Result of Service

Within delegated authority, the consultant shall deliver the following outputs within the consultancy period: Deliverable 1: Inception report

Situational analysis of the rights to health and to work (including social security) in the Malaysian context, including current status and recent trends, gaps, data sources, institutions, based on a review of relevant reports produced by SUHAKAM, international and regional organizations, and national actors. OHCHR’s Human Rights Statistics Unit can provide an initial assessment of current data availability, gaps and values for relevant indicators in the GHRIF as a starting point for this analysis.
Review of relevant international human rights standards, OHCHR methodologies, recommendations of UN human rights mechanisms (including treaty bodies, UPR and Special Procedures), SDGs, and other applicable international standards, including those developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Mapping and assessment of existing national laws, policies, institutional frameworks, ESCR indicators and available data sources related to the rights to health and to work (including social security).
A stakeholder and user needs analysis to identify who will use the data, for what decisions and with what capacities.
Detailed workplan, methodology, timeline, and stakeholder engagement strategy (if any).
Proposed conceptual framework for the ESCR monitoring tool, including a baseline framework and proposed structure of indicators. Deliverable 2: Draft ESCR monitoring framework and indicator matrix
Development of a comprehensive monitoring tool based on international human rights standards. Draft indicators, both quantitative and qualitative, should include: o Structural, process and outcome indicators based on the OHCHR conceptual and methodological framework on human rights indicators and drawing on the relevant indicators in the GHRIF; o Appropriate disaggregation requirements, including but not limited to gender, age, disability, nationality, ethnicity, and other relevant prohibited grounds of discrimination, as called for by OHCHR’s human rights-based approach to data; o Identification of responsible government agencies, institutions, and relevant data sources for each indicator, giving priority to official statistics produced using internationally-agreed standards where these exist; o Baselines, current trajectories and suggested benchmarks or reference points for monitoring progress, where applicable, and in line with existing national plans, strategies or commitments and/or the SDGs; o Linkages and alignment with relevant recommendations of UN human rights mechanisms (including treaty body, UPR and Special Procedures), international health and labour standards, SDGs, national development plans, and relevant domestic laws and policies; o Methodological notes outlining indicator definitions, rationale, data collection and sources, methods of measurement, disaggregation, limitations, and frequency of measurement.
Presentation of the draft ESCR monitoring framework and indicator matrix during a validation workshop with SUHAKAM Commissioners and officers for review, feedback, and validation.
Where deemed necessary for the development and validation of the ESCR monitoring tool, the Consultant may conduct additional consultations, focus group discussions, interviews, or technical meetings with relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organisations, academia, subject matter experts, and OHCHR human rights statistics colleagues. Deliverable 3: Finalised ESCR monitoring tool and indicator matrix, and validation workshop report
A validation workshop report summarising key discussions, findings, and recommendations arising from the validation workshop.
Revised ESCR monitoring tool, accompanied by a complete indicator matrix and user guide on the application and use of the ESCR monitoring tool, that reflects findings and recommendations of validation workshop and other consultations.
Presentation of final findings and recommendations to OHCHR and SUHAKAM. OHCHR has a commitment to gender equality and inclusion of diversity in all its work and the consultant is expected to keep this in mind throughout.

Work Location

Malaysia

Expected duration

17.07.26 - 20.11.26

Duties and Responsibilities

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 full-time consultancy shall be undertaken over a period of three (3) months from the date of commencement, as agreed between SUHAKAM and the consultant. During this period, the consultant will be responsible for developing the ESCR monitoring tool, including the conceptual and methodological framework, indicator development, and the preparation of all required deliverables. This includes responsibility, under SUHAKAM and OHCHR’s guidance, for organizing and carrying out the validation workshop. The Consultant is expected to work closely with SUHAKAM and OHCHR throughout the assignment and adhere to the agreed workplan and timelines. Any changes to the timeline or scope of work shall be subject to prior agreement between SUHAKAM and OHCHR. 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.

Qualifications/special skills

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.

Languages

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

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.