UN VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT
Preamble:
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism tosupport peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature ofdevelopment and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peaceand 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 andsupport 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 involunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, aswell as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make thetime they spend as UN Volunteers even more rewarding and productive.
1. UNV Assignment Title:

Labour Migration Support Officer

2. Type of Assignment:International UN Volunteer

3. Project Title:

Labour Migration

4. Duration:

12 months

5. Location, Country:

Kathmandu, Nepal

6. Expected Starting Date:

March 2013

7. Brief Project Description:
The Labour Migration project is aimed at building the capacities of the Government of Nepal to monitor therecruitment agencies, for better coordination among the origin, transit and destination countries and toprovide more correct and reliable information to the migrants. Furthermore, the project contributes to theGovernment of Nepal’s initiatives to generate employment opportunities and enabling environment forsafer migration through public private partnerships in migration management. In order to pursue theobjective, the project will engage with the private sector for mobilization of resources to establish an
agricultural training center and to enhance the knowledge and skills of farmers (focused on potential
migrants and returnee migrants) on agro processing of plants and herbs, and to impart financial literacy
such as saving, investment, household budgeting and financial management skills to Remittance
Receiving Households (RRHHs), while facilitating co-ordination among the financial institutions to extend
their outreach to the underserved and rural communities in Nepal, particularly in places where labour
migration is high.
8. Host Agency/Host Institute: International Organization for Migration (IOM)
9. Organizational Context:
As the leading international organization for migration, IOM works with migrants and governments toprovide humane responses to the growing migration challenges of today. IOM Nepal was established in2006 and has been doing commendable work in various programs with the Government of Nepal.
Programme highlights are detailed below. The flagship IOM resettlement program for the Bhutanese
Refugees began in 2007 and as of today a total number of 75,000 refugees have departed for resettlementin eight different countries (US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway andUK). A total caseload of some 40,000 refugees is predicted before the end of the programme. The IOM
Migration Health Department operates a Migration Health Assessment Clinic for immigrants to the US. In

close co-ordination with the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management, IOM is providing technicalassistance to the Government of Nepal to better manage labour migration - domestic, cross border as well
as overseas. With the Ministry of Women Children and Social Welfare, IOM is working on humantrafficking issues in prevention, protection and policy formulation. To complement this in partnership withNewcastle University in the UK, IOM is engaged in a multi-year large academic research project on posttrafficking livelihoods. In addition as a contribution to the peace process under a joint project with OHCHR,
IOM is providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction in formulation of a
reparations policy, implementation tools and guidelines for victims of the ten year armed conflict. IOM isalso the responsible agency for supporting displaced communities following natural disasters, as thecluster lead for Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) in Nepal. Today, IOM Nepal has 380
staff including 26 international staff with Head Office and Transit Center in Kathmandu and Sub Office inDamak to carry out the operational activities for the resettlement of the Bhutanese Refugees.
Nepal is a country in transition from the decade long conflict since it officially ended in 2006 with thesigning of a Comprehensive Peace Accord. Rehabilitation of conflict affected communities as well as
former/discharged combatants are an urgent need to ensuring the peace process is successful in Nepal.
Nepal today is well recognized as the country of origin for labour migrants mainly to the Gulf countries andMalaysia. Around 900 Nepali youths leave the country everyday seeking employment abroad with a total ofsome three million migrants working abroad; in recent years there has been a significant rise in thenumbers of movement of people. The Government of Nepal recognizes the importance of labour migration,
but at the same time acknowledges the significant challenges to ensure protection to its migrants and theneed to regulate the migration flow from Nepal. In addition, with the increasing mobility to and from Nepal,
it has increased the incidents of human trafficking, drugs, arms and goods smuggling, irregular migration
and also increase in money laundering. Of particular concern, women and children are being trafficked to
India and elsewhere for purposes of forced labour and sexual exploitation.
The service of the UNV will be to engage in labour migration projects focusing on reintegration support to
the returnee migrants by overseeing an Agriculture Training Center and in establishing of the migrant
resource center for the potential migrants. The UNV will be encouraged and will be given opportunities tointeract with the local communities, NGOs and private sector for development and implementation ofvarious activities.
During the tenure of their service, in addition to contributing to IOM’s ongoing work in Nepal, the UNV will
be exposed to various issues related to trafficking, refugees and disaster risk management which will
benefit to shape their career in the future.
10. Type of Assignment Place: assignment without family
11. Description of tasks:
UNV will be assigned to work on the thematic area of labour migration projects in Nepal. Under thedirect supervision of IOM Chief of Mission and in coordination with thematic Project Officer in Nepal,
the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:••••••••

Assist in establishment and operation of the Agriculture training center in Nepal
Encourage Private Business houses for partnership in the project as a part of their Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR)
Assist the successful trainees in development of suitable business plans. Following up thereintegration support to the returnee migrants
Liaise and linkage with financial institutions for micro finance schemes
Assist in developing project proposals and concept notes for timely submission.
Assist in developing donor reports ensuring close coordination with relevant stakeholders.
Represent IOM in different meetings and seminars as required.
Carry out other duties as may be deemed necessary by the supervisor.

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 (for instance in events that markIVD);
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;
Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant localindividuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technicallypossible;
Networking and building relationships with local organizations, groups or individuals and supporting
and/or participating in local volunteering initiatives.

12. Results/Expected Output:
••
•
•
•
•

Labour migration programme supported; contributed in establishment of agriculture training center.
Suitable business plans developed for the returnee migrants.
Meetings with the stakeholders organized.
Linkage with private sector; financial banks or cooperatives established in Nepal.
Progress reports and donor reports prepared.
A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, suchas reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

13. Qualifications/Requirements:
Education: Completed university degree from accredited academic institutions, preferably in Development,
Management, International Relations, Social Science, Agriculture or similar/higher degree. University
Degree in Business Administration with a specialization in marketing and entrepreneurship development
will be an advantage.
Experience: Strong knowledge/experience in result oriented approach to project implementation. Exposure
to Public Private Partnership will be an advantage.
Skills: Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with others in the workplace.
Competences: Result driven, ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines. Ability to perform
effectively in a culturally diverse work environment.
Languages: Excellent communication skills in English (verbal and written).
14. Living Conditions:
The Placement will be in Kathmandu where there are adequate living conditions. Kathmandu, the capital ofNepal, is in Level II of the UN Security classification, but may change depending on the development of thesecurity situation. Living conditions in Kathmandu are good. Accommodation, food and other basic
materials are easily available in Kathmandu.
15. Conditions of Service
A 12 months contract; monthly volunteer living allowance (VLA) intended to cover housing, basic needs
and utilities, equivalent to US$ 1760 for single person, US$ 2010 for person with one dependant, andUS$ 2210 for person with two or more recognized dependants; settling-in-grant (if applicable); life, health,and permanent disability insurance; return airfares (if applicable); resettlement allowance for satisfactory
service.

Description of Assignment prepared by the UNV Field Unit/UN Agency:
Pravina Gurung, Project Coordinator, IOM Nepal
Date: 21/01/2013
Description of Assignment approved by UNDP/RR/CD or UNV Field Unit:
Jung Yuen Park, Associate Programme Officer, UNV Nepal
Date: 24/01/2013