Project Officer - Fast Track Cities Project

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.

UNAIDS provides the strategic direction, advocacy, coordination and technical support needed to catalyse and connect leadership from governments, the private sector and communities to deliver life-saving HIV services. Without UNAIDS, there would be no strategic vision for the AIDS response. UNAIDS generates strategic information and analysis that increases the understanding of the state of the AIDS epidemic and progress made at the local, national, regional and global levels. It leads the world’s most extensive data collection on HIV epidemiology, programme coverage and finance and publishes the most authoritative and up-to-date information on the HIV epidemic—vital for an effective AIDS response. UNAIDS produces data for impact—no major report, speech or policy initiative on HIV has been launched or made without referring to data collected and released by UNAIDS. UNAIDS is a model for United Nations reform and is the only cosponsored Joint Programme in the United Nations system. It draws on the experience and expertise of 11 United Nations system Cosponsors and is the only United Nations entity with civil society represented on its governing body. UNAIDS has helped to position, shape and scale up the response to HIV like no other organization, encouraging dialogue and bringing in communities that have been left out of decision-making. Without UNAIDS, the human rights of people living with HIV would have been held back and the voice of civil society would be heard far less often. UNAIDS has transformed policy. UNAIDS has shaped public policy on HIV at the global, regional and national levels. It has mobilized investment for sound national policy using evidence, experience and political advocacy, built health and community systems, established legal frameworks and shaped public opinion towards creating healthy and resilient societies. Assignment context The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at www.unaids.org

The UNAIDS Country Office (UCO) Windhoek, Namibia works closely with the Ministry of Health and Social Services and other line ministries, CSOs and other development partners providing: • Leadership, advocacy and communication to fast track the AIDS response • Effective and inclusive partnerships for impact and sustainability • Strategic information for an evidence-informed response and global political agenda. UNAIDS supports the country in responding to the HIV epidemic, with a special focus on HIV prevention, addressing gender and human rights issues, analysing data and provision of strategic information to guide the response, as well as institutional strengthening of government, private sector and civil society organisations (CSO) partners to end AIDS by 2030.

This UNV assignment is part of UNAIDS’ Fast Track Cities (FTC) Project. The Volunteer will assist and support with the coordination, planning, implementation and monitoring of the Fast-Track Cities project implemented by the City of Windhoek.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of UNAIDS Country Director (UCD) or his/her designated mandated representative(s), and direct guidance of the UNAIDS Country Office (UCO) FTC focal point, and working in partnership with the Joint UN Team on AIDS (JUTA), CSOs and selected regions, the Project Officer will:

• Assist the City of Windhoek focal person in the implementation of the Fast Track Cities project, including with specific initiatives and activities related to HIV prevention, treatment and impact mitigation in line with the project objectives, Municipal Council of Windhoek HIV Strategic Plan 2017 – 2022, the Global AIDS Strategy and National HIV Strategic Framework and National Coordination Framework; • Support analysis of existing data to generate strategic information to identify programmatic gaps; • Facilitate sharing and utilization of relevant strategic information and work with key partners to propose/suggest new areas of research in order to further develop knowledge for planning and programming related to vulnerable groups.

Coordination • Support City of Windhoek (CoW) focal points (internal and external teams) to coordinate and implement FTC workplan, including ensuring timely implementation as per workplan and budget; • Support City of Windhoek in reprogramming funds and activities where needed to ensure high budget burn rate and high workplan implementation rate; • Assist with organization of workshops, meetings communications, outreach and programme coordination, including operations support to sourcing of quotations, selection, and procurement for workplan activities; • Stay abreast with key events in the relevant programmatic areas, and regularly share information with the CoW focal person; • Support CoW private partnerships team to explore ways to raise funds for City-level HIV interventions in 2022/23; • Create an inventory of the HIV intervention implementers and build good relationships with them; • Participate in the review of the FTC and UCO work plan as required.

Monitoring and Evaluation • Access and continually monitor the progress of the HIV & AIDS activities implemented by the City; • Support the City’s updating of the HIV and Health dashboard; • Work with UNV – Communications to gather and analyse information on FTC activities and document into stories and key documents to record background, process, results, achievements, challenges, and next steps. • Participate in the creation of a database for program data collection and analysis at the local level. • Carry out any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNAIDS; technical capabilities; 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; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNAIDS in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains. • 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. • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills; 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; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNAIDS’ mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

public health, project management and monitoring and evaluation. • Professional work experience at national/international level; • Experience with non-governmental organisations and municipalities is an asset; • Experience writing minutes and reports and accuracy nd professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent communication skills (writing and presentation) in English • Sensitivity to political, cultural and national differences and adaptability to multicultural environments; • Ability to work independently and as a team member; • Good organizational and interpersonal communication skills; • Basic understanding of issues related to the HIV epidemic in Namibia; • Good understanding of combination prevention and community-based health and HIV programming is desirable; • Ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; • Familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for 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.