Local and Community Development Expert

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 JSF programme will be delivered essentially through two UNCDF mechanisms/approaches: the Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL), and Youth Start (YS):

The Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL) of the UN Capital Development Fund provides a country-based mechanism to increase awareness and response to climate change at the local level, integrate climate change adaptation into local governments’ planning and budgeting systems in a participatory and gender sensitive manner, and increase the amount of finance available to local governments for climate change adaptation. LoCAL combines performance-based climate resilience grants (PBCRGs) with technical and capacity-building support. It uses a demonstration effect to trigger further flows for local adaptation, including national fiscal transfers and global climate finance for local authorities, through their central governments. Since its global scale up in 2014, LoCAL has engaged 99 local governments in 13 countries, representing over 6 million people. Between 2014 and 2017, it delivered close to USD 14.5 million, with grants and technical assistance to countries totaling USD 9.8 million. During the same period, 507 climate change adaptation interventions were finalized across 11 countries using grants, with another 68 under implementation or being planned. The LoCAL mechanism will be deployed under Expected Result 1.1 (ER1.1) “Sustainable and equal employment opportunities for youth and women are created” of the JSF working closely with the two other expected results.

The YouthStart (YS) Programme of the UN Capital Development Fund supports youth financial Inclusion to better manage school-to-work transitions and access economic opportunities. It aims to increase access to finance for low-income youth in Least Developed Countries, by developing approaches to offer youth tailored financial and non-financial services. The YS experience will support Expected Result 2.1. (ER2.1) “Regulatory framework on the financial sector improved” of the JSF working closely with the two other expected results.

The first set of activities will aim at creating jobs (ER1.1). Local authorities and communities will be supported in the identification of needs in priority sectors and in planning investments accordingly. A particular emphasis will be placed on making sure investments contribute to climate resilience by applying the Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility methodology, including Performance Based Climate Resilient Grants. Prioritized investments will be delivered through cash for work programmes for youth and women and, where relevant through procurement to local Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) so that jobs are created in the short to medium term. Workers benefitting from employment will be supported in parallel with access to financial (ER2.1) and non-financial services (ER1.2) with a view to broaden their medium to long term economic perspectives.

The Project team delivering the JSF located in Banjul will be headed by a Programme Management Specialist who will report in a matrix management arrangement to the LoCAL Programme Manager (Africa) and the Youth Start (YS) Programme Manager.

The project team will include the following technical staff: National Technical Specialist (local government finance and local economic development), an International Climate Change Specialist, a National Gender Specialist, a National Investment Officer, an International Financial Inclusion Expert, and Field Officers.

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Management Specialist and in close collaboration with other JSF team members and key stakeholders at the national and subnational levels, including local government authorities (LGAs), local planning committees and communities in target LGAs, the UNV Local and Community Development Expert will undertake the following tasks: • Under the guidance of the Climate Change Expert, support local government authorities (LGAs) to collect and interpret climate-related data and information, as well as undertake local climate risk assessments, and to mainstream climate change into local public planning and budgeting systems, particularly at Ward Development Committees level; • Under the guidance of the National Technical Specialist (Local Government Finance and Local Economic Development), support capacity building (“learning by doing”) and preparation of local government development and investment plans and budgets that foster job creation, gender equality and green and climate resilient local economies; • the development of terms of reference for various activities to be undertaken by pilot LGAs (e.g. procurement, local recruitment processes, etc) and provide general administrative support to the successful implementation of activities/interventions/investments by target LGAs; • Support LGAs in the management, implementation and monitoring of performance-based climate resilience grants and activities/interventions/investments and propose improvements through reviewed work plans, for instance; • Support the preparation and participate and contribute to the annual performance assessment of pilot LGAs; • Facilitate consultation and exchange of information, synergies, learning and know-how at the local level, in particular in relation with partners and stakeholders involved with JSF’s expected results (ER), specially ER1.1 “sustainable and equal employment opportunities for youth and women are created” and ER1.2 “TVET, skills development and apprenticeship opportunities in line with MSME’s needs are improved and made more accessible to youth and women”, and ER2.1 “Regulatory framework on the financial sector improved”; • Support the preparation of periodic technical and financial reports on the implementation of JSF/LoCAL activities and undertake regular monitoring of the activities, including through field visits; • Under guidance of the National Skills Expert, assist in providing inputs to the TVET roadmap development and support the identification of skills gaps and training needs in the area of climate change and green job skills; support the mapping of training providers and skill areas in target LGAs in line with LoCAL investment menu and climate resilience grant priorities; facilitate consultations with LGAs on setting up of new training centres and roll-out of training services to rural youth communities; provide inputs to curricula development and apprenticeship scheme activities in line with training priorities in LGAs;

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 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 reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities using UNV’s Volunteer Reporting Application-

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.

• Efficient and result-centered professional; • Ability to analyze problems and challenges and to develop solutions autonomously; • Ability to communicate, plan and respect deadlines; • Rigor, dynamism, responsiveness, ability to anticipate potential risks and problems; • Good organizational skills and able to set priorities and perform multiple tasks simultaneously; • Available for field deployment; • Independent, attention to detail and strong technical and interpersonal skills; • Able to communicate effectively (both orally and in writing); • Strong teamwork and analytical skills.

with local and community development, climate change and/or environment related issues, of which at least one (1) supporting local governments and/or communities; • Practical knowledge and experience in monitoring and evaluation • Practical knowledge and experience with planning and budgeting processes, preferably with local government authorities and/or communities; • Excellent communication skills, both written and oral; • Practical experience with training and capacity building activities; • 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;

The UN Volunteer is expected to dwell in Mansakonko, in Lower River Region, and is required to perform regular field missions across the target LGA. Amenities and facilities such as hospitals, running water, electricity may be limited.

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.