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
elopment 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 andansupport 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 vo
volunteerism
lunteerism 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:

Agriculture and Rural Development Programme Officer

2. Type of Assignment:International UN Volunteer /Int/
National UN Volunteer /3. Project Title:

Agricultural bio--diversity

4. Duration:

One year

5. Location, Country:

Vientiane, Lao PDR

6. Expected Starting Date:

As soon as possible/

7. Brief Project Description:
FAO is one of the oldest development partners in the country. It has
collaborated with the Government since the establishment of the Lao PDR on 2nd December 1975. FAO
provides assistance to the Lao Government and to its people based onn the Lao Government’s vision andNational Socio -Economic
Economic Development Plan (NSEDP).. FAO interventions are designed within its Country
Programming Frame taking into account the Government’s development strategies for agriculture, ruraldevelopment and food security and in FAO’s commitments under UNDAF
UNDAF.
Agricultural biological diversity (agrobiodiversity) plays a significant economic role in Lao PDR, where ruralpeople rely on a large and varied number of species for their diet. Unsustainable farming intensification andthe conversion of land for monomono-cropping
cropping and plantations, however, is reducing the diversity of crop,
livestock and wild species - and many local varieties of rice and other crops have been displaced by
improved varieties with greater nneeds
eeds for agrochemicals. In uplands, wild relatives of rice and otherterrestrial and aquatic species are at risk from changes in land use and agro
agro-ecosystems.
ystems.
Improving the contribution of agrobiodiversity through enhancing knowledge and improving management
capacity in the agricultural sector were identified in the Lao PDR National Agricultural Biodiversity
Programme (2004) as national priorities of the Lao Government. Building upon this, UNDP, FAO and theLao PDR Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) developed the project “Mainstreaming Biodiversity into
Agriculture and Land Management in Lao PDR’s Policies Programmes and Plans” (in short“Agrobiodiversity Project” (ABP)). The ABP project was approved for GEF funding in December 2010 andstarted its operation (UNDP NIM) in mid 2011. The inception report was approved by MAF in January 2012.
The project works strategically with central government, local authorities, agribusiness sector, NGO,farmers, donors,ors, other projects, and the general public to make biodiversity a key consideration in routine

day-to-day
day decision making. The objective of the ABP is to provide farmers with the necessary incentives,
capabilities and supporting institutional framework to conserve agrobiodiversity within farming systems of
Lao PDR. The project’s three outcomes are:−Outcome 1: National policy and institutional frameworks for sustainable use, and in-situ
conservation of biodiversity in agro
agro-ecosystems;−

Outcome 2: Capacities and incentives to mainstream biodiversity, especially agrobiodiversity, at theProvincial, District and community levels; and−

Outcome 3: Effective project management.

In addition to agro-biodiversity,biodiversity, FAO is actively assisting Lao PDR in a range of policy
polic and programme
activities in the crop, livestock, forestry, fisheries and natural resource management sectors,
sectors as well as in across-sectoral
sectoral concerns offood and nutrition security, climate change, sustainable development and genderissues.
FAO has recently finalized the Country Progra
Programming Framework (CPF),, which outlines the joint
Government of Lao PDR (GoL) and FAO medium
medium-term priorities for FAO technical assistance in Lao PDR
over the period 2013-2015. The CPF priorities for LaO PDR are as follow
follows:
1. Improved food and nutritional security through enhanced resource productivity for food-insecure
foodfarm households
2. Environmentally sustainable production for the market by small farmers using value chain
approach
3. Sustainable natural resource management for crops, forests, fisheries and livestock
4. Reduced risk and vulnerability to natural and other disasters through prevention, preparedness
and response.
The FAO Representation hopes to strengthen its team with a UNV Agriculture and Rural Development
Deve
Programme Officer. He/she
he will be responsible in programme development in line with the CPF andnational development priorities,, and build on the past and ongoing work of FAO in Lao PDR.
PDR The UNV
Programme Officer will also provide technical and operational support
rt to various FAO projects andprogrammes.
8. Host Agency/Host Institute: FAO Representation, Lao PDR
9. Organizational Context:
FAO has good working relationships with Government counterparts from Agriculture,Agriculture Health, Environment
and the Planning and Investment sectors, with its specialized competencies, providing technical assistance.
The UNV Agriculture and Rural Development Programme Officer is expected to work closely with theMinistry of Agriculture and Forestry,orestry, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment,
Environment
Ministry of Planning and Investment
Investment,, and the National Disaster Management Office.
Office The main government
counterpart for FAO is the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. He/she will also collaborate with colleagues
from WFP, UNDP and UNICEF as well as with UN Habitat, UNODC,, UNIDO, and WHO when relevant. The
UNV will also liaise with IFIs, INGOs, Not
Not-for-Profit Associations (NPAs),, mass organizations and private
sector working in FAO related activities and work. He/s
He/she will be based in the FAO Representation Office inVientiane Capital.
10. Type of Assignment Place: assignment with family/ without family (please choose)
11. Description of tasks:
Under the direct supervision of FAO Representative, the UN Volunteer will assist the FAO Representationin carrying out the following tasks:

General:• Analyze and keep abreast of general development in socio-economiceconomic and agricultural and foodsecurity context, Government of Lao PDR’s ((GoL)
GoL) national development strategies and priorities,priorities inparticular with reference to sustainable agriculture, rural development and natural resourcemanagement;• Analyze and assess Lao PDR’s development assistance picture, donor country policies andprogramme priorities;
Policy / Programme:• Monitor and analyze key economic, agriculture
agriculture,, rural development and food security issues in Lao
PDR, prepare country brief and agriculture sector profile, and contribute to the identification of policyassistance priorities for Lao PDR
PDR;• Provide support to the FAO Representation in programme development
development, including identification ofproject ideas and their appraisal
appraisal, preparation of concept notes and project documents/proposals;
documents/proposals• Assist the FAO Representation developin
developing
g and reviewing technical cooperation programmes for Lao
PDR in accordance with agriculture development priorities and framework;• Participate in missions for both the identification, formulation and negotiation of potential FAO
programs, policies and projects,
cts, including monitoring and evaluation;• Assist the host country Government in the formulation of terms of reference, concept notes, andproject documents/project briefs for international technical cooperation, as requested;
requested
Coordination / Partnerships:• Support project staff, consultants and partner missions (i.e. liaising with relevant government
counterparts and development partners
partners, organizing programme missions, etc.);• Assist the FAO Representation Office in its coordination activities by responding to their requests andacting
ting as focal point within FAO, and FAO’s participation in inter-agency
agency working groups anddevelopment forums;• Actively participate in interagency assessments and assist in data/information analysis to identify gaps
and sectoral intervention;• Participate in the UNDAF Outcome Group meetings and reporting on FAO contribution to UNDAF
Outputs;• Provide support when necessary to FAO Representation’s participation in joint UN actions/activities
and national/multilateral strategies and processes (i.e. UN Country Team)
Information and Knowledge Management
Management:• Coordinate the collection, consolidation and maintenance of country data on food, crops, livestock,
forestry and fisheries including information on external aid in FAO’s corporate systems and monitorchanges in national policies aff
affecting the agricultural sector• Support the regular exchange of ininformation
formation on agriculture, rural development, food security andpoverty issues in Lao PDR among interested ministries, agencies and FAO Project Staff
Other:• Perform additional assignments as requerequested by the supervisor
Furthermore, UN Volunteers
s 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 tr
traditional
aditional 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
ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites,
newsletters, press releases, etc.;••Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly
newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
Promote or advise local groups in the use of online vovolunteering,
lunteering, or encourage relevant local
individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technicallypossible.

12. Results/Expected Output:••••Strengthen FAO technical assistance through the design, formulation, operation and programming ofactivities, creation of strategic partnerships and achieving resource mobilization targets;targets
Successful implementation, management and delivery of FAO projects/programmes in Lao PDR;
Contributed to enhanced understanding and documentation of issues to strengthen sustainableagriculture and rural development policy and programme impacts;
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:• Master’s degree in Agriculture and Rural Development, Economics, Public Policy, Social / PoliticalSciences, Development Studies, or other relevant discipline;• Experience
ce in the specific development programme area associated to this post such as agriculture
and rural development projects, programmes and policy analysis, and with a good understanding ofpolicy development;
humann rights based approach in the UN system, rural• Knowledge on and capacity to learn about the humasocio economic development, nutrition, food security and poverty issues, natural resourcesmanagement, sustainable development agenda (CSD)(CSD);• Basic knowledge of relevant institutional mandates, policies, guide
guidelines,
lines, and international donor
system is an advantage;
projects/programmes and coordination and/or in LDC countries;
countries• Experience working with development projects• Computer literacy and ability to use effectively word processing (Windows, Excel, Word) and moderncommunication tools (Internet, LAN, email, Website surfing and related software).

••••
••••
•
••

Competencies
Ability to develop professional networks; coordination skills
Ability to analyze technical issues, to write in English, clear and concise reports and project documents,
doand to make effective oral presentations.
Grasp of substantive development policy environment (UNDAF, MDGs, donor priorities, Round Table
Mechanism, etc.)
Good organizational and interpersonal skills
Working knowledge of English (Level C)
Limited knowledge of Lao language or a commitment to learn LaoGood communication and networking skills
Willingness and ability to engage productively in multi cultural environment with different levels ofgovernment, private sector, CSO’s, INGOs, UN agencies
Initiative
nitiative and sense of responsibility
Gender awareness and knowledge of critical gender issues to be mainstreamed in agricultural andrural development policies, strategies, programs and projects
Knowledge on and capacity to learn about the human rights ba
based
sed approach as applied in the UNsystem

14. Living Conditions:• The position will be based in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR. Living conditions in Vientiane are relativelygood. However, in light of lack of adequate availability of health services, the level of hardship in theduty station is classified as C (hardship). Security is also reasonably good in Vientiane.

15. Conditions of Service
A 12-month
month contract; monthly volunteer living allowance (VLA) intended to cover housing, basic needs andutilities, equivalent to US$ 1,933 for single person; US$ 2,183 for persons with one recognized depended;
US$ 2,383 for persons with two or more recognized dependents; settling-in-grant
grant (if applicable); life, health,and permanent disability insurance; return airfares (if applicable); resettlement allowance forf satisfactory
service.
Description of Assignment prepared by the UNV Field Unit/UN Agency:
Mr Puru, Head of Agency, FAO
Date: 25/01/13

Description of Assignment approved by UNDP/RR/CD or UNV Field Unit: Carla UNV PO
Date: 25/01/13