The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization to promote international co-operation. A replacement for the ineffective League of Nations, the organization was established on 24 October 1945

Responsibilities

• Within delegated authority, the Senior Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
• Formulates human rights strategies, including from a gender equality perspective; develops a vision or direction for the work of the human rights Unit and creates the conditions for implementing that vision or direction.
• Advises the High Commissioner and Regional Representative on human rights matters in Kenya.
• Represents the High Commissioner on matters of human rights related to Kenya, including in the United Nations Country Team, Humanitarian Country Team and other inter-agency fora.
• Proposes policy directives and plan of action to appropriate United Nations bodies for immediate and long- range solutions to human rights problems in general and specific geographical areas.
• Supports the UNRC and the United Nations Country Team and Humanitarian Country Team (UNCT/HCT) in integrating human rights into their programmes and activities, in particular the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and other key strategic planning tools, including by building UNCT/HCT capacities to apply a human rights-based approach to their programmes and activities.
• Designs, develops and implements significant policy and programme changes to address regional or global human rights issues, including their gender dimensions.
• Formulates the programme of work, budget and medium-term plan of the unit and participates in the overall formulation and approval of the programme of work, and administrative matters concerning the country programme.
• Prepares human rights reports on key sectors or key regional developments.
• Develops and maintains relations with officials at the highest levels of Government and advises them on human rights issues and policies.
• Coordinates and oversees human rights research initiatives.
• Manages, coordinates, organizes and supervises other human rights officers or organizational segments as assigned.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Requirements

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences or related area.
• 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.

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law or related area is required.
• Out of the ten (10) years, a minimum of five (5) years of experience working within international or regional organizations is required.
• Experience working on human rights mainstreaming in development and/or humanitarian programming in a field context is required.
• At least three years of experience in managing small teams (at least 7 persons) is required.
• Experience working on human rights issues related to the African region or similar field contexts is desirable.