Programme 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 United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide.

The UNV Field Units (FU) are mainly accountable for the mobilization and placement of UN Volunteers in UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes focused on peace, development and humanitarian needs. The UNV Field Units represent and position UNV in the respective countries and bring UNV’s services and solutions closer to its partners from governments, UN entities, civil society and private sector.

Led by a Programme Analyst (Country Coordinator), the main purpose of each Field Unit is to build and maintain relationships with main partners, and effectively coordinate with the Regional Office and HQ organizational units, on volunteer mobilization, programme implementation, provision of substantive inputs and facilitation of corporate initiatives.

The Programme Assistant works to support the efforts of the Country Coordinator on increase of UN Volunteer volume in-country, ensure efficient and timely programme operations (financial, procurement, volunteer management support, etc.), assist with duty of care and satisfaction of the UN Volunteers.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of a Country Coordinator or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Programme Assistant will:

• Maintain required financial information on expenditures to assist his/her supervisor in the preparation of project budgets and subsequent revisions. • Respond to and liaise with all UN volunteers in the country regarding financial and administrative issues. • Complete all the relevant and required tasks related to the UNV onboarding and exit at the Unified Volunteer Platform (UVP). • Maintain volunteer files of all UN volunteers assigned to the country, ensuring that all correspondence and periodic reports (online) are properly kept, and that related matters requiring action are brought to the attention of his/her supervisor. • Monitor and keep records of the contractual status at the UVP of all serving UN volunteers and flag to his/her supervisor follow-up actions on assignment extensions, renewals and replacements. • Maintain up to date contact records of all serving UN volunteers, including their recognized dependents. • Provide the necessary support to UN volunteers to open bank accounts as well as to complete forms required to obtain residence permits, driving license, etc. • Prepare, when required, in consultation with the supervisor, travel authorization for UN volunteers in connection with their in-country duty-related travel. • Undertake tasks in the overall management of the UN volunteers and recognized dependents in the country. • Support the office on orientation sessions, check-in sessions, and monthly meetings for UN Volunteers. • Provide, when required, in consultation with the supervisor, the necessary support to UN volunteers in the case of serious illness, medical evacuation, security evacuations or the death of a UN volunteer. • Ensure all conditions are met before the payment of final entitlements to UN volunteers at the end of their assignment. • Maintain inventories of all UNV-supplied, non-expendable equipment, and ensure records of all items purchased for UNV-executed projects are submitted to UNV headquarters. • Draft and type correspondence, including memoranda and notes for the file. • Maintain proper general office files and document information well. • Perform duties such as photocopying, collection and distribution of incoming mail, dispatching outgoing mail, locating files, etc. • Support the Country Coordinator in addressing questions of UN Volunteers and the UN partners as well as ensuring greatest level of satisfaction to them in terms of performance. • Support the Country Coordinator in projecting volunteer mobilization and analyzing the mobilization patterns and trends to identify avenues for further UNV mobilization. • Effective and efficient support of the Country Coordinator and UN partners in advocacy and outreach campaigns (International Volunteers Day/IVD, presentation of promotional information with Host Entities, local volunteer organizations, etc.). • Timely provision of information and data related to volunteer management, UNV field office assets, finance/procurement and administrative inputs required for UNV’s corporate exercises. • Support onsite and online volunteer mobilization that increases the number of volunteers in the respective country. • Effective and efficient support in the Volunteer Management Cycle in cooperation with Volunteer Service Center (VSC) (talent sources compilation, initial onboarding, monitoring contractual status, logistical arrangements, medical and security evacuations if applicable, end of assignment formalities). • Conduct advocacy and outreach programmes on UNV to expand the national talent pool as well as to advocate for the Online Volunteers (OV). • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN 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 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: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNV technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNV procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions;

• Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNV in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority;

• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;

• Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment:

• Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;

Volunteer Management, administration, partnerships development

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.