Human Rights Officer

About the role

The Human Rights Officer will be based in the OHCHR Regional Hub for East and Southern Africa, reporting to the Regional Director. The role focuses on early warning, emergency response, and the analysis of human rights developments across the region.

Key responsibilities

• Lead early warning and prevention activities, develop analyses, and coordinate with regional partners and UN mechanisms.
• Provide rapid emergency response capacity for human rights and humanitarian crises.
• Monitor implementation of international human rights instruments and produce analytical products for UN bodies.
• Support country teams in integrating human rights and gender perspectives into programmes.
• Coordinate staff planning, budgeting, and administrative functions for the unit.

Required profile

• Advanced university degree in law, political science, international relations or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum seven years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs or related areas, including at least one year coordinating a human rights programme with an information‑management component.
• Field experience in UN or similar organisations, preferably in conflict or post‑conflict settings.
• Fluency in English and French at UN Level III (reading, writing, listening, speaking).

Required skills

• Early warning analysis and human rights risk assessment.
• Information management and production of visual analytical products.