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 data collection, analysis, and reporting in line with the Commission’s requirements; as well as leading and supporting various capacity-building events.

1. Task description:

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

• Lead data collection and analysis efforts of the Commission in line with its requirements:

• Assist SHRC in ongoing data collection and analysis regarding the state of human rights in Sindh

• Utilise data to support development of high-quality case studies on relevant topics under the NAP-BHR, especially human rights due diligence, alternate dispute resolution, environmental justice and climate impacts in relation to business activity, and other priority areas of the NAP in the context of Sindh

• Track and monitor ongoing complaints and cases related to human rights violations in Sindh referred to the Commission

• Support SHRC by providing high-quality data and visuals relevant to its various publications

• Support maintaining of SHRC online portal with relevant information, data, reports and updates

• 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

• Lead consultations, workshops, seminars, and other awareness-raising and capacity-building events the Commission on human rights

• 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

• Provide technical support to SHRC on program implementation in line with the Commission’s mandate:

• Support the Commission’s efforts in monitoring and reporting progress of the NAP-BHR and other relevant human rights laws, policies, and frameworks in Sindh

• Support Commission in conducting required background research, drafting agenda, taking minutes, and coordination support for different types of events

• Lead consultations, workshops, seminars, and other awareness-raising and capacity-building events the Commission on human rights

• 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 monitoring and reporting with GSP+ compliance

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

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

• 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