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Policy Specialist: Key Populations, Rights and Access to Justice

11:15:00 AM

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The Bureau for Development Policy (BDP) is UNDP’s policy Bureau and backbone of the global practices. BDP has a key role to play in helping country offices to accelerate human development through strengthening the practice areas within UNDP’s programmes. BDP supports the development and design of projects that are responsive, effective and contribute to the national-level policies and results. Driven by demand, BDP provides the tools, analysis and capacities that country offices need to make a real difference in UNDP’s practice areas.

BDP support of UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2008-2013 and its 6 thematic areas (Poverty Reduction, Governance, Environment and Energy, HIV/AIDS, Capacity Development, and Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment) together with the regionalization process require it to support a strong and vibrant practice architecture which can ensure that UNDP, at all levels, benefits from consistent and coherent policy direction, rigorous quality standards and valuable service platforms.

HIV, Health and Development Approach

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.

First, UNDP works with partners to address the interactions between governance, human rights and health responses. Sometimes this is done through focused or specialized programmes, such as promoting attention to the role of legal environments (law and access to justice) in facilitating stronger HIV responses, including the use of flexibilities in intellectual property and human rights law to lower the cost of drugs and diagnostics and to increase access to HIV-related treatment. UNDP also works to empower and include marginalized populations who are disproportionately affected by HIV - also known as key populations - , such as sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people and people living with HIV. Beyond these focused efforts, UNDP plays a key role in ensuring attention to HIV and health within broader governance and rights initiatives, including support to district and municipal action on MDGs, strengthening of national human rights institutions and increasing access to justice for marginalized populations.

Second, UNDP helps countries to mainstream attention to HIV and health into action on gender, poverty and the broader effort to achieve and sustain the Millennium Development Goals. For example, UNDP works with countries to understand the social and economic factors that play a crucial role in driving health and disease, and to respond to such dynamics with appropriate policies and programmes outside the health sector. UNDP also promotes specific action on the needs and rights of women and girls as they relate to HIV.

Third, as a trusted, long-term partner with extensive operational experience, UNDP supports countries in effective implementation of complex, multilateral and multisectoral health projects, while simultaneously investing in capacity development so that national and local partners can assume these responsibilities over time. The UNDP/Global Fund partnership is an important part of this work, facilitating access to resources for action on MDG 6 by countries that face constraints in directly receiving and managing such funding. UNDP partners with countries in crisis/post-crisis situations, those with weak institutional capacity or governance challenges, and countries under sanctions. When requested, UNDP acts as temporary Principal Recipient in these settings, working with national partners and the Global Fund to improve management, implementation and oversight of Global Fund grants, while simultaneously developing national capacity to be able to assume the Principal Recipient role over time.

The Policy Specialist is responsible for bringing substantive advice and technical expertise, advocacy and knowledge on key populations, HIV-related human rights and access to justice. He/She will also provide policy and programming expertise relating to key populations, HIV-related human rights and access to justice, and help the HIV/AIDS Group respond to emerging demands in addressing development dimensions of HIV and health. The Policy Specialist will report to the BDP HIV Practice, Cluster Leader: Human Rights and Governance in NY.

Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will be responsible for:

  • Policy Specialist / Programme Support-Delivery;
  • Research and Content Development;
  • Policy Development;
  • Practice Management/Co-ordination;
  • Practice Advocacy; and
  • Knowledge Management.

Policy Specialist / Programme Support-Delivery

  • Provision of policy specialist services that respond to country office needs on key populations, HIV-related human rights and access to justice;
  • Provide policy advice and technical guidance to and collaborate substantively with regional/country focal points to help achieve practice strategic goals and implement practice supported programmes relating to key populations, HIV-related human rights and access to justice;
  • Provide direct technical advice, backstopping and capacity development support to COs, UNCTs, Regional Centres and Regional Bureaux;
  • Provide programme support related to the design, implementation oversight and results & M & E;
  • Facilitates the engagement of governments, country offices and regional programmes with civil society, including people living with HIV and other populations key to the dynamics of HIV epidemics;
  • Support relevant regional initiatives and promote synergies with the regional programmes of the Regional Bureaux;
  • Exercise quality assurance for policy services on key populations, HIV-related human rights and access to justice and foster policy innovation to enhance programme delivery in these areas.

Research and Content Development

  • Conduct analysis of data, case evidence and research findings to distill relevant lessons on key populations, HIV-related human rights and access to justice;
  • Generate based upon research and analysis, innovative operational concepts aimed at widening UN/UNDP policy/programming tools on key populations, HIV-related human rights and access to justice;
  • Research, develop and share knowledge-based tools, such as policy positions/practice notes/concept papers and other research papers to ensure standards and help influence/advance policy dialogue on key populations, HIV-related human rights and access to justice and present such material at global and regional forums.

Policy Development

  • Support policy development in the HIV practice’s service area on key populations, HIV-related human rights and access to justice;
  • Support the development of corporate policy and guidance on key populations, HIV-related human rights and access to justice;
  • Provide substantive inputs to international fora to help shape global and regional development strategies, policies, norms and standards on key populations, HIV-related human rights and access to justice;
  • Develops tools for the implementation of global policy standards on HIV-related human rights and using intellectual property and human rights law, trade policy and innovation to increase access to HIV-related treatment.

Practice Management/Co-ordination

  • Work closely with the Rights, Law and Access Advisor, Cluster Leader, Practice Manager and Practice Director to develop work plans, monitor/report progress on key populations, HIV-related human rights and access to justice in line with practice strategic goals and within the practice resource framework and agreed work programme;
  • Manage financial resources, including for Trust-Funds;
  • Provide results reporting and other management obligations for corporate planning/management processes of UNDP, UN system and trust funds’ governing boards;
  • Support the development of practice strategy in the area of key populations, HIV-related human rights and access to justice, and forge/implement successfully strategic partnerships with UN and external partner institutions – Governments, private sector, academia, NGOs, CSOs

Practice Advocacy

  • Support substantive and content leadership in UNDP corporate discussions and inter-agency coordination on practice issues;
  • Represent UNDP (and UN partner organizations) to advocate practice messages in the international development arena for a discussion;
  • Mobilize external partnerships behind UNDP initiatives;
  • Advocate the importance of the practice service area on key populations, HIV-related human rights and access to justice in various fora with a view to deepen related political commitment and related reforms;
  • Lead the design of material and promote initiatives for advocacy and policy dialogue and nurture partnerships with academia and civil society to develop the content on key populations, HIV-related human rights and access to justice;
  • Support the Cluster Leader and Practice Director in providing intellectual leadership of practice on key populations, HIV-related human rights and access to justice.

Knowledge Management

  • Build and facilitate internal and external Communities of Practice in relevant thematic and cross-thematic area(s) related to key populations, HIV-related human rights and access to justice;
  • Contribute to global and regional knowledge networks on key populations, HIV-related human rights and access to justice;
  • Produce knowledge products on key populations, HIV-related human rights and access to justice in accordance with corporate standards;
  • Manage content in the relevant practice service space of Teamworks.

Competencies

Corporate:

  • Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN/UNDP’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:

  • Strong skills in communications and outreach;
  • Flexible and used to working independently and delivering quality results against tight deadlines;
  • Conceptualizes, elaborates and implements internal and external communications strategies;
  • Demonstrates thorough knowledge and experience in media relations at the international level;
  • Communicates sensitively and effectively across regions;
  • Strong IT skills;
  • Proficient in MS Office applications.

Leadership:

  • Ability to convey strategic vision from the spectrum of development experience;
  • Knowledge and expertise in UNDP’s programming processes;
  • Proven ability to drive for results with a strong knowledge of results-based management and budgeting;
  • Proven ability to translate knowledge on key populations, HIV-related human rights and access to justice, into effective policy and programme interventions in the field.

Managing Relationships:

  • Demonstrated well developed people management and organizational skills;
  • Excellent negotiating and networking skills;
  • Strong resource mobilization and partnering skills.

Managing Complexity:

  • Ability to address global development issues;
  • Substantive knowledge and understanding of development cooperation with the ability to support the practice architecture of UNDP and inter-disciplinary issues;
  • Demonstrated substantive leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives;
  • A sound global network of institutional and individual contacts.

Knowledge Management and Learning:

  • Strong analytical, dialogue, consultation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality practical advisory reports and knowledge products;
  • Demonstrated ability to understand clients' needs and concerns; respond promptly and effectively to client needs; and customize services and products as appropriate;
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate with others in own unit and across boundaries; acknowledge others' contributions; promote collaboration and facilitate teamwork across organizational boundaries;
  • Open to new ideas; shares own knowledge; applies knowledge in daily work; builds partnerships for learning and knowledge sharing;
  • Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
  • Seeks and applies knowledge, information and best practices from within and outside of UNDP;
  • Familiarity with current Knowledge Management technologies, including Web and Enterprise 2.0 etc.

Judgment/Decision-Making:

  • Mature judgment and initiative;
  • Proven ability to provide strategic direction on key populations, HIV-related human rights and access to justice;
  • Independent judgment and discretion in advising on handling major policy issues and challenges.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master’s Degree in law, human rights or related discipline

Experience:

  • Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible, substantive knowledge in HIV-related law, human rights and key populations, including development policy and programming experience;
  • Excellent research, writing and presentation skills in English are essential;
  • Work experience from a developing country is highly desirable;
  • Knowledge of UN and/or UNDP procedures is highly desirable.

Language Requirements:

  • Fluent in English;
  • Working knowledge in another UN official language is desirable.
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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.

Policy Specialist: Key Populations, Rights and Access to Justice

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