Result of Service

The Consultant will significantly support the development of the National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights by providing technical assistance and conducting capacity-building and awareness-raising activities. – Ensure effective planning, coordination, communication, analysis and engagement with relevant stakeholders, including government entities, national human rights institutions, businesses, civil society organizations, UN entities, other international organizations and affected communities. – Ensure a successful update of Zambia’s National Baseline Assessments on Business and Human Rights of 2016 and 2021. – Ensure a successful update of the draft road map for development of a NAP on business and human rights prepared in 2022. – Support the drafting of Zambia’s NAP on business and human rights. – Successfully monitor and report on business and human rights-related phenomena and develop concrete recommendations, including on identified areas, to strengthen business and human rights engagement in Zambia.

Work Location

Lusaka

Expected duration

01/03-30/06/2025

Duties and Responsibilities

The Business and Human Rights (BHR) in Africa project aims to build strategic and impactful business and human rights engagement, foster the implementation of business and human rights standards, and strengthen accountability for adverse human rights impacts in Africa. The project contributes to mainstreaming international human rights standards, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) at regional and sub-regional levels. Implementation of the project has been ongoing since November 2021 in several African countries, including through UN Human Rights regional components in the East Africa Regional Office, Central Africa Regional Office, Regional Office for Southern Africa, and West Africa Regional Office. UN Human Rights is seeking to hire a consultant who will significantly support the development of the National Action Plan (NAP) on business and Human Rights by providing technical assistance to the development process of the NAP and conducting capacity-building and awareness-raising activities. The consultant will contribute to a timely and successful coordination and implementation of BHR Africa project activities and other business and human rights initiatives within the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Zambia. The Consultant will be responsible for the following: – Ensure close collaboration with the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Zambia to provide advisory services and technical assistance to Government entities, the Zambian Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), relevant business and human rights technical working groups and committees, in support of strategic activity plans related to the development, drafting and adoption of Zambia’s National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights. – Engage with government entities, ZHRC, civil society organizations, businesses, affected communities and other relevant stakeholders, to gather insights and perspectives on the ongoing development of the NAP on business and human rights in Zambia. – Gather relevant information from various sources, including international human rights instruments, national legislations and policies, judicial decisions and stakeholder consultations, to support ongoing efforts to update Zambia’s National Baseline Assessment on business and human rights, the NAP on business and human rights road map and inform the development process of the NAP on business and human rights. – Identify key challenges and gaps in the ongoing NAP on business and human rights development process, including in relation to the integration of access to remedy considerations and highlight areas for improvement. – Contribute to the planning and organization of business and human rights-related in-country outreach, capacity-building activities, consultations, workshops, meetings and develop and/or strengthen network on business and human rights. – Assist in monitoring and preparing briefs regarding business and human rights-related phenomena through research, analysis, compilation and reporting of information from Government, businesses, civil society organizations and individuals, UN entities and other sources, and identify areas for support. – Formulate actionable recommendations to advance the NAP on business and human rights development process, ensuring that access to remedy mechanisms are appropriately taken into account in the development process. – Monitor the progress and impact of the Business and Human Rights in Africa project activities in Zambia by tracking implementation and prepare a comprehensive report at the end of the consultancy, presenting the progress status of the NAP development process and other ongoing business and human rights activities. – Conduct communication activities and disseminate communication materials related to business and human rights in Zambia. – Respond to communications from stakeholders on business and human rights related concerns.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced degree in law/human rights, political sciences, international relations, social sciences or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. 5 years of experience in law and human rights is required. Experience related to business and human rights, including direct work experience in the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Experience in advice and technical assistance to NAP or policy and regulatory development, analysis and reporting is required. Experience working with governments, businesses, civil society organizations and other business and human rights stakeholder groups at the national and provincial levels is required.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English language is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Additional Information

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No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.