assignment, including the political and economic environment and legal statutes as they pertain to human rights. Ability to complete in-depth studies and reach conclusions on possible causes and solutions to human rights problems in specific societies and systems. Demonstrated skills in training civil authorities and members of advocacy groups to advance human rights in the context of economic policy and development. Ability to relate to human rights issues and perspectives, including their gender equality dimensions, to political, social, economic and humanitarian programmes in affected countries and areas. 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.
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.
Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, development economics, social sciences or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
People & Society
Work Experience
- A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law, development economics or related area is required. At least three years of experience in integrating human rights into sustainable development, including economic and social policies and programmes, at regional and/or national level, is required. Experience in undertaking research and analysis and/or drafting reports and other documents in the area of human rights and development financing is required.
Languages
- English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required.
The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).
Required Languages
-
Language Reading Writing Listening Speaking English UN Level III UN Level III UN Level III UN Level III
Assessment
- Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
This position is available for an initial period of one year and is subject to availability of funding. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 June 2026, are strongly encouraged to apply: Un-represented: Andorra, Brunei Darussalam, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Sao Tome and Principe, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu. Under-represented: Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, China, Cuba, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Libya, Liberia, Luxembourg, Monaco, Oman, Paraguay, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Turkmenistan, United States of America.
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.
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.
Multilateral Organizations
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).
Multilateral Organizations
- 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.
Jobs
- 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.
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.