Job Title: Programme and Partnership Specialist
Organization: United Nations Volunteers (UNV)
Host entity: UNDP
Assignment country: Lao People's Democratic Republic
Expected start date: 01/11/2023
Sustainable Development Goal: 16. Peace, justice and strong
institutions
Volunteer category: International UN Volunteer Specialist
Type: Onsite
Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments: 1
Duty stations: Vientiane
Details
Mission and objectives
Breaking the cycle of poverty in Lao PDR and graduating from
the Least Developed Country (LDC) Status represents the heart of the
Government’s development aspirations. UNDP has a key role in assisting the
country with a smooth transition to non-LDC status, as well as the complex
process to strategically raise needed funds for programs that benefit poor
people. UNDP Lao PDR works toward localisation of the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), implementation of the 9th National Socio-Economic Development
Plan 2021-2025 and, more broadly, Lao PDR’s graduation from the Least Developed
Country (LDC) status. UNDP supports to strengthen the Government’s capacity at
central and local levels in ensuring the formulation and implementation of
their development plan encompassing all key aspects, such as equitable growth,
poverty reduction and environmental sustainability, with special attention
given to achieving the SDGs. UNDP offers ground-breaking research on human
development in Lao PDR through supporting the preparation of National Human
Development Reports which advocate for policies placing people at the centre of
the development process towards inclusive and sustainable growth and the
achievement of the SDGs as well as LDC graduation.
Context
In April 2022, the UNDP Lao PDR and the Government of Lao
PDR launched a five-year (2022-2026) UXO (Unexploded Ordnance) programme
entitled “Supporting Effectiveness and Efficiency in the UXO Sector to
contribute to the achievement of SDG 18 and Safe Path Forward III (SPF III)”.
Through this programme, UNDP provides programmatic and technical support for
the national institutions within the UXO sector to pursue targets as set out in
the Lao Government’s 9th NSEDP (2021-2025), as well as NRA’s (The National
Regulatory Authority for UXO/Mine Action Sector in Lao PDR) work plan for
accelerated Survey and Clearance, Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) and
Victim Assistance (VA) activities, both in line with the Government of Lao PDR’s
obligations under the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM). The key outcomes
of this project include support to achieving several Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), including enhanced support to livelihoods activities for affected
populations, improved efficiency of clearance operations; significant progress
in the effort to establish a national baseline of UXO contamination; improved
transparency in results reporting, improved transparency in financial
reporting; improved coordination of sector activities through enhanced
management of information; updated National Standards and appropriate policy
frameworks; progress against the obligations of the Convention on Cluster
Munitions, the articulation of a sustainability strategy for the sector;
improved capacity for monitoring and evaluating the sector’s development
outcomes; and improved policy for support to UXO survivors. The project is
aligned with the Government of Lao’s NSEDP as well as national ten-year UXO
sector strategic plan, Safe Path Forward III, and relevant international
conventions, and norms. It will contribute to progress towards achieving the
national SDG 18. These cross-cutting outcomes support SDG1: No Poverty, SDG 5:
Gender Equality, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 10: Reduced
Inequalities, SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and Lao PDR’s SDG
18: Lives Safe from UXO.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of UNDP UXO Portfolio
Manager/Unit head, or his/her designated representative, the UN Volunteer will
undertake the following tasks: 1. Provide project support to partners and
assistance with compliance functions, especially for reporting and editing,
through capacity building: a. Support and train the Implementing Partners (lPs)
in best practices in formulation, implementation and monitoring of key
strategic documents; b. Provide support to and training of Programme Units of
the NRA and UXO Lao to ensure that programme formulation, design and
implementation adhere to principles of results-based management policy; c.
Support to IPs and training of relevant staff on report and proposal writing
aimed at ensuring good quality products, such as donor proposals, annual
reports, and specific donor reports; d. Review and edit reports, including
sector and donor reports of the UXO Programme; e. Support to evaluations,
audits and spot checks; f. Create solid follow-up systems on implementation of
recommendations (e.g. Gender and Diversity Action Plan, Action Plan for audit
findings etc.); g. Support initiatives that promote/contribute to the cohesion
and synergies between the programme, finance and other relevant teams in the
NRA and UXO Lao such as resource planning and management, reporting, and
development of proposals. 2. Support the joint field monitoring missions among
UNDP / NRA / UXO Lao. a. The UNV Specialist will be required to undertake
missions to project sites as required and approved by the UNDP Country Office.
Regular field monitoring of UXO operators would assist the NRA & UXO Lao
to: i. Reinforce good working relationships and mutual understanding be-tween
UXO operators, provincial NRA offices and local authorities; ii. Support in the
assessment of the compliance of UXO operators with the activities and
approaches outlined in the project documents and operational work plans; iii.
Collect valuable local context information and feedback about the effects of
the implementation of the NRA’s official policies and technical guidelines, and
how NRA policies interact with other sec-tors of the Government of Lao PDR; iv.
Support the follow-up surveys including Post-Clearance Impact Assessment (PCIA)
to assess the UXO sector’s contribution to rural development, community health
and safety, and implementation of the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP)
survey recommendations and Gender and Diversity Action Plan. v. Gather
information (task work plans and reports, photographs and testimony from UXO
operator staff, local authorities and/or land-owners) to produce case studies
for internal and external reports and presentations. 3. Develop monitoring
tools to capture evidence to prove UNDP’s contributions to project management
and include the findings in the quarterly and annual project progress reports
and donor reports. The UNV Specialist will also support the preparation of
improved plans and develop project proposals, based on practical information
gathered during field monitoring missions.
Eligibility criteria
Age
27 - 80
Nationality
Candidate must be a national of a country other than the
country of assignment.
Requirements
Required experience
3 years of experience in humanitarian responses or
international development projects or programmes, preferably in the field of
disaster risk reduction, risk communication and UXO/Mine actions, including at
least two years with direct responsibility for managing Monitoring, Evaluation
and Learning systems. • Specialist knowledge and experience in result-based
reporting and editing. • Excellent analytical, communication, writing and
presentation skills. • Good understanding of result-based management concepts
and approaches. • Conversant with standard office computer software and basic
database software (Access, Excel, etc.) suitable for MEL data management. •
Familiarity with UNDP’s rules and regulations. • Institutional
capacity-building experience and delivering training. • Excellent English oral
and written skills, excellent drafting, formulation, reporting and editing
skills. • Excellent interpersonal skills and culturally as well as socially
sensitive. • Ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of
partners, including grassroots community members, religious and specialist
organizations, and authorities of various positions and levels. • Ability to
work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment. •
Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and
national personnel. • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision.
• Ability to work with tight deadlines. • Sound security awareness. • Have an
interest in International Development, Mine Action, volunteerism as a mechanism
for durable development and the UN System.
Area(s) of expertise
Development programmes, Community development
Driving license
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Languages
English, Level: Mother tongue, Required
Required education level
Master degree or equivalent in social sciences Degree in one
of the following preferred: Monitoring and Evaluation, Social Science, Economy,
International Relations or other fields related to the area of the assignment.
Competencies and values
Accountability Adaptability and Flexibility Building Trust
Client Orientation Commitment and Motivation Commitment to Continuous Learning
Communication Empowering Others Ethics and Values Integrity Knowledge Sharing
Managing Performance Planning and Organizing Professionalism Respect for
Diversity Self-Management Technological Awareness Working in Teams
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
The position will be based in the capital, Vientiane. Living
conditions in Vientiane are comfortable but residents must make concessions due
to the tropical climate and under-developed infrastructure, including health
facilities. Vientiane is a relatively safe place to live in, with violent crime
incidents very rare. However, single females should be vigilant if moving alone
during the dark and it is best advised to move in groups. The biggest hazards
relate to traffic accidents; hence utmost care should be exerted when in
traffic, especially when riding a motorbike. Volunteers must have a motorbike
licence to ride a motorbike in Lao PDR. The Vientiane entertainment scene is
still quiet and to avoid feeling lonely, the person should be proactive in
forming friendships and hence should be ready to make the best of e.g. the UNV
Buddy Programme. There is a wide range of housing options in Vientiane located
within easy reach of the UNDP office. Houses or apartments are usually of good
standards. All basic commodities can be bought in Vientiane and its immediate
vicinity. The UNV Office in Laos will assist the UNV in finding adequate accommodation.
House shares with 3-4 people are most common, but single apartments are also
available. Vientiane’s city centre is full of restaurants, shops, bars, and
internet cafes with many lined up along the Mekong River. Laos is a former
French colony but is looking towards modernism despite its huge historical and
cultural legacy. Surrounded by China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia, Laos has
established a business-friendly environment over the years. It thus attracts
foreign investment and provides many professional opportunities to expatriates.
Lao people are friendly and show tolerance and an open-minded approach to
visitors in their country, but their culture and values should always be
respected. Lao is a unique and mysterious country. It provides an interesting
and enriching environment but also requires a mature level of cultural
awareness, as well as some commitment to make life comfortable and affordable.
Therefore, flexibility and the ability and will to adapt are necessary to live
in a lovely yet developing country.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme
that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to
achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part
of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to
combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights
and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender
identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability,
pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be
subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2
(Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy
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