International Project Assistant

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

In support of the realization of the ambitious Saudi Arabia and Middle East Green initiative under the Saudi Vision 2030, the National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification (NCVC) has been tasked with combating desertification, rehabilitating forest vegetation cover, protecting local endangered plant species and managing national parks. This project is designed to support NCVC in increasing necessary institutional, technical, and technological capacities to realize its mandate more effectively and efficiently. The enhanced NCVC capacity will be achieved through transforming information technology and digital capabilities, establishing cooperation and strengthening its network internationally, and promoting forest conservation practices, and increasing environmental awareness to ensure the long-term sustainability of NCVC activities at the policy level and on the ground. The project will support the achievement of the ambitious Saudi Green Initiative by designing a model of a tree nursery and seed bank with a road map for establishing a large-scale nursery facility to meet the Kingdom’s afforestation goals, along with by aligning policy and standards of tree planting and creating a mechanism to coordinate the afforestation work among different actors. These objectives will be achieved through a whole-of-society approach, in close partnership with the private sector, academia, youth, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the long-term sustainability of the activities across the project lifecycle and beyond. This project will build upon the long-standing Standard Basic Framework Agreement (SBBA) which was agreed upon between the Kingdom and the UNDP in 1975.

The project expected outputs are: • Output 1: Strengthening international cooperation and network. • Output 2: Promoting conservation practices and strengthening environmental awareness via advocacy and outreach. • Output 3: Model tree nursery design and ecosystem conservation. • Output 4: Transformation of information technology and digital infrastructure. • Output 5: Strengthening institutional and technical capacity.

Under the direct supervision of Digital Stream Project Manager the UN Volunteer will:

1. Project Management Support:

• Assist the Project Manager in developing and updating project schedules, plans, and timelines. • Help in identifying project risks and issues, and contribute to the development of mitigation and resolution strategies. • Provide support in resource allocation and management, ensuring that project resources are used efficiently and effectively. • Assist in maintaining project management tools and systems, ensuring they provide accurate and real-time project information. 2. Administrative Support: • Assist in organizing and scheduling project meetings, workshops, and training sessions. • Manage project-related documentation, ensuring all necessary materials are up to date and properly filed. • Liaise with the operations team to facilitate the issuance, renewal, and management of visas and iqamas for international staff or consultants. • Ensure all necessary legal and operational requirements are met for international team members' travel and stay in compliance with local regulations. 3. Project Coordination: • Support the Project Manager in tracking project timelines, deliverables, and milestones. • Coordinate with different project team members to ensure seamless communication and workflow. 4. Reporting: • Assist in gathering, compiling, and analyzing project data. • Support in the preparation of project progress reports, ensuring accuracy and timely submission. 5. Stakeholder Engagement: • Facilitate communication with stakeholders by managing correspondences and queries. • Assist in the preparation of stakeholder meetings and compile minutes and action items from discussions.

6. Procurement and Logistics: • Support the procurement process by coordinating with consultants, vendors and managing their documents. • Assist in the logistics planning for project activities, including travel arrangements and event organization. • Coordinate with the finance department to ensure timely and accurate payment processing for vendors and consultants. • Manage and track financial transactions related to project procurement to maintain transparency and accountability.

7. Quality Assurance and Compliance: • Assist in monitoring project activities to ensure compliance with organizational standards and environmental regulations. • Support the Project Manager in maintaining project management methodologies, standards, and tools.

8. Team Support: • Provide administrative and logistical support to the project team. • Contribute to team-building and learning activities to enhance team performance and knowledge.

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Problem-solving and solution-oriented • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

1. Project Management and Coordination: Specialization in project management practices, including schedule planning, resource allocation, and the use of project management tools and systems.
2. Administrative Support: Expertise in administrative tasks related to organizing meetings, managing documentation, and ensuring compliance with legal and operational requirements for international staff.
3. Stakeholder Engagement: Skills in communication and relationship management with project stakeholders, including managing correspondences, preparing for stakeholder meetings, and compiling minutes.
4. Team Support and Development: Abilities in providing administrative and logistical support to the project team, and contributing to team-building and learning activities.

• progressive experience in the UN system • Demonstrated interest and commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values. • Motivated to contribute towards peace and development and to serve others; • Good interpersonal, networking and communication skills; • Willingness to contribute and work as part of a team; • Flexible and open to learning and new experiences; • Respect for diversity and adaptability to other cultures, environments and living conditions; • Computer skills (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, social media, and others).

Riyadh, city and capital of Saudi Arabia. The city grew from a small, fortified desert village in the 17th century into a modern metropolis of several million inhabitants in the 20th century. Area city, 600 square miles (1,550 square km). Pop. (2010) 5,188,286. Life in Riyadh is concentrated around the city’s more than 4,000 mosques and its numerous busy shopping centers. The city’s central core and its many souks (marketplaces) attract heavy pedestrian traffic, emphasizing the city’s intense feeling of vitality. Riyadh is an important financial, business, and manufacturing center. A number of banks are headquartered in the city.

Riyadh’s climate is characterized by extreme heat in the summer, with average temperatures reaching the low 100s F (low 40s C), and coolness in the winter, with lows averaging in the low 50s F (low 10s C), though there is a large difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures. Humidity in Riyadh remains low throughout the year, especially during the summer.

Riyadh is served by the King Khālid International Airport, which is located about 22 miles (35 km) north of the city and handles both domestic and international flights. There are thousands of miles of paved roads in Riyadh, including the King Fahd (running north-south) and Mecca (Makkah; running east-west) highways, which constitute the two main axes of the city. With its grid system of wide thoroughfares and expressways, modern Riyadh was designed as an automobile-oriented city. Taxis are a significant form of transportation in Riyadh; local buses are also available.

Conditions of Service for International UN Volunteers

The initial contract is issued upon arrival for the period indicated above. The contract can be extended depending on the continuation of the mandate, availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectancy of renewal of the assignment.

A UN Volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA), which is composed of a Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) and a Family Allowance (FA) for those with dependents (maximum three).

The Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications, and other basic needs. The VLA can be calculated using by applying the Post-Adjustment Multiplier (PAM) to the VLA base rate. The VLA base rate is a global rate across the world, while the PAM is duty station/country-specific and fluctuates monthly according to the cost of living. This method ensures that international UN Volunteers have comparable purchasing power at all duty stations irrespective of varying costs of living. The PAM is established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and is published at the beginning of every month on the ICSC website - http://icsc.un.org

International UN Specialist Volunteers in Saudi Arabia are entitled to: - Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) at the amount of USD 2,833.13 - Entry Lumpsum USD 4000 - Annual and learning leaves; - Free Medical and life insurance; and - Free access to different learning platforms. For more information on UN Volunteer benefits, entitlements and support, please visit: https://www.unv.org/volunteer-your-country-conditions-service