Human Rights Consultant (Action Plan Development)

Background

UNDP Sri Lanka’s Flagship Portfolio on SDG16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions brings together inclusive governance and peacebuilding work under one umbrella. The Portfolio is implemented by UNDP as part of its Country Programme and the United Nations Sustainable Development Framework and enables the provision of cohesive and integrated support to the Government of Sri Lanka.

This includes improving the effectiveness, responsiveness, and accountability of key institutions to deliver people-centered services; promoting inclusive, and participatory decision-making processes; and strengthening peace and reconciliation. Specifically, the portfolio contributes to the achievement of SDG 16+ targets, thus also enabling achievement of all SDGs. The portfolio intervenes across four inter-related thematic pillars: Voice and Representation, Rights and Justice, Strong and Efficient Institutions, and Social Cohesion.

Background to the initiative

The Sri Lankan Government has an obligation to take all possible steps to promote and protect human rights and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues its efforts to promote compliance with Sri Lanka's treaty body obligations through legislative and policy reform. The MOFA is vested with the responsibility to steer the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism set up under the Human Rights Council.

Complying with Sri Lanka’s treaty body obligations is an important component in this endeavour, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is in the process of promoting such compliance through various initiative including legislative and policy reform, including the designing and formulation of the National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) which needs to be developed for the year 2023. A fresh consultative process is therefore required to inform and enable the formulation of a new NHRAP for the next five-year period. In formulating a new NHRAP, the MOFA is keen to not only draw upon Government inputs through the respective line ministries and institutions, but to also draw on external expertise and consultation with relevant UN agencies, CSOs and development partners.

SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES

Against the above background, UNDP is looking to recruit a Human Rights consultant to support the MFA.

He/she will be responsible for the below:

a) To work with relevant officials of the UN & HR Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, coordinate with stakeholders to undertake a review of the National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) for 2017-2022, assess its implementation with a view to developing a multi-sectoral National Human Rights Action Plan for the next term (2022 -2027) in promotion and protection of all human rights, in line with the international treaty body obligations to which Sri Lanka is a party to.

b) Review the primary documentation related to the assignment in order to identify the areas of intervention and the key players to be involved in the process of developing the National Human Right Action Plan.

c) Conduct a comprehensive consultative process with the relevant Government institutions and officials of as well as the wider human rights community including civil society and other vulnerable groups on human rights concerns and priorities.

d) As part of the consultative process, carry out field visits targeting institutions and communities to have a firsthand understanding of the human rights situation and in recommending how the plan will factor the human rights concern of different locations and interests.

e) To consult with relevant Government and other stakeholders in developing immediate, short-term and long-term objectives for the duration of the NHRAP.

f) Develop and submit a draft NHRAP (2022- 2027) which will be subjected to technical reviews and stakeholder’s consideration in a validation workshop, and incorporate comments emerging for the reviews and stakeholder’s consultations and finalize assessment report.

g) To develop a comprehensive costing plan and budget for the National Human Rights Action Plan indicating anticipated sources of funding for the NHRAP from government and development partners as well as highlight funding the deficit gap that requires that mobilization of resources.

h) To develop mechanisms to support and monitor the implementation of the NHRAP by outlining clear results and outcomes milestones, targets and specific interventions that will be carried out in the role out of the NHRAP. This also needs to include a detailed monitoring framework with specificity on types of monitoring activities, the frequency of monitoring, officials or institutions responsible for each monitoring activities and reporting.

i) Regularly update Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNDP on progress in the development of the action plan.

Duties and Responsibilities

EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES

No.

Deliverables/outputs

Due date

Schedules of payments

01.

Methodological report on drafting the NHRAP (including the consultative meetings, and validation workshops) for MOFA and UNDP’s input

15th September 2022

20%

02.

Assessment of the implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) for 2017-2022.

20th November 2022

20%

03.

Report on the consultative meetings conducted

10th January 2023

20%

04.

Draft NHRAP for input and review by MOFA and UNDP

30th May 2023

20%

05.

Final NHRAP, incorporating input from relevant stakeholders including the MOFA and UNDP

15th August 2023

20%

The Consultant is responsible for the below:

Effective coordination among all the relevant stakeholders in the NHRAP process
Coordination and logistical support in organizing activities/meetings
Quality reports and other written content under specific areas and themes
Public consultations are organized according to UN standards and procedures.

TIMEFRAME

The assignment should be completed within 12 months of the assumption of duties.

Competencies

The prospective consultant should have the following competencies and qualifications.

Competencies

Technical competency

Consultant should possess the abilities, skills, and experience appropriate to undertake the tasks proposed.
Respect for people: Consultant respect the security, dignity and self-worth of respondents, program participants. Consultant has the responsibility to be sensitive to and respect differences amongst participants in culture, religion, gender, disability, age, and ethnicity.

Behavioural Competencies

Ability to be flexible and respond to changes to text/layout as part of the review and feedback process.
Strong interpersonal skills, able to communicate and work with diverse people, including diplomacy and tact in dealing with sensitive and complex situations
Participate effectively in team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others.
Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment
Organizes and accurately completes multiple tasks by establishing priorities while taking into consideration special assignments, frequent interruptions, deadlines, available resources and multiple reporting relationships.
Plans, coordinates and organizes workload while remaining aware of changing priorities and competing deadlines.
Establishes, builds and maintains effective working relationships with staff and clients to achieve the planned results.

Results

Proven delivery of high-quality results, in a timely manner.
Ability to plan own work and use time efficiently, manage conflicting priorities and work under pressure of tight and conflicting deadlines.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic

Master’s Degree in Law, social science or other related fields of study with a strong link with human rights

OR

A Bachelor’s Degree in Law, social science or other related fields of study coupled with 5 years relevant experience.

Experience

10 years of professional experience working on issues related to development and human rights
Strong familiarity with the Sri Lanka context, and especially recent policy and legal developments
Strong reputation with key high-level Government counterparts and good networks in the area of human rights.
Previous experience with assessment, evaluation, preferably of issues relating to human rights
Excellent writing skills and proven ability to produce quality reports on a timely manner

Special skills

Fluency in Sinhala/Tamil and English/ understanding in disability and gender mainstreaming
Proven experience working in a team.

Selection of an Individual Consultant

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (70%). and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 700 points)

Overall technical evaluation criteria:

Summary of Technical Proposal

Maximum Total Points

Part 1: Relevance of education

250

Part2: Relevance of experience (additional points for demonstrated experience in conducting similar studies and analyses)

350

Part 3: Special skills (language, gender/ understanding in disability and gender mainstreaming, and working in a team)

100

Total

700

Details of evaluation criteria and marking scheme:

Part 1: Relevance of education:

No

Criteria

Maximum Points

1.1

Master's degree in Law/Human Rights Law or

A Bachelor’s Degree in Law, social science or other related fields of study coupled with 5 years relevant experience.

250

Part 2: Relevance of experience in area of specialization:

No

Criteria

Maximum Points

2.1

10 years of professional experience working on issues related to development and human rights

150

2.2.

Strong familiarity with the Sri Lanka context, and especially recent policy and legal developments

100

2.3

Strong reputation with key high-level Government counterparts and good networks in the area of human rights.

50

2.4

Previous experience with assessment, evaluation, preferably of issues relating to human rights.

25

2.5

Excellent writing skills and proven ability to produce quality reports on a timely manner

25

Part 3: Special skills

No

Criteria

Maximum Points

3.1

Fluency in Sinhala / Tamil and English / understanding in disability and gender mainstreaming

50

3.2

Proven experience working in a team.

50