Community Volunteer Development Coordinator

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 United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) was established by the UN Secretary General in October 2006, following a request from the General Assembly and the Security Council. With the primary aim of preventing a relapse into violent conflict, the PBF is currently providing fast, flexible, and relevant funding to over 20 countries. UNV along with WHO and UNDP developed a project titled “Youth Participation and Engagement for a Healthier, Equitable, Safer and United Sri Lanka,” which will leverage volunteer networks for aims to improve access to opportunities for young aspiring leaders to meaningfully engage in promoting social cohesion and development that will enhance their political and civic representation and thereby address the issues of trust and lack of recognition they receive as leaders in their own communities.

Young people are valuable innovators and agents of change, and their contributions should be actively supported, solicited, and regarded as essential to building peaceful communities and supporting democratic governance and transition. Moreover, young people’s participation promotes civic engagement and active citizenship. UNV will work to promote inter-ethnic relations and the art of leading collectively through meaningful volunteer engagement and capacity development of youth parliamentarians, selected youth-led/focused organizations. This will include developing the leadership potential of youth to support young men and women’s potential as positive agents of change in their respective communities. Moreover, the project will aim at strengthening of Volunteer Involving Organizations (VIOs), Civil Society Organizations and Community Based Youth Organizations to enhance programming and volunteer mobilization, as well as the mobilization of young people to strengthen social cohesion.

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Assistant and the direct supervision of the Project Coordination Officer – Youth Wellbeing Promotion and Volunteer Management and Community Engagement Specialist the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Support the planning and development of 9 Community Volunteer Centers (CVCs) spread across the country; drafting standard operating procedures (SOPs) including management and sustainability; stakeholder identification and engagement and monitoring and Evaluation. Assist in the local and regional community engagement activities promoting peacebuilding, youth wellbeing, development, and volunteering in the Decade of Action Generating ideas, identifying innovative approaches and implementation support to increase impact of community engagement, youth empowerment and peace development initiatives by UNV and project partners Position young people and volunteerism as catalysts of development for future-focused resilience initiatives such as, participatory governance, inclusive leadership, critical thinking, conflict transformation, social cohesion and sustainable development Assist in planning and organizing trainings, workshops and other capacity building initiatives promoting volunteer youth engagement for peacebuilding Identify and engage with grassroots level networks and partnerships as required. Support identifying, building and strengthening of strategic partnerships with local Volunteer Involving Organizations (VIOs), Youth Clubs, Civil Society Organizations, Corporate and Government sectors. Support the organizing of periodical coordination meetings between partners and stakeholders as required Develop communication and knowledge products in liaison with the communications team Tracking and periodical review and monitoring of ongoing projects ensuring project related documentation and reports are prepared in a timely manner Any other related tasks assigned by the supervisor

Adaptability and Flexibility Commitment and Motivation Commitment to Continuous Learning Communication Integrity Planning and Organizing Professionalism Respect for Diversity Working in Teams

the national and/or international level in volunteer management, database management, coordination, community engagement and administration support or other relevant programmes; previous volunteering experience is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization; Excellent oral and written skills in English; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills Excellent oral and written skills in Tamil or Sinhala in line with the official langauage at the Duty Station; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; Sound security awareness; Have affinity with or interest in Peacebuilding, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Kandy is situated on the Central Province of Sri Lanka and is an administrative and religious city. Kandy lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy's climate is still tropical as mean temperatures year-round are above 20 °C on average. The city does experience a drier period from January to April. From May through to July and October to December the region experiences its monsoon season, during this time the weather is rough and unstable. From March through the middle of May is the intermonsoonal period, during this time there is light rain and strong humidity.

Badulla is located on the Uva Province of Sri Lanka. Badulla is known for agriculture where tea and various other vegetables are cultivated. The climate is temperate all throughout the year, but humidity is usually high. From March to April the temperature averages around 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit). The only major change in the Badulla weather occurs during the monsoon seasons from May to August and October to January when heavy rainfall occurs.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.