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
velopment 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
long-established,established, ancient traditions of sharing andasupport 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 coco-workers,
workers, host agencies and local communities.
In all assignments, UN Volunteers promote vvolunteerism
olunteerism 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:

Volunteer Network Coordinator

2. Type of Assignment:International UN Volunteer

3. UNV Programme Strategy:

Outcome 5, Crisis Prevention and Recovery (capacity development);
Social Inclusion Pillars: youth, women and marginalized communities;
Mobilization of volunteers through strengthening youth led organizations,volunteer networks and harnessing the potential of youth

4. Project Title:

Early Recovery Facility (ERF)

5. Duration:

12 months

6. Location, Country:

Dhaka, Bangladesh

7. Expected Starting Date:

March 2013

8. Brief Project Description:
The Early Recovery Facility (ERF) is aimed at promoting national ownership of the post
po disaster earlyrecovery process through the fullest possible engagement of national and local authorities in the planning,execution and monitoring of recovery actions with UNDP assistance. It will mobilize resources to prepare,plan, and implement interventions
rventions to ensure that the people affected by disasters recover and seek
development gains. The ERF will support the national and local government in developing policies andplans for full recovery. Such support will be provided through systematic asses
assessment
sment of recovery needs,
coordination amongst various agencies, preparation of an early recovery plan/ framework, and humanresource support wherever necessary. The ERF will promote equity, social inclusion, and transparency inpromoting recovery policies and plans. It will advocate people’s participation in recovery planning, andpromote policies and programmes which do not discriminate on the basis of gender, ethnicity, religion, age,disability, etc. The ERF will support and strengthen the Early Recovery Network and Early Recovery
Cluster in Bangladesh, develop an overall recovery preparedness plan, and advocate for the allocation ofresources in support of early recovery activities. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
recognizes that there are several
veral agencies, from both the United Nations (UN) system and NonNon
Governmental Organizations (NGO) sector, which have extensive experience and operational capacity inthe area of recovery. The ERF will not seek to replace the existing capacity with its own. The ERF will buildon the national and local capacity for recovery, and highlight the need for recovery programmes through its
advocacy and knowledge management. The ERF will strive to ensure that recovery assistance is available
to those who need it most,, that there are no significant gaps in the overall recovery programme, andvarious sectors are adequately represented and harmonized.

9. Host Agency/Host Institute: UNDP Bangladesh
10. Organizational Context:
The ERF functions as a professional unitunit,, dedicated to implementing UNDP’s early recovery policies andguiding principles in the national context of Bangladesh. It will be supported by a core team, led by an
International Project Manager. The Manager is supported by four advisors with expertise in shelter,
capacity building and monitoring & evaluation as well as Project Officer and Admin and Finance
Associate. ERF’s aim is to establish synergy with the Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme(CDMP) phase II, another important programme of ththee UNDP to map out areas where each cancomplement the other and avoid probable duplication. UNDP country office through Climate Change,
Environment & Disaster (CCED) Cluster is playing assurance role to manage and achieve the expected
results of ERF.
Thee ERF will strive to expand its partnership with national volunteer organizations. ERF will support thecreation of network of ‘disaster volunteers’ comprising and linking the existing bases; such as Bangladesh
Scouts, Girl Guides and Red Cross/Red Cresce
Crescent
nt Volunteers/Cyclone Preparedness Programme. ERF will
support the establishment of a common platform of ‘disaster volunteers’ for effective coordination ofvolunteer groups and invest in skill enhancement.
The Volunteer Network Coordinator would work together with ERF Capacity Building Specialist in
facilitating the implementation
ntation of capacity building pr
programme designed for the volunteer organizations in
Bangladesh on behalf of ERF.
11. Type of Assignment Place: assignment withwithout family (HPC specific)
12. Description of tasks:
Under the direct supervision of ERF Capacity Building Specialist and secondary supervision of the UNV
Programme Officer, the Volunteer Network Coordinator will undertake the following tasks:
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Support implementation of capacity development of national volunteer organizations;organizations
Finalize SOP for partnership with Bangladesh Scouts
Scouts;Develop database of volunteer forces
forces;Strengthen partnership with Narayanaganj City CCorporation
orporation for disaster response capacity;
capacity
Develop network of urban volunteers in partnership with the UNDP Urban Partnerships for Poverty
Reduction (UPPR) projectproject;
Facilitate learning and sharing of volunteers experiences
experiences;
Develop a strategy for UNDP to mobilize national aandnd international volunteers
voluntefor emergency
response and early recovery
recovery;Support ERF team for emergency response as needed; andAny other related tasks as required.

Promotion of the United Nations Volunteers Programme mandate

1

UN volunteers are expected to integrate the UN Volunteers Programme mandate within theirassignment as well as promote voluntary action through engagement with communities (urban & rural)
during the course of their work. As such UN volunteers should dedicate a proportion of their working
week to the following
llowing in support of and in synergy with his/her primary role as UNV NetworkCoordinator:•1

Strengthen knowledge and understanding of the influence and impact of voluntary action bycommunities through the following:

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme was created by the General Assembly (GA) in 1970 through GA resolution 26/59.
26/59 Since then, UNV’s mandate has
been expanded by GA resolution 31/131 in 1976, GA resolution 56/38 in 2001 and others in the follow-up
up to the International Year of Volunteers in 2001.

oooo•••••

research of the subject matter,developp knowledge of nonnon-profit
profit community based organizations developing new orapplying traditional methods in engaging with communities,
undertake awarenessawareness-raisingraising (promotion) activities for increased community
participation and action,encourage local peopl
peoplee to volunteer thought and action to enhancing their community.

Build relationships with a wide range (private/public) local organizations, groups or individuals andsupport and/or participate in community driven voluntary activities and assist them to tell theirstories to the World Volunteer Web site;
Encourage, mobilize and support coco-workers
workers and fellow UN volunteers to better understand theconnections between community participation and voluntarism;
Monitor on a continual basis the impact of policy reform on voluntary action at the community level;
Contribute to articles/write-ups
ups on the findings from the monitoring process and experiences fromthe above outlined activities and submit them to UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press
releases, etc.;
Promote and/or advise local groups in the use of OV (online volunteering), and encourage relevant
local individuals and groups to use OV whenever technically possible.

13. Results/Expected Output:• Capacity development of national volunteer
volunteers implemented;• SOP for partnership with Bangladesh Scouts finalized and functional;• Databasee of volunteer forces developed;• Partnership with Narayanaganj city corporation for disaster response capacity strengthened;• Network of urban volunteers in pa
partnership with UPPR established;• Learning and sharing of volunteers experiences advanced
advanced;• Integrated and coordinated national volunteer network ready to respond to disaster events;
events• Strategy for UNDP Bangladesh to mobilize national and international volunteers forfo emergency
response and early recovery
recovery;• Final Report on the assignment for both ERF and UNV
UNV.
14. Qualifications/Requirements:• An undergraduate degree in social science or related field. Post graduate studies in humanitarian
aid/development/community management related field is an asset.
• Fluency in written and spoken English;•Past experience and/or interest in Early Recovery and Em
Emergencyergency Response will be an asset;• Computer Skills: ability to use standard software applications. Additional software applications for
programming, database management, developing communications materials will be an asset.
• Working experience in the develo
developed country would be an advantage.
Competencies and values:• Integrity and professionalism
professionalism:: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply
good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership;
willingness
ingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under establishedprocedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality andneutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately aandnd confidentially; responsive andclient-oriented;• Commitment to continuous learninglearning:: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stayabreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment;• Planning andd organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving
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,pressure with conflicting
deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;• Teamwork and respect for diversity
diversity:: ability to operate effectively across organizationalboundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious
harmoni
working
relations in a multi-cultural,cultural, multi
multi-ethnic
ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity andgender;• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills,
including ability to prepare clear and coconcise
ncise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate
options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability tocommunicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers,counterpartss and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer
information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;• Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere,remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardshipand little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness
too transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary; Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement,engagement which includes
solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and selfself-reliance;
reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.
15. Living Conditions:Dhaka is the center of political, cultural and economic life in Bangladesh. Although its urban infrastructureis the most developed in the country, Dhaka suffers from urban problems such as pollution
and overpopulation. In recent
ecent decades, Dhaka has seen modernization of transport, communications andpublic works. The city is attracting large foreign investments and greater volumes of commerce and trade.
It is also experiencing an increasing influx of people from across the nanation;
tion; this has reportedly madeDhaka one of the fastest growing cities in the worldworld.
16. Conditions of Service
A 12 month contract; monthly volunteer living allowance (VLA) intended to cover housing, basic needs andutilities, equivalent to US$1,885 for single person; US$2,135 for persons with one recognized dependent;
or US$2,335 for persons with two or more recognized dependents; settling
settling-in-grant
grant (if applicable); life,
health, and permanent disability insurance; return airfares (if applicable); resettlement
resettlallowance forsatisfactory service. All UN Volunteers are required to follow the Revised UNV Conditions of Service whichcame into effect in September 2008.
Description of Assignment prepared by the UNV Field Unit/UN Agency:
Seeta GiriProject Manager
Early Recovery FacilityUNDP Bangladesh
Date: 23 January 2013
Description of Assignment approved by UNDP/RR/CD or UNV Field Unit:
Sesheeni Joud Selvaratnam
Programme Officer
UNV Bangladesh
Date: 23 January 2013