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The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and 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 and support 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 in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, as well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make the time they spend as UN Volunteers even more rewarding and productive.

Organizational context and brief project description

UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled ensuring rights and choices for all. The three transformative results for UNFPA are ending preventable maternal deaths, ending unmet need for family planning and ending gender-based violence and all harmful practices including child marriage.  UNFPA’s India Country Programme 9 focuses on empowering young people with critical life skills and invests in adolescent health and well-being; ensuring universal access to high quality sexual and reproductive health and rights; addressing gender discrimination and harmful practices such as gender-biased sex selection and child marriage, and using population data to maximize the demographic dividend.

UNFPA supports in designing policies and programmes for the empowerment of young people, in addition to interventions aimed at improving health and wellbeing of young people. The focus is on addressing vulnerabilities of adolescents from marginalized communities especially from the rural, tribal and urban poor communities in line with the principle of leaving non behind.

Living Conditions

Jaipur is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. As of 2011, the city had a population of 3.1 million, making it the tenth most populous city in the country. Jaipur is also known as the Pink City, due to the dominant color scheme of its buildings. Jaipur has a hot semi-arid climate. It receives over 63 cm of rainfall annually. But most rains occur in the monsoon months between June and September. Temperatures remain relatively high during summer from April to early July having average daily temperatures of around 27.6' C (82' F). During the monsoon, there are frequent, heavy rains and thunderstorms, but flooding is not common. The winter months of November to February are mild and pleasant, with average temperatures ranging from 18' C (64' F) and with high humidity, but with occasional cold waves. Jaipur, like many other major cities of the world, is a significant urban heat island zone with surrounding rural temperatures occasionally falling below freezing in winters.

Conditions of Service for national UN Youth Volunteers

The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.

Travel to duty station (if applicable) and a Settling-In-Grant will be provided in the event the duty station is not within commuting distance from the place of recruitment. A Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) of Rs. 33,978.67 (Rupees Thirty-Three Thousand Nine-Hundred Seventy-Eight and Paise Sixty-Seven only) is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents), as well as final repatriation (if applicable) and resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.

Furthermore, in non-family duty stations that belong to hardship categories D or E, as classified by the ICSC, a Well-Being Differential (WBD) will be provided monthly.

 

Under the overall guidance of the Country Representative, the oversight of the Assistant Representative and the direct supervision of the State Programme Coordinator, the NUN Youth Volunteer - State Programme Associate – Youth & Gender will perform the following tasks:

  • Keep abreast of new policy developments and strategies analyzing policy papers, strategy documents, State plans and development frameworks and provides inputs to programming in these areas In collaboration with State Government counterparts, NGOs and other partners work towards integrating youth, disability and gender dimensions in UNFPA programming, monitoring and evaluation and ensure that youth and gender issues are considered in addressing population issues.
  • Provides technical assistance within the framework of agreed work plans for successful implementation of the Youth and Gender component of the State Programme.
  • Supports the State office in implementing and monitoring various programmes for adolescents and youth and work towards establishing convergence with health and other sectors on ground in collaboration with key stakeholders.
  • Engages with implementing partners and also undertakes field visits to project sites to facilitate timely and efficient delivery of project inputs.
  • Support in preparing briefs on selected priority areas and project/research briefs on the basis of systematic analysis of processes and outputs derived from the UNFPA supported Youth and Gender projects.
  • Help to create and document knowledge about current and emerging youth and gender issues, by analyzing programmes, projects, strategies, approaches and ongoing experience for lessons learned, best practices, and shares with the Country office team for use in knowledge sharing and planning future strategies.
  • Assist in monitoring of ongoing programme and projects through field visits and analysis of progress reports.
  • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

  • 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 mark International Volunteer Day);
  • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
  • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.  
  • 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 local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/expected outputs

  • As an active team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNFPA State Office and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:
    • Supported institutionalization of Adolescence Education programme in the existing state school system.
    • Youth and Gender mainstreamed in all the State office interventions 
    • Technical support provided to implementing partners for the implementation of their Annual Work Plans
  • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment
  • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed
  • Supported institutionalization of Adolescence Education programme in the existing state school system.
  • Youth and Gender mainstreamed in all the State office interventions 
  • Technical support provided to implementing partners for the implementation of their Annual Work Plans

 

Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNDP; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNDP procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;

Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNDP in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority;

Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;

Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.

Planning and organizing effective organizational and problem-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, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;

Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts 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 to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary;

Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNDP’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values. 

 

Bachelor's degree in social science or a related field

Since this is a NUN Youth Volunteer position, professional work experience is not required. However, relevant programme implementation and monitoring experience will be an added advantage

Fluency in spoken and written English and Hindi is Mandatory.

Strong team skills including ability to establish effective working relations with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor own work plan and those relevant to the team members

Resourcefulness, efficient in taking initiative, maturity of judgment, tact;

Good analytical, organizing and planning skills;

Good communication and negotiation skills;

Ability to work independently;

Knowledge of the region;

Willingness to travel to project sites and other areas as needed

 

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme which welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture.

United Nations Volunteers reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this opening for other openings with United Nations Volunteers with similar assignment description, experience and educational requirements.

 

Contract Duration: One year with possibility of extension

This vacancy is archived.

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