CONSULTANT TO MANAGE THE UNDP SUPPORTED SECRETARIAT OF THE GLOBAL COMMISSION ON HIV AND THE LAW

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with national counterparts on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. UNDP is a founding cosponsor of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), a partner of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and a co-sponsor of several other international health partnerships. UNDP’s work on HIV, health and development leverages UNDP’s core strengths and mandates in human development, governance and capacity development to complement the efforts of specialist health-focused UN agencies. UNDP delivers three types of support to countries in HIV, health and development. Protecting and promoting the rights of people affected by HIV and marginalized populations is the cornerstone of effective AIDS, public health and development responses. UNDP supports countries to create an enabling human rights environment, promote gender equality, and address the HIV-related vulnerabilities and needs of women and girls. UNDP also works to respond to HIV among men who have sex with men and transgender populations, and supports legal frameworks including enabling trade and intellectual property legislation for improved access to affordable essential medicines and commodities. Objective: As the lead agency on human rights and law within the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), UNDP launched a high-level Global Commission on HIV and the Law in June 2010 to interrogate the relationship between legal responses, human rights and HIV. The Commission, which was launched by UNDP Administrator, focuses on some of the most challenging legal and human rights issues in the context of HIV, including inappropriate criminalization of HIV transmission and behaviors and practices such as drug use, sex work, same-sex sexual relations, violence against women and access to treatment. The goal of the Commission is to develop actionable, evidence-informed and human rights-based recommendations for effective HIV responses that protect and promote the human rights of people living with and most vulnerable to HIV. The Commission comprises eminent persons from public life who provide global leadership on HIV-related legal and human rights issues by: (1) Analyzing what is known about the interaction between the legal environment, human rights and HIV; (2) Fostering evidence-informed public dialogue on the need for rights-based law and policy in the context of HIV; and (3) Identifying clear and actionable recommendations with a concrete plan for follow-up. The Commission is based on three mutually reinforcing axes: 1. A high level Commission that analyzes the evidence and add insight and weight to findings and recommendations; 2. A Technical Advisory Group to help generate and build consensus around the evidence base; and 3. Regional Dialogues to ensure participation and inclusion of affected communities and law- and policy-makers During its 18-month process (June 2010 – December 2011), the Commission reached out to civil society working on the HIV response and related issues, including groups and networks of key populations, and law and policy makers. The engagement of diverse stakeholders ensured that the Commission’s deliberations are informed and enriched by the experiences of those most affected by the epidemic. The Regional Dialogues, a critical element of this outreach, aimed to generate region-specific policy dialogue on key legal and human rights issues in the context of HIV. The Regional Dialogues informed the deliberations of the Commission through submissions and evidence-informed inputs and by engaging policy and law makers, law enforcement and community perspectives. It is important for the work of the Commission to benefit from the views expressed by government and civil society including the experiences of those most affected by both disempowering and empowering legal environments. This is also important for enhancing awareness, dialogue, engagement and ownership within regions on the actions that are required to effect real change in people’s lives and health. The Commission’s final report will be based on a thorough review of evidence gathered through the Commission process - minutes of the Technical Advisory Group and Commission meetings, discussion papers and additional research commissioned, issue briefs prepared for the 7 regional dialogues, Regional Dialogue reports and submissions from all 7 dialogues. It is planned that the Commission’s final report will be launched by UNDP and the United Nations Secretary General in late February 2012. UNDP has been hosting the Secretariat of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law since June 2010 and will do so until the end of March 2012. UNDP’s HIV/AIDS Group is recruiting a consultant to manage the Secretariat of the Commission, particularly in delivering on: supporting the organization and implementation of the report of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law; finalizing the documentation generated through the process of the Global Commission; supporting the Commission’s global communication strategy related to the Launch of the Commission’s final report.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Cluster Leader of HIV, Health, Human Rights and Governance, the Consultant will be responsible for: Managing the Secretariat of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law for 2012 Supporting the organization and implementation of the launch of the report of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law; Finalizing documentation generated through the process of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law; Overseeing outreach about the Commission’s work with government and civil society partners; Provide any other research and writing assistance and support to UNDP’s HIV, Health, Governance and Human Rights work as requested by the Cluster Leader. Specific Deliverables: The finalization of the documentation and research materials generated through the process of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, the launch of the Commission’s final report taking place in New York in February 2012, including: Plan and preparation for the Launch of the Commission’s final report; Finalization of the issue briefs, dialogue reports and discussion papers of the Global Commission, preparation of analysis and evidence in support of the final report Outreach activities on the Commission’s work with UNAIDS Secretariat and cosponsors, key civil society partners. Expected Outputs: The Commission’s report is planned and launched; The documentation necessary for the elaboration of the final report is reviewed and finalized; The Commission’s work and report is launched and disseminated to a range of stakeholders. Reporting: The consultant will regularly submit the results to the Cluster Leader of HIV, Health, Human Rights and Governance. Travel: No travel envisaged. Timeframe: The consultant’s mission is home based and is expected to last 35 days starting from January 2012 to March 2012. Evaluation: Applicants will be screened against qualifications and competencies specified below through a desk review or an interview process. Those selected for the next stage of the selection process will be reviewed based on a cumulative analysis based on a combination of the Technical and Financial Scores. Payment: The consultant will be remunerated following a time based payment (based on the number of working days to be paid at a consultancy daily fee rate).

Competencies

Corporate Competencies: Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards. Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP. Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability. Functional: A clearly demonstrated knowledge of human rights, law and HIV especially issues of criminalization, discrimination and violence against women, and HIV-related treatment access; Understanding of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law’s initiative and mandate; An ability to manage concurrent tasks and competing interests; An ability to manage complex projects. Partnership building and team work: Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills; Demonstrated flexibility to excel in a multi-cultural environment. Communications and Advocacy: Strong track record on research; and Excellent writing skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Advanced Degree (Master’s Degree) in law, human rights or any other related fields; Experience: Minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience in the area of human rights, law and HIV, with experience of working at country level and managing multi-stakeholder initiatives; Robust understanding of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and its work on human rights and HIV; Excellent writing, research, analysis and presentation skills; Fluency in English is required; Fluency in another UN language is desired.

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.