National Planning & Monitoring Specialist

Volunteering Finance & Economy

Overview

Support countries in enhancing reporting requirements for sustainable development.

You have:

• Demonstrated interest and/or experience in monitoring and measuring progress on sustainable development, including global initiatives such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture (i.e., studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded.

Contract

This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.

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.

Countries throughout the Pacific are required to monitor and report progress against a series of global and regional initiatives, whilst ensuring focus remains on their own national priorities for sustainable development. As such, the role of National Statistical Systems (NSS) in identifying the most appropriate approach to prioritizing reporting needs (and thus data) is a complex and challenging one.

Understanding the indicator landscape within their own countries, and reviewing the way business is done to identify and produce priority information, is crucial to maximizing the limited resources (staffing and financial) within the NSS.

The project the UN Volunteer will support will be assisting countries in enhancing and better understanding reporting requirements both globally, regionally and nationally, simplifying how information is prioritized and thus collected. Work will involve supporting countries from across the whole Pacific, covering developing countries as outlined in the list above.

Under the direct supervision of Mr Chris Ryan, ESCAP Pacific Office (EPO) Statistician, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Support countries to review their data demands, including identifying all global, regional, and national indicator frameworks of relevance to their reporting requirements. • Assist member States to develop National Sustainable Development Indicator Sets, accompanied by National Indicator Guidelines, which address national priorities and incorporate relevant indicators from global and regional frameworks; • Support the design and implementation of statistical capacity development initiatives in the Pacific sub-region, especially concerning developing National Sustainable Development Indicator Sets; • Under the guidance of the Head of Office and Deputy Head & Senior Economic Affairs Officer, support other areas of work in the interest of the successful candidate. Also includes support to the organization of and preparation of technical documents for international, intergovernmental, expert group meetings, working groups, seminars, and workshops, and assists in drafting relevant reports.

☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Client Orientation ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning ☒ Communication ☒ Creativity ☒ Ethics and Values ☒ Integrity ☒ Judgement and Decision-making ☒ Knowledge Sharing ☒ Planning and Organizing ☒ Professionalism ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Self-Management ☒ Technological Awareness ☒ Vision ☒ Working in Teams

Demonstrated interest and/or experience in monitoring and measuring progress on sustainable development, including global initiatives such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and measuring progress of National Development Plans/Policies Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture (i.e., studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded.

Fiji, one of the larger countries of the South Pacific region, has a relatively high level of human development and is one of the most developed economies in the region. Fiji became independent in 1970, and its multi-ethnic population, which numbers approximately 900,000, is growing slowly due to a moderately low level of fertility and a high level of emigration. The economy rests primarily on sugar production and tourism, but is becoming more diverse, with manufacturing now an important sector of employment. The unit of currency is the Fiji Dollar.

Fiji comprises approximately 330 islands, of which approximately one-third are inhabited. Fiji covers about 1.3 million square kilometres of the South Pacific Ocean. The two major islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. The capital city is Suva and is located on the South-Eastern side of the main island of Viti Levu.

Fiji's population is made up of a mixture of indigenous Melanesian and Polynesian islanders, and a blend of Indian, European, Chinese, Rotuman, and Rabi islanders, making it a rich and vibrant mix of cultures. English is spoken widely on the Island, and it is the common language of communication, although the indigenous Fijian language is spoken by many, as is the Hindi language.

Fiji enjoys a mild and stable climate most of the year, due to the large expanses of open water that surround its islands. The wet season extends from November to April, but rain falls throughout the year, and tropical cyclones can blow up between November and April. Fiji enjoys year-round tropical temperatures of between 25-29 degrees with generally high humidity.

Suva, the capital of Fiji, has a population of approximately 141,000, and it is a multiracial and multicultural city. Suva is the largest city in the whole of the region and has reasonably modern facilities, including two large hospitals, sporting facilities, restaurants, and supermarkets. Modest accommodation is readily available in Suva, but availability of small apartments is limited; an open mind and flexibility come in handy when looking for housing in Suva. The public transport is quite good: local buses run every day of the week, and taxis are affordable. Public transport is also available for exploring and visiting other parts of the country, which provides plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities.

Fiji, along with many other Pacific islands, is known for being one of the friendliest nations in the world. It is a unique country providing an interesting and enriching environment.

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Potential interview questions

Added 11 months ago - Updated 4 months ago - Source: unv.org