UNDP works to improve the lives of vulnerable communities, with the overarching objective of preventing loss of development gains, promoting human rights, and finding sustainable pathways to development. UNDP projects under the democratic governance portfolio aims to strengthen state institutions, support democratic development and the rule of law, ensure crisis prevention, support policy development, and integrate gender equality into all areas of work. UNDP works to support the human rights ecosystem by strengthening human rights institutions to promote and protect human rights for all.

This UNV assignment is part of UNDP Pakistan’s Decentralization, Human Rights and Local Governance (DHL) project. The DHL project is a multi-sector project aimed at strengthening rights-based development, community stabilization, gender equality, and social inclusion across all regions and provinces of Pakistan. The core objective of the project is to ensure inclusive and equitable service delivery by providing technical assistance and capacity development support to relevant federal ministries, provincial line departments, statutory bodies, civil society, and private sector organizations. A key aim is to support the creation of an enabling environment for accelerated access to rights, people-centered justice, and people-centered security. The project focuses on institution building while connecting with vulnerable and at-risk communities to build trust between rights holders and duty bearers for inclusive, expeditious, and transparent access to rights and services.

Under its Business & Human Rights programme, UNDP-DHL has since 2018 supported the advancement of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) in Pakistan, with the aim of ensuring human rights and gender equality across all forms of business activity. This includes technical assistance to the Government of Pakistan at federal and provincial levels for the development and implementation of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP-BHR). UNDP-DHL also engages government entities, regulators, and the private sector for the uptake of human rights due diligence (HRDD) as a key best practice to respect human rights across Pakistani value chains. Finally, the project supports NHRIs, civil society, workers, and human rights defenders to increase access to remedy for rights-holders and promote accountability when business activity leads to human rights violations.

The incumbent UNV will be stationed at the Human Rights & Minorities Affairs Department in Lahore and will be responsible for supporting the Department with its research, advocacy, coordination, and communications efforts related to implementation of its human rights mandate in Punjab.

1. Task description:

Under the day-to-day direct supervision of the Department:

• Support coordination of provincial efforts for NAP-BHR implementation and overall activities for promotion and protection of human rights of the Department under its legal and policy mandate.

• Work closely with Department to coordinate its efforts in implementing, monitoring, and reporting progress of the NAP-BHR and relevant human rights policies especially in relation to minorities’ affairs in Punjab.

• Support Department by conducting required background research, drafting agenda, taking minutes, and coordinating for relevant events

• Lead consultations, workshops, seminars, and other awareness-raising and capacity-building events led by Department related to NAP-BHR implementation

• Prepare briefs, talking points, speeches, and other materials for senior representatives

• Collect relevant data from provincial stakeholders including line departments and business entities for NAP-BHR reporting purposes

• Liaise with Ministry of Human Rights and provincial stakeholders for the mid-term review process of the NAP-BHR

• Support alignment of NAP-BHR implementation, monitoring, and reporting with GSP+ compliance

• Provide ad-hoc support as required in areas including Punjab Human Rights Policy, digitization, treaty-body reporting, engagement of education sector for human rights, etc

• Closely coordinate with other relevant stakeholders to ensure no duplication of interventions

• Conduct research on Punjab’s legislative, policy, regulatory, and institutional framework to promote human rights including in business activity in the province.

• Assist Department in ongoing review and analysis of Punjab’s legislative, policy, regulatory, and institutional framework for promoting human rights as well as implementation mechanisms

• Conduct high-quality research and analysis on relevant topics under the NAP-BHR, especially human rights due diligence, grievance mechanisms, environmental justice and climate impacts in relation to business activity, and other priority areas of the NAP in the context of Punjab

• Track latest national and international developments (especially in the EU and the Global South) related to responsible business, e.g., trends in legislation, policies, and best practices for the promoting of human rights in business activity

• Support Department in developing knowledge products and publications to raise visibility of its activities to promote responsible business practices in Punjab

• Prepare weekly updates for the state of Business & Human Rights and other relevant areas as guided by the Department

• Build partnerships with the private sector and other key stakeholders to promote the corporate responsibility to respect human rights in Punjab.

• Develop and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with national companies, Chambers of Commerce, industry associations, and other private sector entities

• Closely engage National & Provincial Human Rights Institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), environmental human rights defenders, community leaders, and other relevant stakeholders for a participatory and inclusive approach to NAP-BHR implementation, monitoring, and reporting

• Identify key private sector stakeholders from both export and non-export sectors to build partnerships and champions for responsible business practices in Punjab

• Build and regularly maintain a database of key contacts relevant to BHR for the Department

• Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy relevant to human rights including in relation to business activity in Punjab.

• Plan and organize events, including press conferences, briefings, trainings, report launches, public forums related to human rights issues etc.

• Participate in knowledge networks and consultations with international organizations and CSOs

• Collaborate with relevant partners, stakeholders, and UNDP to raise awareness, engage in policy dialogues, and advocate for meaningful change in Punjab

• Support the Department’s participation in South-South peer learning activities and relevant national, regional, and global events

• Coordinate closely with the EU Human Rights Programme team at UNDP on joint activities, advocacy, and events