- Organization: UNV – United Nations Volunteers
- Location: Accra
- Grade: Level not specified – Level not specified
- Occupational Groups:
- Human Rights
- Poverty Reduction
- Closing Date: 2023-09-28
Mission and objectives
The United Nations Resident Coordinator is the highest-ranking UN representative in country and leads the UN Country Team (UNCT) in Ghana, coordinating the UN System support to the Government of Ghana (GoG) and peoples of Ghana in achieving their development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals. Towards achieving this, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) supports and maximizes, in a coordinated fashion, the work of the UNCT to enable the UN Development System (UNDS) provide a collective, joined-up, coherent, timely and country-driven integrated response to support Ghana meet its national priorities, within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other international commitments. The RC system convenes stakeholders and connects knowledge across sectors and pillars to facilitate solutions that advance the 2030 agenda and facilitate the achievement the SDGs, providing visibility and synergies from the collective assets and capacities of the UN development system. These coordination investments enable the UNDS to offer an integrated approach and a joined-up response to the development needs through policy support and strategic interventions that are catalytic and aligned to Ghana’s vision, increasing efficiencies and leveraging economies of scale wherever possible.
Context
United Nation’s central framework for planning and implementation of development activities -UNSDCF 2023-25- reflects Ghana’s national goals and its commitments to global development initiatives and sets out the UN system’s collective contributions to help the Government of Ghana and other stakeholders achieve these goals. The UNSDCF promotes an integrated approach that supports Ghana’s developmental results, delivered collectively by United Nations entities under the leadership of the empowered United Nations Resident Coordinator and the United Nations Country Team. It articulates three key priorities that are aligned with Ghana’s Coordinated Programme for Economic and Social Development Policies 2021–2025, Agenda for Jobs II: Creating Prosperity and Equal Opportunities for All (CPESDP 2021–2025), which is operationalized through the Medium-Term National Development Policy Framework 2022–2025 (MTNDPF), sectoral strategies, policies and national planning instruments: • Inclusive, resilient and sustainable economic growth and transformation • Accessible, equitable, inclusive, sustainable quality basic social services • Durable peace and security in Ghana and the subregion To achieve these results, the United Nations in Ghana will adopt a key strategic shift in the ‘ways of working’ that are not business as usual and that emerge from the United Nations’ collective learning. The aim is to: strengthen the utilization of data for development; establish new, innovative and expanded partnerships with the private sector and civil society; significantly increase the number of joint programmes and joined-up programming; develop enhanced capacity for policy advocacy and leadership; support international norms and standards; and integrate cross-cutting issues. The UNSDCF will be implemented in a post-COVID-19 environment, which is also affected by the disruptive impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war(particularly in energy and commodity markets) in the wider context of the global challenge of climate change and escalating conflicts that have the potential to trigger global recession that impacts livelihoods, resource availability and development priorities. These and other shocks and risks will require ongoing monitoring and risk mitigation measures. The United Nations will continue to maintain an integrated approach that maximizes opportunities to address Ghana’s geographic inequities and maintains a people-centred approach that supports the priorities for sustained peace and security in a wider, connected planet.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: – Support the UNRC and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), specifically through the Human Rights and Inclusion Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG), in integrating human rights into UN programmes and activities, in particular the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and other key strategic planning tools, including by facilitating country level coordination and acting as a re-source person in programme activities implemented by the UNCT. – Support ongoing monitoring and provide advice to the UNRC and the UNCT on the human rights situation, based on assessment of the national context, international norms and standards. – Advise the UNRC and UNCT on developing strategies and programmes to strengthen national capacities and institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, based on assessment of national context, capacities and priorities and facilitate access to specific human rights expertise, including by drawing from human rights resources and tools available. – Support UNCT and provide strategic advice to partners on integrating the LNOB principle into their programs and initiatives. Ensure that the principles of Leaving No One Behind (LNOB) are integrated into all aspects of human rights work, with particular attention to vulnerable and marginalized groups. – Support the UNRC and UNCT and national partners in their engagement with international human rights mechanisms such as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, as well as those under relevant international instruments of specialized agencies, including by supporting the dissemination and sharing of information, coordinating or facilitating the UNCT’s contributions and programmatic follow up to the recommendations of these bodies, and helping the UNCT to provide timely and effective support to relevant country missions of Special Procedures mandate holders and other UN mechanisms; – Provide technical guidance to ensure that LNOB-related data collection, analysis, and reporting are accurate and comprehensive. Monitor progress towards UNSCDF implementation with a specific focus on LNOB, identify challenges, and propose solutions to overcome barriers. – Support the UNRC and the UNCT in promoting human rights as a common UN value and upholding international norms and standards through advice, advocacy and awareness-raising. – Undertake any other tasks required to support the effective implementation of human rights and LNOB objectives within the UNCT’s framework.