Consultant

Under the supervision of the Cluster Lead of the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) Knowledge Hub, in the ESCR Section (ESCRS), Development, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Branch (DESC), Thematic and Special Procedures Division (TSP), OHCHR, in coordination with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), the consultant shall develop an Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) monitoring tool focusing on the rights to health and to work (including social security) in Malaysia, aligned with international human rights standards and tailored to the Malaysian context. The consultant shall also provide technical expertise and support to SUHAKAM in relation to the development, validation, finalization and implementation plan of the ESCR monitoring tool.

The consultant:

• Designs and develops a comprehensive ESCR monitoring tool focusing on the rights to health and to work (including social security) in Malaysia, aligned with international human rights standards and frameworks, including the international human rights treaties ratified by Malaysia such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD); the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), relevant recommendations from UN treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and other applicable international human rights standards and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Develops a framework of structural, process, and outcome indicators drawing on OHCHR’s Global Human Rights Indicator Framework (GHRIF), together with measurable benchmarks and identified data sources, to assess the Government’s progress in respecting, protecting, and fulfilling its obligations relating to the rights to health and to work (including social security).
• Integrates human rights principles and cross-cutting considerations into the monitoring tool, including equality and non-discrimination, participation, accountability, transparency, and groups in vulnerable situations.
• Prepares and presents the draft ESCR monitoring framework and indicator matrix during a validation workshop, and revises and refines the ESCR monitoring framework and indicator matrix based on feedback received during the validation process.
• Organizes the validation workshop on the draft ESCR monitoring framework.
• Provides practical guidance for the implementation and use of the monitoring tool, including recommendations on data collection, analysis, reporting methodologies, and stakeholder engagement.
• Performs other related functions as required.

Within delegated authority, the consultant shall deliver the following outputs within the consultancy period:

• Deliverable 1: Inception report including situational analysis of the rights to health and to work, review of international human rights standards, mapping of national laws and policies, stakeholder analysis, and proposed conceptual framework.
• Deliverable 2: Draft ESCR monitoring framework and indicator matrix, including quantitative and qualitative indicators, disaggregation requirements, identification of data sources, and methodological notes.
• Deliverable 3: Finalised ESCR monitoring tool and indicator matrix, and validation workshop report.

Advanced university degree in law, human rights, political affairs, development studies, social sciences, international relations, economics, public health, public policy or a closely related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in economic, social and cultural rights research and analysis in Malaysia is required. Experience in human rights monitoring or measurement, including use of indicators, benchmarks and analysis of socioeconomic and budgetary data, is required. Experience working with United nations entities, national human rights institutions or relevant ministries on human rights, health, labour or social protection issues is desirable.

Malay is required. Fluency in oral and written English is desirable.