UN VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT Preamble: The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers. In most cultures volunteerism is deeply embedded in long-established, ancient traditions of sharing and support within the communities. In this context, UN Volunteers take part in various forms of volunteerism and play a role in development and peace together with co-workers, host agencies and local communities. In all assignments, UN Volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct. Engaging in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, as well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make the time they spend as UN Volunteers even more rewarding and productive. 1. UNV Assignment Title: Disaster Risk Reduction Associate 2. Type of Assignment: National UN Volunteer 3. Project Title: UNV Support to enhancing capacity of United Nations Plan of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience in South and East Asia and Pacific 4. Duration: 12 months 5. Location, Country: Yangon, Myanmar To apply, please click here: https://jobs.partneragencies.net/erecruitjobs.html?jobopeningid=4509 6. Expected starting date: ASAP 7. Brief Project Description: The UNV Strategic Framework (SF) 2014-2017 articulates the scope and dimensions of UNV s strategic direction, results and associated resource requirements over a four-year period. Based on the global context outlined in the SF and UNV s expanded mandate, track record and expertise, UNV will intentionally direct its efforts and programme resources into five priority areas where volunteerism has a transformational and cumulative impact on the lives of people: (i) basic social services; (ii) community resilience for environment and disaster risk reduction; (iii) peace-building and peace-keeping; (iv) youth; and (v) national capacity development through volunteer schemes. The present regional project aims to support the United Nations Plan of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience in South-East Asia and Pacific through volunteerism in a number of countries that were affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. The scope of the regional project is to allow the organization to deliver its results in community resilience for environment and disaster risk reduction, in accordance with the individual requirements of programme countries and partners, by supporting up to six UN Resident 1
Coordinators, their offices and UNCTs, with one international and, wherever feasible, one national UN Volunteer specialists in DRR, as well as establishing a results and resources framework to guide regional and country-specific initiatives in support of national/regional efforts and UN engagement in disaster risk reduction. A special mention needs to be made to the country-specific initiative in Myanmar, Piloting a DRR Youth Volunteer Network, which aims at reducing vulnerability and strengthening community-based disaster risk management capacity in support of the Disaster Risk Youth Volunteer (DRYV) Program, launched in 2013 by the Relief and Resettlement Department (RRD). In order to support RRD in making this programme fully operational across the nation, UNV, UNDP and UNICEF are partnering in the implementation of a pilot project. In close collaboration with RRD, the objective of the UNV/UNICEF/UNDP Disaster Risk Youth Volunteer Project is to strengthen the DRYV Network in three pilot states, some of which are among the poorest and most vulnerable to natural hazards in Myanmar: Rakhine, Mon and Ayeyarwaddy. 8. Host Agency/Host Institute: UNDP / UNV 9. Organizational Context: The United Nations Volunteers programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers. Since 1993, the UNDP Programme in Myanmar has been targeted towards interventions having grassroots level impact in a sustainable manner. The primary programme of assistance has been the Human Development Initiative (HDI), which supports 8,000 villages in over 60 townships nationwide, reaching an estimated 6 per cent of the population. This wide presence was necessary to provide crucial livelihood support in an environment where other development partners had a limited presence on the ground. However, this approach has hampered impact, sustainability and cost-effectiveness, as was noted by various assessments, including the annual Independent Assessment Missions (IAM). Following a UNDP Executive Board decision in January 2013 to approve a normal country programme for Myanmar for the first time after 20 years, Myanmar and UNDP signed in April 2013 a three-year Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) that outlines the development agency s engagement in the country for 2013 to 2015 to be pursued through three complementary pillars: Pillar I: Effective local governance for sustainable inclusive community development. Pillar II: Climate change, environment, energy and disaster risk reduction. Pillar III: Democratic governance and development effectiveness. The Climate Change, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction team, also known as Pillar II, carries out programmes to reduce Myanmar s vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change, improve environmental and natural resource management. 10. Type of Assignment Place: assignment with family 11. Description of Duties: 2
Under direct supervision and guidance of the International UN Volunteer Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist, the National UN Volunteer will support the Regional UNV project Support to United Nations Plan of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience in South-East Asia and Pacific; and the National UNV project Piloting a DRR Youth Volunteer Network in Myanmar. Specifically, she/he will be required to perform the following functions: Technical assistance, including: Maintain and foster contacts with Government officials at the national level and other existing volunteer and/or youth organizations to ensure smooth implementation of the initiatives. Assist in programme planning, monitoring and evaluation on a daily/ongoing basis with quarterly formal updates, Collect, analyse and present information on the areas where activities are implemented, Assist in classification, maintenance and translation of all materials and administrative documents as needed, Collect information and support preparation of planning and reporting documents for internal and external use, Ensure communication and information sharing with the other country-specific initiatives of the regional project, Prepare activities proposal, meeting minutes and other supporting documents, Provide logistic support for missions, events, workshops, etc., Undertake any other tasks as directed by the Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist and UNV Programme Officer, and Support the Host Agency in DRR/CCA-related activities when and if applicable. Promotion of Volunteerism: Identify interlinkages between women, youth, people with disabilities and marginalized people voluntary actions on disaster risk reduction and its contribution to build resilience communities Give visibility to women, youth, people with disabilities and marginalized people contributions through civil engagement to demonstrate their strategic role and contribution to DRR and response to disasters. Promote women, youth, people with disabilities and marginalized people volunteering through civic engagement in order to have a multiplier effect, expanding participation and involving larger numbers of people who have traditionally been excluded. Advocacy and partnerships building: Support communication with and regular updates for the national and sub-national counterparts. Facilitate communication with UN agencies as well as external partners Prepare newsletter and other communication pieces Update webpage information on concerned initiatives Proactively work with different partners Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged 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; Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; 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 if required; 3
Promote and advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, and encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service when desired. 12. Results/Expected Output: Effective implementation of the UNV projects to achieve expected outputs; Improved communication with government official at national and sub-national levels, implementing partners and communities; Regional project is implemented in Myanmar through specific and tangible results defined with the UNV FU; An effective communication system, including community level early warning system, between the volunteers, the Government and other relevant stakeholders is established and fully functional; Emergency drills are executed together with relevant stakeholders; Lessons learned from the project implementation process is recorded and shared. A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed. 13. Qualifications/Requirements: Preferably a Bachelor s degree, secondary degree mandatory; At least 4 years of relevant work experience, 2 of them in a disaster related field such as agriculture and rural development, water resources management, poverty reduction, environment, emergency management, and with demonstrated interests in disaster risk reduction and sustainable development. 14. Competencies: Experience in project development and/or evaluation and monitoring; Experience working using participatory approaches, is an advantage; Working knowledge of English and ability to perform translation; Detail-oriented and good at multi-tasking; High degree of independence, creativity and ability to motivate; Good command of MS Office; Ability to work on multiple tasks and against tight deadlines; Strong analytical and strategic thinking abilities; Excellent communication and problem management skills; A proactive, participatory and result oriented approach to their work; Commitment to Knowledge Sharing/Continuous Learning; Ability to travel during the assignment; Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment; Myanmar national 15. Conditions of Service A 12 month contract; monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) intended to cover basic needs, accommodation and utilities of approx. 820USD/month. In addition, the UN Volunteer will receive a settling in grant (if applicable); life, health and permanent disability insurance, and end-of-assignment allowance will also be provided, along with travel to and from the duty station(if applicable). All UN Volunteers follow the Conditions of Service for international UN Volunteers. Description of Assignment prepared by: Juan Miguel Sanchez, UNV Programme Officer 4
Date: June 2016 Description of Assignment approved by: Rafael Martinez, UNV Portfolio Manager Date: June 2016 5