Mission and objectivesThe 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.
ContextAt country level, the UNV Field Unit (FU) and/or designated UNV personnel are responsible for the mobilization and placement of UN Volunteers in UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes in the areas of peace, development and humanitarian assistance. UNV Field Units/designated UNV personnel represent and position UNV in the respective countries with a focus on the UN Country Team, bringing UNVโs services and solutions closer to its partners within a client service approach and collaborating with other stakeholders from government, civil society and private sector. As UNDP represents UNV at country level, UNV personnel are usually hosted within a UNDP Office and are accountable to the Supervisor and UNV Executive Coordinator for compliance with UNV and UNDP policies, rules and regulations. The initial contract will be till 31 Mar 2026 or 3 months. There may be further extensions in line with the UNV Country Presence Review implementation and United Conditions of Service update.
Task DescriptionUnder the general guidance of the Regional Manager, with day-to-day reporting to the Country Coordinator, the UN Volunteer serving as Area Coordination Assistant supports the identification, development, and cultivation of select partnerships with UN Agencies / Host Entities at country level. This includes managing the relationship with priority partners, facilitating the exchange of data and information that influence volunteer mobilization opportunities, ensuring partnersโ satisfaction with volunteer services, and bridging the delivery of services from centralized functions of the volunteer management cycle. The critical purpose of this UNV assignment is the sustained mobilization of volunteers to the designated partners (clients) while upholding the duty of care for serving volunteers. The role involves regular contact and liaison with counterpart UN personnel at all levels, including senior level staff. Within UNV, all personnel are expected to work across multiple units, functions, and teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration. 1. Assist in mobilizing volunteers and developing and maintaining partnerships โข Support the mobilization of UN Volunteers and follow up on partnership opportunities with UN entities in the assigned area. โข Share your own experience as a UN Volunteer to highlight UNVโs mandate, key offers, and the added value of volunteer assignments. โข Provide the Country Coordinator with relevant data, feedback, and business intelligence to track progress and improve service delivery. โข Record mobilization opportunities in UNVโs Client Relationship Management (CRM) system and help document entry points to increase volunteer assignments. โข Collect and share information on UN programming frameworks (e.g., UNSDCF, ERPs, agency country programmes), as well as changes in the broader operating environment such as government priorities, donor commitments, or crisis response. โข Contribute to developing tailored initiatives and offers that respond to partnersโ needs for volunteer services. โข Support the preparation of presentations, mapping, and key messages to highlight opportunities for volunteerism. โข Serve as focal point for online volunteering in coordination with the Regional Office, supporting host entities to create OV opportunities and promoting the concept of online volunteering. โข Assist in identifying volunteer placement opportunities and in preparing descriptions of assignments with partner agencies. 2. Support talent acquisition and outreach โข Provide support in attracting qualified local talent in line with the countryโs demand forecast and agreed talent acquisition priorities, under the guidance of the Operations Analyst, Talent Acquisition in the Regional Office. โข Assist in identifying the most effective channels for attracting local talent for potential UNV assignments. โข Support the Country Coordinator and UN partners in advocacy and talent outreach campaigns, promotional presentations with Host Entities, and engagement with local volunteer organizations, including by sharing your personal experience as a UN Volunteer. โข Contribute to the organization of advocacy campaigns and key events that raise awareness and foster engagement. โข Support the Country Coordinator in ensuring timely and effective selection processes for UN Volunteer assignments. 3. Support volunteer experience and duty of care โข As a fellow UN Volunteer, assist with onboarding to ensure volunteers receive timely information, resources, and a smooth start to their assignments. โข Provide support throughout the volunteer management cycle, responding to inquiries, sharing updates, and escalating concerns as needed to ensure a positive and inclusive experience. โข Help gather and compile volunteer feedback; contribute to and participate in appreciation initiatives and local events that foster engagement and belonging. โข Support relationships with host entities by sharing information on volunteer roles, assisting with coordination tasks, and helping ensure effective integration of volunteers. โข Contribute to duty of care by liaising with security focal points, supporting emergency headcounts, and assisting volunteers during medical evacuations in line with UNV procedures. โข Provide tailored support to volunteers facing language or integration challenges, ensuring they can access information and navigate their assignment environment. โข Share information, including personal experience, with host entities and volunteers on UNVโs enabling instruments for health and wellbeing, including insurance and related benefits. โข Backstop other functions in the Field Unit during peak periods or staff absences, helping ensure continuity of support and care for volunteers.
Competencies and valuesโข System Thinking - Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgment to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact other parts of the system โข Relationship Management - Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding. โข Results-based Management - Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools. โข Customer Satisfaction/Client Management - Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns. โข Integration within the UN System - Ability to identify and integrate the capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work. Knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations โข Knowledge Generation - Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.
Living conditions and remarksAs this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.โ