Inter-Agency Coordination 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.

The UNHCR Representation in Venezuela has the Country Office and one Field Unit in Caracas, two Field Units and four Field Offices of which four are located on the border with Colombia (Guasdualito, San Cristobal, San Antonio and Maracaibo), one Field Office in Ciudad Guyana and one Field Unit in Santa Elena de Uairen (Bolivar state), which covers the borders with Brazil, Guyana and the Caribbean. The overall context in Venezuela remains challenging and the operating level budget amounts to US$ 20 m of which approx. US$ 10,4 m for OPS, covering refugees and asylum seekers, and Venezuelan population affected by the humanitarian situation, including persons on the move, returnees and those displacing internally. The deterioration of the situation has triggered an accelerated movement of people out of the country and to border regions and over 400,000 Venezuelans have sought asylum abroad. In addition, many Venezuelans have been undertaking pendular cross-border movements to access food staples, medicines, medical attention, education or work and livelihoods restricted by the quarantine due to COVID19. Many border cities in Táchira, Apure and Zulia have become the destination for large groups of people, mainly low-income families and unskilled workers, from the interior of the country. They cross the Colombian border on a daily basis to earn Pesos (Colombian currency) and many of them, including teenagers and children, are involved in smuggling activities. The continuous arrival of these displaced people has overstretched local basic services and collapsed accommodation facilities, causing a deterioration of security, health and hygiene conditions in border cities and villages. The humanitarian coordination architecture in Venezuela was established after an assessment of humanitarian needs undertaken in March 2019 estimated that 7 million Venezuelans needed urgent humanitarian assistance, with 2.7 million needing protection. In August 2019, the Humanitarian Response Plan was published with the aim of coordinating and expanding the humanitarian response underway in the country. The Humanitarian Response Plan has three strategic objectives: Ensure the survival and well-being of the most vulnerable people, improving their access to essential goods and services in quantity, quality, continuity and territorial coverage with a rights-based approach. Promote and strengthen the protection and dignity of the most vulnerable groups through a humanitarian response that strengthens institutional and community mechanisms, in abidance with humanitarian principles and the respect for human rights. Strengthen the resilience and livelihoods of the most vulnerable people by age, gender and diversity and contribute to the sustainability of essential services. UNHCR leads both the Protection and Shelter, NFI and Energy Clusters. Several indicators point to an increase in the number of returns in the first quarter of 2022 and acute protection needs specifically affecting returnees, trends that are expected to continue during the following months and possibly years. Based on the current operational context, the operation needs to better understand the returnee situation; operationally adapt; and seek collaboration and leadership within the humanitarian response on returns.

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Representative Operations, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

-Provide secretarial support to the Deputy Representative, including drafting and reviewing meeting minutes, keeping recipients' list updated, drafting support materials for meetings, organize and provide logistic support including transportation and translation support, disseminate relevant information to an external audience, etc.
-Support in drafting guidelines, strategies and other documents. -Participate in relevant meetings or events at national level as requested and provide relevant verbal and written feedback on issues of relevance for inter-agency and inter-sector processes.
-Liaise with partners as requested. -Participate in field level meetings as required and update the manager on discussions and relevant developments. -Support in ensuring good communication between the working groups in the field and the national working groups through regular contacts with the field. -Support in mapping and other exercises, in cooperation with the information management colleagues. -Liaise with the information management colleagues for sector updates, checking consistency, providing documents to be posted etc. -Support the manager in the review and extraction of the reporting of sector partners on activity info. -Translate relevant documents, articles, legal texts as required. -Support other Inter-Agency functions, including: collecting and disseminating weekly schedules and work plans, organize and maintain IA calendar and other coordination tools, support outreach to partners on issues such as financial tracking, follow up with field offices on weekly distribution schedules and attend IA meetings and/or specific working groups where relevant (including minute taking), etc. -Draft reports for clearance by the supervisor. -Organise coordination meetings. -Gather and analyse information from UNHCR, partners and media. -Perform other related duties as required.

• Accountability • Integrity and professionalism • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organising • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Communication • Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement

humanitarian coordination (including but not limited to interagency coordination) is an asset. Emergency response experience is an asset. •Knowledge of UNHCR and interagency policies, standards, programmes and humanitarian operations in operational context is an asset. •Relevant professional work experience at the national and/or international level, or other relevant programmes; experience with NGOs is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization; •Knowledge of UN policies and procedures; •Good analytical skills; •Strong interpersonal and communication skills in a multi-cultural setting; •Ability to live and work in the difficult and harsh conditions of developing countries is essential. •Excellent writing skills in English and Spanish •Excellent oral and written skills; 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; •Desirable: valid national driver’s license and proven ability to drive manual gear 4x4 over rough terrain; (if not applicable, delete) •Sound security awareness; •Have affinity with or interest in volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System. •Computer skills: Office Package (excellent knowledge of Word, good knowledge of Excel and Power Point) and Internet browsing.

BENEFITS:

The primary benefit of serving as a UN Volunteer is the personal satisfaction of the volunteer assignment, as it involves making a positive impact for peace and development. However, the UNV program offers support during your assignment in several ways.

The UNV program offers:

-A VLA (Volunteer Living Allowance) of USD $1,299.58 to be provided monthly to cover the costs of accommodation, housing, and normal living expenses. -International medical insurance with 100% coverage (including up to three dependents and dental), life and permanent disability insurance are included, as well as a relocation allowance for satisfactory service. -The volunteer will be entitled to vacation and medical leave (if applicable), as well as virtual learning platforms. Reimbursement of a maximum of US$400 to cover travel costs to the place of assignment and a settling-in allowance will be provided in case the work assignment is not within a reasonable distance from the volunteer's place of residence. Full-time availability is required.