HUMAN RIGHTS (HRBA) CONSULTANCY

UNDP Democratic Governance Group (DGG) hosts the UN Human Rights Policy network – HuriTALK which has recently developed and launched a web-based portal, the UN Practitioner’s Portal on HRBA Programming, (www.hrbaportal.org) (hereinafter referred to as the HRBA Portal), which serves as a ‘one-stop shop’ of resources, knowledge and experience on mainstreaming Human Rights-Based Approaches (HRBA) into development programming. The HRBA Portal brings together resources from across the UN system as well as from external sources (NGOs, think tanks, academia), with a focus on providing practical tools and support to practitioner’s working at the country level to mainstream HRBA in their work. The HRBA Portal provides access to publications, case-studies, learning materials as well as links to relevant resources including the international human rights machinery, and provides users with access to these resources through various entry points (topic, region, programming phases and resource type). The HRBA Portal was developed in 2009 and launched officially on International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2009. The HRBA Portal has therefore been ‘live’ for 1.5 years. In previous months, a contractor has been identified to implement technical solutions to improve the HRBA Portal’s content, features and navigability, and to provide technical support related to the HRBA Portal. There are numerous new features of the HRBA Portal and improved navigability however, improvements to the overall design and user functionality are still required. Concurrently, HuriTALK has participated with the UNDG in a recent mapping of human rights knowledge products across the UNDG agencies and over 460+ knowledge products have been identified. Whereas currently the HRBA Portal is organized in 17 different thematic areas of human rights, as a consequence of the UNDG mapping exercise a decision has been made to expand the thematic areas to 28 and to further sub-categories within those 28 thematic areas to allow more specificity for the user and to update the material and content. At this juncture, an HRBA consultant is required to assist with multiple tasks related to this updating of the HRBA Portal. Following the conclusion of the recent mapping exercise the HRBA consultant should assist and facilitate the substantive expansion of the HRBA Portal including the addition of thematic areas / topics of human rights on the HRBA Portal and sub-categorization within thematic areas in liaison with UNDG and relevant UN agencies. The additional knowledge products identified in the UNDG mapping exercise should be categorized and organised in accordance with the 28 thematic areas and sub-categories in a revised database on the HRBA Portal and short summaries of each provided. Validation and possible updating of current content including HuriTALK products on the HuriTALK corner is required, as is the population and testing of new features of the HRBA Portal and input into the design and user-friendliness of the tool and preparation of promotional and advocacy materials. The HRBA Consultant will be expected to be flexible and responsive to the HRBA Portal services requested. At all stages of the assignment the HRBA consultant will provide innovative ideas and recommendations to ensure that the HRBA Portal is considered to be cutting edge by its users. The HRBA consultant will also be required to balance dynamism with ensuring that the HRBA Portal is user-friendly. The contractor will be expected to achieve excellence in the site’s substantive content and to proactively propose options for the UNDP to consider in its management of the HRBA Portal. The consultant will be supervised by the Facilitator of the UN Human Rights Policy network – HuriTALK / Knowledge Management Specialist and the Human Rights Advisor and in close consultation with the UNDG Human Rights Mainstreaming Mechanism (UNDG-HRM). In carrying out his / her tasks, the consultant will be expected to liaise regularly with colleagues working on human rights and knowledge management across the organization. If working from home the consultant will liaise regularly through email and skype reporting on progress and any challenges or risks to finalization of tasks.

Duties and Responsibilities

The contractor will be required to identify and implement solutions in consultation with the HuriTALK facilitator for, inter alia, the following tasks: An additional 10+ thematic pages on different thematic areas of Human Rights to be established to include overviews of international standards on the thematic areas and inclusion of case studies on the thematic areas. Finalization of pages to be completed in consultation with the relevant UN agencies and validation of the content of existing thematic pages and updating as required. Addition of sub-categories within the 28 thematic areas to be agreed in consultation with the relevant UN agencies. Additional thematic pages for the sub-categories including an overview of international standards relevant to the specific sub-category and extraction of relevant case studies. Addition of over 250 new knowledge products in the database and a re-organization of the existing database to take into account the additional thematic categories amounting to a re-categorization of the 260 existing knowledge products also. A substantive overview and categorization (including for language) of the knowledge products to include a short summary of each of the 460+ knowledge products to be included in the revised database (new feature of the Portal). Review of HuriTALK consolidated replies into the 28 new thematic areas including extraction of case studies. Population of the new features on the UN HRBA Portal including the noticeboard and calendar. Testing of all new features and aspects of the newly designed site including the administrator’s manual. Drafting of advocacy and promotional material for the re-launch of the HRBA Portal. Provide input into the review of design of the HRBA Portal in relation to the user functionality of the tool particularly as it relates to different types of knowledge products (multi-media and video) and accessibility for users in different languages. Conduct any other assignments related to the newly designed HRBA Portal as requested by the Knowledge Management Specialist. Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications: Explanation why they are the most suitable for the work (against technical criteria) Financial proposal Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references Financial proposal: The financial proposal should specify a daily fee, travel expenses and per diems quoted in separate line items. Payments will be made based on the number of days worked. The daily fee is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period: Consultant daily rate Health insurance as applicable Risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions Any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the IC, eg visa, All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. Travel cost should not exceed that of a restricted economy class ticket. To submit your application online, please follow the steps below: Download and complete the UN Personal History Form (P11). The P11 Form can be obtained at http://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc Merge your P11 and/or Personal CV, Proposals and other relevant documents into a single file. Click on the Job Title. Click “Apply Now” button, fill in necessary information on the first page, and click “Submit Application”. Upload your application. You will receive an automatic response to your email confirming receipt of your application by the system. Monitoring and Evaluation: Performance of the consultant will be regularly monitored and evaluated to ensure that the expected results are achieved. The M & E system to be used will include the following: Monthly progress reports Weekly consultative meetings Internal review of products for quality control/assurance Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies: Cumulative analysis - the award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: Responsive/compliant/acceptable Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. Criteria: Technical Criteria weight; 70% Financial Criteria weight; 30% Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 point and above would be considered for the Financial Evaluation will be conducted based on the desk review of the CVs and an interview. Final consideration will be made based on the criteria below: Criteria Weight Max. Point Technical Educational background and work experience (CV) 20% 20 Familiarity with the human rights-based approach (HRBA) and the UN Human Rights Machinery 15% 15 Demonstrated research, writing and analytical skills on human rights and HRBA related issues 20% 20 Prior experience with the UN(DP) and with knowledge management tools including web-based applications 10% 10 Language skills 5% 5 Financial 30% 30 The HRBA Consultant should be conducted from mid-June to mid-August 2011, for a maximum number of working days not exceeding 50.

Competencies

The tasks and responsibilities of Demonstrated knowledge of the human rights work of UN agencies and UN human rights machinery including the human rights-based approach. Good knowledge of the UN Human Rights Policy network – HuriTALK and the UN HRBA Practitioner’s Portal (www.hrbaportal.org) as knowledge management tools of the UN Uses information and internet technology applications effectively as a tool and a resource Proven experience in analytical research and drafting on human rights and the human rights-based approach (HRBA) and proven ability to write clearly and compellingly in English Strong interpersonal and advanced communications skills Excellent organizational skills and proven ability to work independently and ensure deliverables within deadlines. Ability to work independently, against tight deadlines.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Masters degree in human rights, law, political science, international relations, development studies or a related field. Experience: 5+ years post-graduate experience, in an international agency, bilateral donor, civil society organization or research think tank (condition for the recruitment of the consultant). Prior experience of working with the UN / UNDP preferred and experience in liaising with different agencies of the UN and knowledge of UN agency mandates and work in relation to human rights. Previous experience in knowledge management for human rights and the human rights-based approach. Advanced research and analysis skills and proven ability to write clearly and compellingly in English. Proficiency in the usage of computers, office software packages and web-based applications. Language: Knowledge of English is a pre-requisite, additional knowledge of either French / Spanish would be an asset. Strong oral, written and editing skills in English is a prerequisite. Additional knowledge of either French, Spanish or Arabic would be an asset.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.