UNV 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
volunteers.
In most cultures volunteerism is deeply embedded in long
long-established,established, ancient traditions of sharing andsupport within the communities. In this context, UNV volunteers take part in varivariousous forms of volunteerism
and play a role in development and peace together with coco-workers,
workers, host agencies and local communities.
In all assignments, UNV volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct. Engaging involunteer activity can effectively
ffectively 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 UNV volunteers even more rewarding and productiv
productive.
1. UNV Assignment Title:
2. Type of Assignment:International UN Volunteer

3. Project Title:

Community Health Worker Programme

4. Duration:

One year, renewable

5. Location, Country:

Nairobi, Kenya with frequent travel to Somalia as security allows.
Volunteer may be required to work anywhere in area of operations,operationincluding in remote locations.

6. Expected Starting Date:

Immediate

7. Brief Project Description:

In Somalia it is estimated that 18 children in every hundred – nearly one
in five – will die before their fifth birthday. This means at least 70,000
children a year who will not reach their fifth birthday. A child born inSomalia has a higher chance of dyi
dyingng before the age of five thanpractically anywhere else in the world. The main causes of child death inSomalia are pneumonia (24%), diarrhoea (19%), neonatal illnesses(23%), measles (7%) and malaria (5%). Poor infant and young children
feeding and hygie
hygienene behaviours are a significant contributor to morbidity
and mortality. Many deaths can be prevented through preventative andpromotive interventions (breastfeeding, proper nutrition, vaccinations,hand washing, safe drinking water, and basic sanitation) and throughquick diagnosis and treatment.
UNICEF joined FAO and WFP to develop a joint strategy for resilience toaddress the root causes of the famine and other emergencies, and toenhance coping strategies and resilience in Somalia. One of the criticalinterventions under this strategy is to develop capacity of communities,
especially human resources, through whom various services aredelivered, and people’s demand, knowledge and awareness is enhanced.
UNICEF has been supporting capacity development andan mobilization ofcommunity human resources including a limited number of health,nutrition and WASH community workers for delivery of social services,advocacy and communication for behavioural change at community andhousehold level.

0As most child deaths occur at home, due to scarcity or inaccessibility ofhealth facilities, UNICEF Somalia in collaboration with WHO has initiateda community based initiative through integrated community
commucasemanagement ((CCM)
CCM) to reduce common neonatal and childhood illnesses
ilsuch as diarrhoea, pneumonia, malaria, and complications arising fromacute malnutrition at a household level. This community-based
community
strategyuses trained, supervised Village Health Workers living in areas without
access to medical facilities to deldeliver life-savingsaving health services to themost disadvantaged children.
Evidence shows that CHWs can make not only a significant impact on
improving accessibility and affordability of basic health services, but theyalso contribute to community development aandnd resilience (due to theirtrusted position in the community and their impact on health and nutritionstatus). In countries with well supported CHW systems, there can besignificant improvements in indicators such as decreases in diarrheal andrespiratory disease or increases in optimal infant and young child feedingpractices. In one area of Indonesia a functional CHW system helped
reduce infant mortality by 30% in 7 years. In Ethiopia a massive andrapid scale up of CHWs is starting to show positive effects
effeon many
critical indicators. The WHO affirms that CHWs play a role that cannot be
fulfilled by the formal health system or by communities alone - they form
the vital link between these two bodies. In the context of Somalia (remoteand underprivileged ccommunities,ommunities, poor coverage of existing healthsystem, strong social support systems) makes it the ideal location todevelop a well
well-managed
managed CHW system that can have a significant impact
on the health and nutrition of communities
Each extension worker will be recruited from their communities, trainedfor 3 months and will cover a population of 700 – 1,000 people (100-150
households). Because of their close contact with communities, VHWs areideal change agents and they will be trained in interpersonalcommunic
communication
ation to support the communities’ adoption of optimal
preventive and promotive nutrition, health and hygiene behaviours. This
will complement their ability to diagnose and provide life-saving
life
treatmentfor diarrhoea, pneumonia and malaria and identify severe
sev
acute
malnutrition cases for referral. A total of 12,000 workers will be needed tocover the entire country and UNICEF intends to support the deploymentof 9,500 over the next three years. The extension workers will be mainly
women, some of whom have b
been
een working before as community healthworkers or traditional birth attendants. The VHWs, who are chosen by thecommunity, visit households in their area to monitor the health of theunder five year old children.
The strengthening of basic services at com
community
munity level is part of
UNICEF’s work to increase the resilience of local communities to allow
them to withstand future shocks.
Under the overall guidance of the Chief of ACSD, and in close
coordination with health, nutrition and WASH staff the Project Officer will
be responsible for design of the project, implementation and monitoring.

7. Host Agency/Host Institute:

UNICEF Somalia

8. Organizational Context:

UNICEF Somalia seeks to recruit a UNV project officer to work inclose collaboration with the ACSD project staff, Government officials,

1

to design and roll out the community health extension worker
programme. Travel to Somalia will be an integral part of the duties.
9. Type of Assignment Place:

Assignment with family

10. Description of tasks:
The Project Officer will support in project design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation ofthe project and will be accountable for the following results:
••••
••
•
•

Design a work plan outlining agreed scope of services, methodology and timeframe.
Review all the relevant documents related to community based services and interventions andresilience
Collect all relevant information and data on needs and actual supports of community based
services and interventions from UNICEF programme sections and field offices and relevant
partners
Do mapping and analyses of those information and data in terms of geographic locations, job
description, incentives, time allocation, qualification, and others
In consultation with UNICEF programme sections and field offices and relevant partners, examine
the areas of better coordination and integration of community based services and interventions
and the ways to facilitate coordination and integration
Develop a consolidated plan of UNICEF’s community based activities for 5 years (2013-2017)(2013
toreflect in UNICEF’s resilience plan.
Develop a budget plan to implement the above plan
Support the gradual roll –out
out of plan

UNV 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 markInternational Volunteer Day);
Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local fforms
orms of volunteerism in the host country;
network and build relationships with local organizations, groups or individuals, and support and/orparticipate in local volunteering initiatives; reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they
are undertaking,ndertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
Contribute articles/write-ups
ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites,
newsletters, press releases, etc.; initiate and/or participate in local volunteer groups,groups including
assisting them in submitting stories and experiences to the World Volunteer Web site;
Promote or advise local groups on the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local
individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technicallypossible;
Encourage, mobilize and support coco-workers,workers, fellow UNV volunteers and members of the local
community to play an active part in peace and development activities on a voluntary basis;
Discuss with supervisors how volun
volunteerismteerism for peace and development can be mainstreamed in theassignment and integrate activities promoting volunteerism for peace and development into workplans;
Assist with the UNV “buddy programme” for newly arriving UNV volunteers.

12. Results/Expected Outputs:•

Development of project/programme documentation including concept notes, draft log-frames, termsof references, workplans and project notes
notes;

2•••Development
evelopment and finalization of budgeted programme plan
Development of a shared understanding of project strategies
ies including capacity building strategies inclose collaboration with Somali counterparts and key stakeholders
Project implementation mechanisms and strategies developed, operationalized and updated asneeded; identification of any problems, bottlenecks and recommendations on how to correct them.
.

13. Profile Requirements:a) Qualifications, skills, experience:
Education:
Science, Community development related field with at• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Social Science
least 3 years of relevant work experience in project planning, monitoring, evaluation, andan incapacity building.
• A first level university degree in the Social Sciences, or related field; with a combination of 5 yearsof work experience in a related field may be a
accepted
ccepted in lieu of the master’s degree.
Required experience and skills:• Excellent written
ritten and spoken English;• Excellent drafting skills in English;• Excellent thematic understanding of community development work;• Good team-buildingbuilding skills and ability to work effectively with people from different backgrounds.
Desirable:• Good Knowledge of the institutional context of Somalia;• Experience of working in an international organization and/or multicultural environment;.
b) Competencies and values:••••••

Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply goodjudgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness toaccept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in apolitically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to
manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;
clientAccountability:
ountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules andregulations;
Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of
new developments in area of expertise; ability
ility to adapt to changes in work environment;
Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem
problem-solving
solving skills and ability to manage alarge volume of work in an efficient and timely mannermanner; ability to establish priorities and to plan,
coordinate
ate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and tohandle multiple concurrent projects/activities;
Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries;
ability to establish
stablish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multimulti
cultural, multi-ethnic
ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender;
Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication
communica
skills, including
ability to prepare clear and concise reports
reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options andpositions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations
recommendations; ability to communicate and3••empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local
interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful
towards the staff, but objective, without showing p
personalersonal interest; capacity to transfer information andknowledge to a wide range of different target groups;
Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote andpotentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and littlecomfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer toother duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary;
Genuine commitment
ommitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity,
compassion, reciprocity and selfself-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

14. Living Conditions: Nairobi/Kenya/Kenya is a family duty station and while
hile in Kenya or Somalia, thevolunteer will be subject to the overall direction and guidance of the UN Designated Official (DO) forsecurity. This is usually the UNDP Resident Representative. The volunteer will be incorporated into allapplicable security protocols and will be required to strictly adhere to the guidelines, security plansand other directives issued by the DO. While in Somalia, the vo
volunteer
lunteer will be accommodated at UN
guest houses/UNCC & Vilas that have been cleared by UNDSS.
15. Conditions of Service: Contract is issued for 12 months at a time (renewable depending on mandate,availability of funding, operational necessity andand/or satisfactory
tory performance). Settling-In-Grant
Settlingisprovided except if the person already is resident in Nairobi
Nairobi.. Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA)– intended to cover housing, utilities, and normal cost
cost-of-living expenses – ranges between
betw
US$ 1,976,
US$ 2,226 and US$ 2, 426 depending on the number of primary dependents. Hazardous duty station
supplement (HDSS) amounting to US$ 546 per months may be applicable in certain duty stations. Life,
health and permanent disability insurance
insurances are included, as well as periodic
riodic home leave, final
repatriation, and resettlement allowance. UNV will provide a copy of the UNV Conditions of Service tothe successful candidate together with the offer of assignment.

Description of Assignment prepared by the Project Manager/UN Entity
Chief ACSD – UNICEF Somalia
Date: 25/01/2013

Description of Assignment approved by UNV Country Office Team/Support Office:– UNV Programme Officer – UNDP Somalia
Date: 25/01/20134