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TERMS OF REFERENCE

Consultancy Human Rights & Climate Change

Title:                                        Consultant

Type of Consultancy:             Home-based

Term of Contract:                Individual Contract

Duration:                              15-20 working days (starting soon)

Deadline for submissions: 11 October 2021

 

1.         Background and context

The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) is the worldwide membership-based network of national human rights institutions (NHRIs).

GANHRI promotes and strengthens NHRIs to be in compliance with the Paris Principles and provides leadership for the promotion and protection of human rights.

GANHRI provides a framework for NHRIs to work together and cooperate at the international level. It coordinates a wide range of activities, including annual meetings, international conferences, networks, training and capacity building.

GANHRI works in close partnership with the United Nations Human Rights Office – specifically with the National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Section (NIRMS) – and with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). GANHRI also works closely with the four Regional Networks of NHRIs in Africa (NANHRI), the Americas (RINDHCA), the Asia Pacific (APF) and Europe (ENNHRI).

GANHRI is registered in Switzerland as a not-for-profit association. The Head Office is located in Geneva at the Palais des Nations.

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Climate change and its impacts are one of the greatest challenges of today, directly and indirectly impacting on the full enjoyment of human rights, including social, economic and cultural rights as well as civil and political rights, the right to development and the right to a healthy environment.

NHRIs recognize the importance of protecting the environment and biodiversity for present and future generations and that protecting the environment and biodiversity means taking care of water, air, land, animals and plants.

Climate change and its human rights impact is a strategic priority for GANHRI and its members moving forward[1]. NHRIs from all world regions are applying their mandates and functions, to monitor and report on human rights impacts, advise their states on human rights-based climate action, engage with communities and rights holders, and hold to account.

GANHRI provides a global platform for NHRIs to exchange experiences, discuss strategies, and collectively through GANHRI engage in global climate action. GANHRI is encouraged by the UN system-wide support[2] to GANHRI’s climate change activities moving forward. GANHRI will continue to support NHRIs to make progress on these commitments and pursuing the work in strengthening the existing fruitful partnerships with the UN system in order to assist and encourage the work of NHRIs across the world.

At the 2020 GANHRI Annual Conference, NHRIs from all regions pledged to work individually and collectively to promote human rights-based climate action. The conference statement – Climate Change: The Role of National Human Rights Institutions – sets out the practical ways that NHRIs will work for climate justice.

NHRIs also committed to share knowledge and good practices, through building a group “NHRI Caucus” which will support GANHRI’s implementation of the outcome declaration.

In recognition of NHRIs’ critical role in promoting environmental rights and protecting human rights from environmental degradation, the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) recently concluded an agreement with UNEP to support NHRIs implementation of the Outcome Statement, in particular to build the capacity of NHRIs in monitoring and reporting on climate change and other environmental issues and to engage with COP 26 and other relevant global mechanisms.

Despite the many progresses and good practices among NHRIs, there is an urgent need to bolster NHRIs’ capacity to deal with climate change and its impacts, by meaningfully engaging with climate law and policy making and its implementation, and by contributing to hold state and private actors to scrutiny for their action on climate change. NHRIs need to be equipped with the tools to engage in these activities, through awareness-raising, knowledge-sharing and capacity-building activities on climate change.

Against this backdrop, GANHRI in collaboration with the Stirling University, the Scottish Human Rights Commission and ENNHRI is organising an online NHRI symposium at the side lines of the COP 26 from 3-5 November 2021.

The overall aim of this symposium is to provide a greater understanding of the climate regime to facilitate NHRI work to promote and support human rights within climate policy and climate accountability. NHRIs will be able to support those affected by the impacts of climate change and response measures. NHRIs will be able to develop strategies to engage with the climate regime, including awareness of obligations and solutions as well as share best practices in the sessions.

2.     Scope of the consultancy

To support NHRIs worldwide to make progress on the commitments agreed at the GANHRI Annual Conference, individually and collectively, GANHRI is looking for a consultant to support its work in the area of human rights and climate change.

The consultant shall facilitate NHRI’s engagement during and after COP 26, through providing support to the GANHRI team responsible for the action.

3.  Details of the assignment

In particular the consultant will:

  • In close collaboration with the partners and NHRIs, and under the supervision of the GANHRI project team, contribute to the organisation of the NHRI online symposium at the COP26 as well as the side-event.
  • Support facilitation and engagement of NHRIs during the symposium by supporting their online intervention and knowledge exchange.
  • Support the GANHRI focal point for the NHRIs symposium for the logistic of the event, including setting up the online platforms, upload documents, material, participants’ registration, facilitate coordination of interpretation, etc.
  • In collaboration GANHRI team, facilitate the moderation of the online platforms for the NHRIs symposium (Zoom and Slack)
  • Draft minutes and prepare a report of the NHRI symposium and contribute to prepare communications and other relevant material around the event.
  • Any other pertinent tasks assigned.

The Consultant will work under the supervision of the Operations Manager and in close cooperation with the GANHRI project team and focal point and in collaboration with the organising partners.

4.    Project deliverable

  • Successful organisation of the NHRIs Symposium and completion of a follow-up report
  • Successful organisation of the side event to the COP26
  • Successful facilitation and moderation of the web-platform for NHRIs during the COP26 related events and follow-up discussions.

5.         Implementation Arrangements

The consultant will work collaboratively with the GANHRI team.

The Consultant will regularly meet and report back to GANHRI in writing and orally on the status of the activities and advancement of the assignment.

6.       Timeframe

This consultancy is scheduled to run from mid-October/November 2021 to end of December 2021 and should not exceed 15-20 working days in total.

7.       Required Skills and Experience

  • Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, human rights, political science, international relations, data science and collection, environmental studies or any related field.
  • A minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in human rights. Experience applying a human rights-based approach to climate change and other environmental issues is required.
  • Excellent organisational, writing, and verbal communication skills.
  • Experience working in the area of knowledge management and exchange would be preferred.
  • Working experience with or in National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), global or regional networks, is an asset.
  • Knowledge of Zoom and Slack is an asset.
  • Fluency in English required. Knowledge Spanish, French or Arabic a plus.

8.         Application Procedure

Interested consultants shall submit the following documents / information to demonstrate their suitability for the assignment:

  • CV
  • Short technical and financial proposal (1 page)
  • Names of references from previous employers/clients

9.          Evaluation Criteria

The award of the contract shall be made to the consultant who has submitted the offer which shows the best price-quality ratio.

Selected candidates will be notified by mid-October are requested to start as soon as possible.

10. Deadline for submissions

Submissions must be emailed to recruitment@ganhri.org and be received by 11 October 2021.

 

 

 

[1] GANHRI Strategic Plan 2020-2022: https://ganhri.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/GANHRI_Strategic-Framework_final.pdf

[2] UN Secretary General Call to Action by António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General
on the occasion of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations, see here : https://www.un.org/sg/sites/www.un.org.sg/files/atoms/files/The_Highest_Asperation_A_Call_To_Action_For_Human_Right_English.pdf

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