Background ย UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. ย UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks. ย Job Purpose and Organizational Context
In 2023, the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) approved a 5-year (2024 โ 2028) project for the Republic of Uzbekistan entitled Integrated Rural Development (IRD) Project in Uzbekistan that is financed and executed by the IsDB in response to an official request from the Government of Uzbekistan. The Project will be implemented under the National Implementation Modality (NIM) with the MEF playing an executing entityโs/implementing partnerโs role for it. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) County Office in Uzbekistan is responsible for Component B: Consultancy services for rural infrastructure development - Community empowerment.
The Project has 3 main interconnected components:
Output 1: Development and implementation of Community Development Plans (CDPs). Strengthened capacities of 157 mahallas in Samarkand, Kashkadarya, and Surkhandarya regions in participatory CDP process that result in development, implementation, and oversight of climate smart CDPs focusing on improvements of infrastructure and services.
Output 2: Capacity building in income generation, with focus on vulnerable groups. Strengthened capacities of businesses and individuals such as entrepreneurs who work in agriculture complex, including the vulnerable groups in businesses development/expansion.
Output 3: Capacity building of regional and local authorities. Strengthened capacities of officials in all targeted regional and local authorities in participatory planning, implementation, oversight, and sustainable management of the local infrastructure and services. 2. Strengthened capacities of local residents, including the vulnerable groups in participatory decision making.
The Project will be implemented in Samarkand, Kashkadarya, and Surkhandarya regions where Project offices will be established.
The Community Development Associate will contribute to address the needs of rural communities in target communities. S/he will be particularly contributing to achieving the output 1 and 2, while also supporting the implementation of other project outputs and will be in charge of ensuring successful implementation of the projectโs activities related to ensuring supporting community mobilization, enhancing peopleโs skills on community development planning in remote rural areas.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Project Analyst in Surkhandarya region and overall supervision of Project Manager and in close collaboration with relevant project staff and partners, the Community Development Associate will be responsible for successful achievement of the project results towards ensuring enhanced rural community development and on the overall project activities. The incumbent will perform the following duties and responsibilities:
Support with community development plans
Select vulnerable rural communities and help them with participatory decentralized planning and rehabilitation of essential public services such as water supply, agriculture infrastructure and access to digital solutions. Ensure activities are aligned with the GoU renewable energy and green development national priorities. Enhance participation of women and vulnerable groups and ensure throughout the project cycle to support their empowerment. Conduct capacity building needs assessment and organize trainings to address them. Provide assistance to execute community development plans in target communities through an inclusive community engagement, differentiated at the levels of gender, age, location and disability. Collect passport data from mahalla committees and Village Council of Citizens in target districts, select major socio-economic statistic data relevant to the Project interventions. Conduct analysis of compiled data on relevant indicators and provide rapid analysis report with the list of most vulnerable communities to implement the Project interventions.Support with community mobilization
Undertake a desk-based study, including a literature review on the community mobilization techniques and methods in order to use the best-practices and lessons-learned for promoting participatory local development in the region; Use and develop participatory approaches consistent with gender equality in organizing the community engagement and empowerment related events (meetings, consultations, etc.,); Develop training modules and manual on community mobilization, which should cover the detailed steps of community mobilization and appropriate methods that needs to be used in the context of target regions; Ensure that developed training methodologies promote women's equal access to different social benefits including the labour markets and sustainable employment. Carry out all stages of community mobilization and development work in accordance with the project AWPs; Provide trainings and consultations on preparation of community development plans to initiative groups. Undertake community mobilization workshops in project districts for initiative group members; Conduct regular monitoring of community activities in terms of community development plans and other activities.Support with resource mobilization for communities
Work closely with the established initiative groups and provide support and assistance to group on proposal development, community projects implementation, reporting and other activities; Provide necessary expert support to the relevant project team and local partners in identifying pilot communities for the project interventions. Support in piloting the establishment of different local resource-based approaches (e.g. the Drinking Water Association(s) for maintaining the water supply systems to ensure their sustainable functioning; Community Advisory Groups to monitor and provide substantive inputs in maintaining the social infrastructure, e.g. rural schools, healthcare points, etc.); Support in developing and deploying methods for effective and sustainable development of infrastructure in rural areas through promoting the local resource-based approaches.Support with learning and knowledge-sharing for communities.
Contribute to facilitate Learning and Knowledge-Sharing: Promote peer-to-peer learning, knowledge-sharing, and documentation of best practices to make local action more effective, sustainable, and replicable. Facilitate knowledge and best practice sharing between projects, UN/DP agencies, national implementing partner, government, communities to deeper integrate the work and idea of the programme; participate in relevant networks and meetings of practitioners.ยThe incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
The Community Development Associate will work under the direct supervision of the Project Analyst in Surkhandarya region and overall supervision of Project Manager and in close collaboration with relevant project staff and partners, the Community Development Associate will be responsible for successful achievement of the project results towards ensuring enhanced rural community development and on the overall project activities.
Competencies Coreย
Achieve Results:ย LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively:ย LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
Learn Continuously:ย LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility:ย LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
Act with Determination:ย LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner:ย LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion:ย LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination . Cross-Functional & Technical competenciesย ย Business Direction & Strategy:ย Business Acumen
Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome Ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organizationBusiness Development:ย 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.Business Management:ย Monitoring & Evaluation
Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.Communications :ย Marketing research and data analysis
Ability to create actionable marketing intelligence based on primary and secondary research and data analysis2030 Agenda: Planet: Climate
Climate Change Adaptation: Cross-sectoral climate resilient livelihoods Required Skills and Experience ย Education: Completion of Secondary education is required or Bachelorโs degree in Social and/or Development Studies, Education, Business and Administration or related discipline would be desired, but this is not a requirementExperience:
Minimum 7 years (with Secondary education) or 4 years (with bachelorโs degree) of proven track and relevant work experience in project implementation, preferable in rural areas.ยRequiredย skills
Experience in training coordination and management, community mobilization and developing community development plans. Experience in facilitating community development related projects. Knowledge and experience with development situation in Surkhandarya region Work experience with development agencies.ย Experience in project management and events coordination. Demonstrated ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource.Desired additional skills and competencies
Experience with UN and/or other international development organizations is an advantage. Demonstrated ability to lead planning, results-based management and reporting Demonstrated ability to formulate and manage budgetsย Proven experience in managing complex and challenging partnerships with governments and bilateral donors Experience in resource mobilization focusing on multilateral and bilateral donorsย Familiarity with gender issues; belief in UN ethics. ยRequired Language(s)ย
Fluency in Uzbek and Russian is required Good command of English is desirable.Other: Women candidates are encouraged to apply. ย Disclaimer ย Applicant information about UNDP rosters ย Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ย We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements. ย Scam warning ย The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.