This information is cross posted from: http://www.ngopulse.org/opportunity/civicus-united-nations-advocacy...

CIVICUS: United Nations Advocacy Officer

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is a leading and diverse international civil society network, with members and partners in more than 100 countries. CIVICUS seeks to strengthen citizen action and civil society throughout the world, especially in areas where participatory democracy and citizens’ freedom of association are threatened. CIVICUS has a vision of a global community of active, engaged citizens committed to the creation of a more just and equitable world.

CIVICUS seeks to appoint a United Nations (UN) Advocacy Officer, based in Geneva, Switzerland.

The person will support and further develop CIVICUS’ advocacy activities at the UN Human Rights Council and treaty bodies in Geneva, Switzerland.

Responsibilities entail analysing global political developments particularly in relation to the international human rights framework and civil society’s ability to freely express, associate and assembly. The incumbent who will work under the direction of CIVICUS’ permanent representative to the UN in Geneva will be required to engage in strategic lobbying and campaigning activities to strengthen the space available for meaningful civil society engagement at local, regional and international levels in line with CIVICUS’ mission and strategic directions.

This is a two-year contract position.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in the coordination of CIVICUS’ engagement with the Universal Periodic Review process at the UN Human Rights Council;
• Facilitate and support CIVICUS’ members and partners in their advocacy activities at the UN Human Rights Council and various human rights bodies situated in Geneva;
• Carry-out strategic lobbying and advocacy on CIVICUS’ core mandate areas, in particular, the creation of an enabling environment for civil society through engagement with UN officials and representatives of UN member states located at the UN Human Rights Council;
• Contribute to the development of CIVICUS’ advocacy and campaigning strategies and ensure their implementation at the UN Human Rights Council;
• Contribute to CIVICUS’ research and analysis of global policy debates and the crafting of organisational positions, briefing papers, statements, opinion pieces and editorials on behalf of CIVICUS;
• Provide requisite administrative and day to day support to CIVICUS’ permanent UN representative in Geneva.

Requirements:

• Master's degree in international law, development, social sciences or other relevant academic field;
• Minimum of five years working experience in the civil society sector;
• Demonstrated experience with regard to carrying out policy advocacy, campaigning and organisational representation activities at the international level.

Knowledge

• Familiarity with the International Human Rights Framework and knowledge of the working of the UN Human Rights Council;
• Sound knowledge and understanding of international affairs, development debates and public policy formulation.

Skills

• Ability to communicate in clear and concise ways with multiple audiences orally and in writing;
• Ability to work under tight timelines and on multiple agendas simultaneously;
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and as part of a team.

Desirable

• Knowledge of another UN language.

Start date: 16 January 2013

Job grade: Paterson, C Upper

Salary: Market related salary will be offered.
 
To apply, submit a CV with contact details of three current referees and a cover letter demonstrating with specific examples how you meet the specification criteria above to humanresources(at)civicus.org.

Please quote the source of this advertisement in your application - NGO Pulse Portal.

For more about CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, refer to www.civicus.org.

For other vacancies in the NGO sector, refer to www.ngopulse.org/vacancies.