Local Community Assistant

Volunteering

Overview

Support youth engagement in local democratic processes

You have:

• Demonstrated interest in voluntary service and community development.
• Voluntary service, community engagement or work experience can be considered in lieu of any formal education.
• Good interpersonal, networking and communication skills.
• Willingness to contribute and work as part of a team.
• Flexibility 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).

Contract

This is a UNV Community Volunteer contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV Community Volunteer contracts.

United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Serbia is implementing the project “Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD2)”. This is the regional initiative that strengthens participatory democracies and the European Union (EU) integration process in the Western Balkans (WB) by empowering civil society and youth to actively take part in decision-making and by stimulating an enabling legal and financial environment for civil society.

The ReLOaD2 project in Serbia partners with seven Local-self Governments (LSGs - Babušnica, Vladičin Han, Vrnjačka Banja, Kruševac, Novi Sad, Topola, and Subotica), aiming to improve public funding for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in a transparent and development-oriented manner, recognizing local needs and embracing a project-based approach. Also, the project promotes youth engagement and supports the implementation of youth initiatives working on the improvement of their economic perspectives. The UNDP and United Nations Volunteers (UNV) will implement activities intended for young people aged 18 to 30, with residence in the territory of partner local self-governments, to train them and provide volunteering engagement in local governments with the aim to enable young people to develop knowledge and skills to be able to influence the social and political processes in the cities/municipalities where they live; cooperate with local authorities for greater inclusion of young people in the design and adoption of policies and practices, through volunteering within local institutions; and to advocate more effectively for the interests of young people at the local level in cooperation with various interested parties. Through the UNV deployment, the young will get their first working experience and will increase their chances of formal employment.

Under the direct supervision of UNDP Project Coordinator, the UN Community Volunteer will: • Support social and public processes related to the youth and youth policy in the local self-governments where they live; • Acting as focal points for the youth activities in the ReLOaD2 programme with the task to establish partnerships with local governments and institutions and work jointly on planning and implementation of at least one (1) local initiatives; • Assist the local authorities to increase their commitment toward social inclusion of the most vulnerable groups; • Advocate for the interests of communities they represent at local level, by working together with various stakeholders to achieve more sustainable results; • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Community Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take an 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 self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• 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.

• Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning: • Planning and organizing • Communication • Flexibility • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement

/or demonstrated interest in voluntary service, community development. • Voluntary service, community engagement or work experience can be considered in lieu of any formal education; • 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).

The situation in Serbia is generally quiet; all international agencies consider threats to their staff to be low. However, in Serbia as in most countries in Europe, there are incidents of pickpockets or traffic accidents, so it is advised that the UNV makes sure to exercise appropriate personal security awareness and common sense.

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org