Business Assistance Specialist

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.

The economic impact of the full-scale war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, launched on 24 February 2022, will be significant at national, regional and global levels as per initial analysis and forecasts from the IMF and OECD. UNDP early projections suggest that 18 years of development gains could be wiped out in the next 12 to 18 months with 90% of the Ukrainian population potentially facing poverty and extreme economic vulnerability should the war deepen.

Destroyed infrastructure, disrupted supply chains, large-scale displacement and migration and falling demand have had dire economic consequences. Industries suffer from the shut-down of enterprises in combat zones, threatening about two-thirds of Ukraine's annual commodity exports.

Supporting businesses has a positive impact on social cohesion, since it allows the interaction between host communities and internally displaced populations, who will develop networks that could ultimately become support and integration mechanisms. Business support, consisting of both (i) business relocation (not only equipment, but also personnel, their families), and (ii) active engagement of internally displaced persons in the work of local enterprises in the region will strengthen social cohesion in the city through the constant interaction of IDPs and the local population, the need for IDPs of leaving the places of their compact (and often physically isolated) temporary residence, forming a sense of belonging to the region and returning to a normal way of life, which will also have the effect of psychological relief for the men and women affected by the war, which, in turn, should lead to reducing the risk of tensions and conflicts in the country.

Entrepreneurs from the east and south parts of Ukraine face three main challenges: dis-placement, loss of assets and need for integration into the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Both the City and the Oblast Administration have structured economic support and recovery interventions, focusing on supporting local businesses and businesses looking to relocate in the Region.

To address those challenges, and in alignment with national and local plans and strategies, UNDP has structured support interventions to: • Support local economies by boosting the capacities of local MSMEs, equitably targeting women- and men-led businesses; • Support relocation processes of businesses from the eastern, southern and central regions of Ukraine.

These interventions aimed in the short and medium term will build up on the incentives set by local authorities, as well as in the subsequent phases of recovery, where support will focus on strengthening businesses to become export-oriented with the aim of continuing the internationalization of Ukraine’s economy.

Businesses in the cities and oblasts will benefit from the interventions since the projects will be also open to local businesses. Interventions like matching businesses for shared facilities will benefit host businesses with consultants.

The UNV will work on supporting the efficient functioning of the Business Support Center together with the UNDP team and in close cooperation with the relevant local authorities.

Under the overall supervision of the Project Manager, UNDP Ukraine, and in close cooperation with the relevant local authorities to support the efficient functioning of the Business Support Center, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Consulting on business planning, the main features of entrepreneurial activity, calculation of salaries for employees, market analysis, marketing plan, financial plan, etc.; • Conducting offline and online training and workshops for business representatives; • Coverage of useful information and management tips for entrepreneurs on social media and on the Business Support Center's website. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: • 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 in-stance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme 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:

• Advisory services on business strategy/planning and operations provided; • Consultancy on market opportunities provided; • Relevant information on business development for entrepreneurs for publication on Business Support Center’s social media channels and website prepared and provided; • Offline and online training sessions for entrepreneurs developed and delivered; • 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.

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

demonstrated experience in providing advisory services or consultancy on business planning/operations and/or strategic development.

Desirable experience in one (1) or more of the following areas would be a strong asset:

• market analysis and research and/or marketing strategy development; • financial planning, management and/or reporting; • personnel planning and/or management; • consultancy on digital tools for business; • working with local authorities, business associations and/or the private sector; • working with UN agencies or other international development organizations would be an asset.

As it is a national UN Volunteer's assignment, the volunteer shall organize his/her accommodation by themselves. Taking into account the current circumstances in the country, telecommuting arrangements can be applied by the Host Entity.

Entitlements of National UN Volunteer (Specialist – Step 2)

The contract lasts for the period indicated in the vacancy with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.

Allowances: • Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): A Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) USD 1268  (equivalent in UAH) is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses.

Medical and life insurance: • Medical insurance: The UN Volunteer and eligible PFU dependents will receive UNV provided medical insurance coverage. Coverage for UN Volunteers begins from the Commencement of Service and normally ceases one month after the last day of the UN Volunteer Contract date. • Life Insurance: UN Volunteers are covered by life insurance for the duration of the UN Volunteer assignment. If a UN Volunteer dies during the UN Volunteer assignment, the eligible designated beneficiaries will be entitled to receive a life insurance lump sum. Leave entitlements: • Annual leave:  UN Volunteers accrue an entitlement to 2.5 days of Annual Leave per completed month of the UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave up to a maximum of 30 days is carried over in case of a contract extension within the same UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave may not be carried over in case of reassignment or a new assignment. • Learning leave: Subject to supervisor approval and exigencies of service, UN Volunteers may request up to ten working days of Learning Leave per consecutive 12 months of the UN Volunteer assignment, starting with the Commencement of Service date, provided the Learning Leave is used within the contract period • Certified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers are entitled to up to 30 days of certified sick leave based on a 12-month cycle. This amount is reset every 12-month cycle. • Uncertified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers receive seven days of uncertified sick leave working days in a calendar year. This amount will be reset at the established interval period.