Programme Support Associate: Human Rights

Host entity: OHCHR

Volunteer type: National

Areas of expertise: Administration, Legal affairs

Application deadline: 20/08/2026

Mission and objectives

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is the principal United Nations entity responsible for promoting and protecting the human rights of all people. OHCHR works with governments, United Nations entities, civil society organizations and other stakeholders to strengthen human rights protection, support implementation of international human rights standards, and advance equality, inclusion and accountability.

In South Africa, OHCHR supports national and regional human rights initiatives through policy dialogue, technical cooperation, research and analysis, monitoring, capacity building and building partnerships. As an active member of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), OHCHR also contributes to inter-agency collaboration through participation in various UN results groups and co-chairing role of the Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation (PRM) Thematic Group, supporting coordinated partnerships, joint resource mobilisation and implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.

Assignment context

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA) is based in Pretoria, South Africa, and covers Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles and South Africa, In addition to the staff in Pretoria, OHCHR has Senior Human Rights Advisors in Madagascar, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe and a country office in Mozambique. The Regional Office provides technical support and guidance to Resident Coordinators (RCs), UN Country Teams (UNCTs), States, national human rights institutions, civil society and other stakeholders on early warning and prevention, enhancing participation and protecting civic space, strengthening rule of law, accountability and national human rights institutions, advancing equality and non-discrimination, addressing gender-based violence, integrating human rights in sustainable development and supporting States and other stakeholders to engage with and follow up to recommendations of human rights mechanisms. The work of the Regional Office includes identifying, collecting, processing and sharing data, information and analysis of human rights trends in the region, ensuring support to RCs/UNCTs as well as other OHCHR presences in the region.

The assignment also provides exposure to the work of the United Nations Country Team in South Africa. This includes structured mentoring and workplace learning, the UN Volunteer will strengthen competencies in programme support, coordination, partnerships, communication and organizational management while contributing to strengthened collaboration across the UN system.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the designated OHCHR Supervisor, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

1. Support OHCHR engagement in UN coordination mechanisms
● Support OHCHR's role as co-chair of the Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation (PRM) Group by assisting with the planning and coordination of meetings and related activities.
● Support OHCHR's participation in Results Groups with a focus on promoting good governance, accountability and addressing safety deficits.
● Prepare meeting documentation, including but not limited to agendas, briefing materials, presentations, minutes and action tracking.
● Follow up on agreed actions in annual workplans and prepare draft inputs for annual reports.
● Contribute to information-sharing and coordination among UN entities to strengthen collaboration, joint programme development and implementation, partnerships and joint resource mobilisation efforts in support of the Cooperation Framework.

2. Support research, reporting and knowledge management
● Conduct desk research and compile information on human rights, governance, equality, inclusion and related development issues to support programme implementation and evidence-informed decision-making.
● Monitor the human rights situation and support partnership building.
● Assist in the preparation of briefing notes, concept notes, meeting minutes and presentations.

3. Support stakeholder engagement and communications
● Assist in coordinating engagement with government institutions, UN entities, civil society organizations, academia, development partners and other stakeholders.
● Support the organization of workshops, consultations, meetings and partnership events.
● Contribute to the preparation of communication and visibility materials, including updates, presentations and event summaries.

4. Provide general administrative support
● Provide administrative support for programme operations, including meeting logistics, travel arrangements, procurement documentation, records management, filing systems and correspondence.
● Assist with maintaining financial and administrative documentation in accordance with OHCHR policies and procedures.
● Perform other programme support and administrative duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Skills and experience

Demonstrated interest or experience in:
● Human rights, governance, development programmes or public policy.
● Research, programme support, stakeholder engagement or project coordination.
● Partnerships, knowledge management, reporting or inter-agency coordination.
● Administrative support, documentation and event coordination.

Skills in:
● Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Microsoft Teams).
● Research, data collection, information analysis and report writing.
● Meeting coordination, minute taking, records and document management.
● Professional communication, stakeholder engagement and relationship management.
● Planning, organization, attention to detail and administrative coordination.   

*Mastercard Foundation Alumni and Youth with Disabilities are encouraged to apply

*Candidates must be between 18 and 34 years of age at the time of application.

Competencies and values

Accountability, Adaptability and Flexibility, Building Trust, Client Orientation, Commitment and Motivation
Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Ethics and Values
Integrity, Knowledge Sharing, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Self-Management, Technological Awareness, Working in Teams.

Living conditions

Bigger cities in South Africa can be highly cosmopolitan. In Johannesburg and Pretoria, you will find an abundance of world class gyms, restaurants, bars, recreational classes, galleries, parks etc. The bigger shopping malls host a large selection of international brands. There is a plethora of international cuisine to be sampled, and quirky independent cinemas to be discovered. OR Tambo International Airport is a world class airport, offering highly sophisticated facilities. It is located just outside of Johannesburg, in Kempton Park. It has many international airlines that fly into this airport. Crime rates in South Africa are ranked on the high end, petty theft and opportunistic crimes are common, and armed robberies, smash & grabs and hijackings are also fairly frequent in certain areas. One needs to remain vigilant especially at night and at road intersections. There are usually sign posts that indicate such hot spots. Periodic security information updates are sent via email providing information at national level, with regards to circumstances such as incidents of civil unrest, transport security, computer and networking safety and trends in criminality. UNDSS sends weekly security updates via email. Updates from wardens are on an ad hoc basis, following security related events in your residential area. Updates from UNDSS are provided weekly.

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.