International Consultant - Reporting To Treaty Bodies under NHRCP Project – UNDP – Dhaka, Bangladesh

Location:  Dhaka, BANGLADESH

Application Deadline: 28-Feb-13

Type of Contract: Individual Contract

Post Level: International Consultant

Languages Required: English 

Duration of Initial Contract: 3 Months

Background

The Democracy and Governance Cluster of UNDP Bangladesh is providing technical and financial assistance to the Government to find innovative solutions to its development challenges and to build capacity of national level institutions to implement policy reforms. The Bangladesh National Human Rights Commission Capacity Development Project (BNHRC-CDP), UNDP is supporting the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to establish the required infrastructure and functional capacity to assist the NHRC’s carrying out its mandate. One of the four key areas of support is to assist the NHRC in its research and reporting on human rights. According to the National Human Rights Commission Act 2009 one of the key functions of the NHRC is “To research or study treaties and other international instruments on human rights and to make recommendations to the government for their effective implementation”. The Project Document of BNHRC-CDP, Outcome 4 (Human Rights Research, Reporting and Policy Development) indicates that NHRC is capable to conduct high quality, human rights based analysis of legislative proposals, draft laws and existing legislation and administrative practices, with regard to Bangladesh’s obligations under international conventions, and to provide high quality policy advice to the Government of Bangladesh on human rights matters. The key aims of this outcome are to assist the NHRC to develop its legislative review, policy advice and research functions, reporting to treaty bodies. The nine core international human rights treaties create legal obligations for States parties to promote and protect human rights at the national level. The nine core human rights treaties set international standards for the protection and promotion of human rights to which States can subscribe by becoming a party to each treaty. When a State accepts one of these treaties through ratification, accession or succession, it assumes a legal obligation to implement the rights set out in that treaty. But this is only the first step, because recognition of rights on paper is not sufficient to guarantee that they will be enjoyed in practice. When the first treaty was adopted, it was recognized that States parties would require encouragement and assistance in meeting their international obligations to put in place the necessary measures to ensure the enjoyment of the rights provided in the treaty by everyone within the State. Each treaty therefore creates an international committee of independent experts in accordance with the provisions of the treaty to monitor, by various means, implementation of its provisions. In addition to the States obligation to implement the substantive provisions of the treaty, each State party is also under an obligation to submit regular reports to the relevant treaty body on how the rights are being implemented. Some States, despite having freely assumed the legal obligations attached to the human rights treaties that they have ratified, fail to submit their reports to the treaty bodies. Bangladesh has ratified 8 core human rights treaties together with other treaties and covenants but did not report regularly to the treaty bodies. Thus, the NHRC, Bangladesh has planned to support the Government by providing training to the Government Officials on reporting to treaty bodies and to provide technical assistance in the drafting of the reports to the treaty bodies. Accordingly, the BNHRC-CDP is recruiting a short term consultant for supporting the NHRC to prepare reports to be submitted to the treaty bodies.

Duties and Responsibilities

Bangladesh has ratified 8 core human rights instruments. Pursuant to ratification of such instruments, Bangladesh has undertaken obligations under international law to report to diverse monitoring bodies regarding their implementation. Till now the only treaties for which Bangladesh has submitted all reports to date are those created under Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Thus, the NHRC, Bangladesh decided to support the Government by providing training to the Government Officials on reporting to treaty bodies. The consultant will support the NHRC to prepare a report to the concerned treaty bodies and conducting a dialogue with the Government of Bangladesh on its reporting obligations to treaty bodies and Conduct trainings for the Government Officials on reporting to treaty bodies.  The Consultant will work in close consultation with the National Human Rights Commission and will report to the Project Manager of Bangladesh National Human Rights Commission Capacity Development Project of UNDP Bangladesh. Deliverables: Providing technical assistance to the NHRC for the drafting of reports to the treaty bodies (two). Drafting a report with required necessary annexes for reference following the guidelines of the concerned treaty bodies (two). Conducting training for the Officials of the NHRC on reporting to Treaty Bodies. Conducting trainings for the Government Officials on reporting to Treaty Bodies. Supporting the NHRC conducting Consultation Meetings and/or Dialogue with the Government of Bangladesh on its reporting obligations to United Nations Treaty Bodies and preparing Consultation Reports and making presentation on major findings. Impact of Results: The technical assistance provided to the NHRC related to UN Treaty Body Reporting will contribute to strengthen the capacity of the NHRC in the field of policy and research and reporting to Treaty Body. The development of a UN Treaty Body Report will contribute to the institutional development of the NHRC and recognition at the international level as an independent institution fulfilling its mandate. The Consultation Meetings and/or Dialogue with the Government will strengthen the NHRC’s mechanism/capacity to advice the Government for ratifying or signing the international treaties and their effective implementation and on its reporting obligation to UN Treaty Bodies. Building Capacity of the NHRC officials for preparing reports for Treaty Bodies. Building Capacity of the Government officials for preparing reports for Treaty Bodies. Progress controls and payment instalments: The consultant will be paid in three installments. Certification from the Project Manager after receiving all deliverables will be required to clear the installments.  EVALUATION OF CANDIDATES (Cumulative analysis): The weighted average basis will be applied to evaluate the applicant, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and; Having received the highest score out of a predetermined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. Technical Evaluation (70 Marks) + Financial Evaluation (30 Marks) = 100 Marks Basis for Technical Evaluation: Demonstrated knowledge on human rights and UN human rights mechanisms/instruments-25 Marks Demonstrated experience in writing and editing human rights reports-10 Marks Demonstrated experience of drafting a report to the Treaty Bodies- 10 Marks Demonstrated experience of conducting/arranging dialogue and roundtable with the Government/policy makers-10 Demonstrated experience of training participants on reporting to Treaty Bodies-15 Marks **Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% in technical evaluation will be considered for the further financial evaluation.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies: Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values. Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability Functional Competencies: Focuses on result for the client. Ability to perform work of confidential nature and handle a large volume of work. Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure. Demonstrates openness to change. Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view. Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude. Proven communication skills to work with multi-cultural teams.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: A minimum of a Master degree in Law, International Relations Political Science, Development Study or any other relevant social science discipline. Experience: At least 10 years academic or professional research experience. Previous experience with OHCHR/Human Rights Council/UN Agencies, International Research Institutions will be an asset. Demonstrated professional experience in drafting report for the Treaty Bodies. Demonstrated experience in training on reporting to Treaty Bodies.   Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, Power point etc). Language Requirements: Fluency in written and spoken English.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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