Accelerator Lab Assistant

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

This UNV assignment is part of UNDP Accelerator Lab, a global learning network. The UNDP Strategic Plan 2018-2021 embraces the complexity of development and commits the organization to helping countries find faster, more durable solutions to achieve Agenda 2030. In line with this, the organization has begun incubating a number of strategic initiatives aimed at ensuring UNDP is ‘fit for purpose’ to deliver a new generation of solutions in line with the challenges the world faces. One such key strategic initiative is the Accelerator Lab Network. The initiative is a recognition that increasingly interrelated development challenges require going beyond business as usual and single point, linear and silver bullet responses in development. Instead, they call for interdisciplinary approaches and non-linear solutions that crowd in the collective efforts of a wide variety of partners and tap into local insights and contextual, sticky knowledge of citizens. The initiative is also a recognition and an investment in the emerging momentum among a growing number of UNDP Country Offices for marrying disruptive, cutting-edge methodologies with contextual, country-based insights and expertise to accelerate learning, progress and impact toward the SDGs. UNDP has built the largest and fastest learning global network of Accelerator Labs of 90 labs embedded within UNDP’s global architecture and country platforms that embody the new organizational offering to transform the collective approach to development, of which South Sudan is one.

The Accelerator lab will surface and reinforce locally sourced solutions at scale while mobilizing a wide and dynamic partnership of actors contributing knowledge, resources, and experience. The initiative is meant to transform our collective approach by introducing new protocols, backed by evidence and practice, which accelerate the testing and dissemination of solutions within and across countries. This will enable the global community to collectively learn from local knowledge and ingenuity at a speed and at a scale that our societies and planet require. This will be achieved by:

• Building on locally sourced solutions, finding things that work and expanding on them; • Rapid testing and iteration to implement what works and go beyond the obvious solutions; • Combining the best understanding, ideas and expertise to generate collective knowledge; • Accelerating progress by bringing expertise, creativity and collective intelligence to bear.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Accelerator Lab team or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the National UN Youth Volunteer/Accelerator Lab Assistant will make contributions to the formulation of new initiatives and the implementation of ongoing initiatives.

Responsibilities will include, but not limited to, administrative, coordination, community engagement, reviewing project documents, consulting with national and international counterparts, conducting feasibility studies and policy research. The Accelerator Lab Assistant is responsible for supporting the oversight and implementation of initiatives assigned to him/her to ensure high quality data analysis, design, implementation, reporting, monitoring and evaluation so that project deliverables are achieved on time. Concrete tasks may include:

• Research, Writing & Editing: supporting the Accelerator Lab in drafting briefs, blogs, concept notes, meeting minutes taking, project documents, presentations, reports and multi-media content. Conducting literature reviews, risk assessments, and research activities.

• Community engagement & coordination: Organize/attend meetings, events, workshops, webinars and field trips to support the lab’s efforts to facilitate community engagement.

• Procurement & Payment: Developing Terms of Reference (ToRs), providing support in evaluating, hiring, and paying to consultants and firms for AccLab related projects and any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers program mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Program for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/expected outputs:

• As an active UNDP team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNDP and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

• Act as a point of contact and coordinator for the Acclab to ensure timely completion of tasks. • Build a professional network with working partners such as the government, NGOs, social innovators and project consultants. • Support in the formulation of projects/initiatives in the areas of Financial inclusion Digitization for Development, innovation for development to translate UNDP’s priorities into local interventions. • Support project activities through formulation of ToRs, drafting summaries of lessons learned and aggregating reports on activities, outputs and outcomes as needed. • Support Accelerator lab visibility activities. • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment; • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNDP; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNDP procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNDP in daily activities and behaviors while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behavior; does not abuse power or authority. • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance, and commitment towards UNDP’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

administration, ICT & Innovation, or other relevant programs; experience in project management is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.