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 Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) Head Office in Karachi and will be responsible for supporting the Commission with its program implementation, reporting, and coordination efforts related to implementation of its human rights mandate in Sindh.

1. Task description:

Under the day-to-day direct supervision of the Chairperson at SHRC:

• Support SHRC with program implementation in line with the Commission’s mandate:

• Provide technical support to the Commission for results-based program implementation of its activities

• Work closely with Commission to support coordination of its efforts in monitoring and reporting progress of the NAP-BHR and other relevant human rights laws, policies, and frameworks in Sindh

• Lead required coordination with relevant provincial line departments and federal entities

• Develop and maintain workplans for various activities, and closely coordinate with UNDP team for reporting purposes

• Provide logistical support for SHRC activities including site visits

• Closely coordinate with other relevant stakeholders, especially the Human Rights Department, Sindh (HRDS), to ensure no duplication of interventions

• Support research efforts of the Commission on Sindh’s legislative, policy, regulatory, and institutional framework to promote human rights including in business activity in the province.

• Assist SHRC’s research efforts to review and analyze Sindh’s legislative, policy, regulatory, and institutional framework for promoting human rights as well as implementation mechanisms

• Support 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 Sindh

• Support tracking of 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 the the development of knowledge products and publications to raise visibility of Commission’s activities to promote human rights including in business activity in Sindh

• Support preparation of weekly updates for SHRC on the state of Business & Human Rights and other relevant areas as guided by the Commission

• Support capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy events to human rights including in Sindh with an emphasis on Business & Human Rights

• Support the Commission’s training and other capacity-building events for government, business, civil society, and other stakeholders

• 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 Sindh

• Support the Commission’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

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

• 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 Sindh

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