Background

Preamble:

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.

Brief Project Description:
 
The Local Governance and Community Development Programme (LGCDP II) is a national programme which is being implemented by the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD) and supported by a range of development partners.  LGCDP II’s Programme Document (PD) comprehensively describes LGCDP II’s rationale and approach along with its vision, goals and purpose.  The individual programme components and management arrangements are also fully described in the PD as is the Programme log frame and the results and reporting framework.
 
In LGCDP Phase I, UNV worked with the Government of Nepal’s National Development Volunteer Service (NDVS) and mobilized 100 NDVS Volunteers who were placed in 48 districts and 52 municipalities as Assistant District Facilitators (ADFs) and Assistant Municipality Facilitators (AMFs) respectively. These volunteers in turn supported local level planning and community empowerment activities at the district and municipality levels. The project has also supported NDVS for its capacity enhancement and promotion of volunteerism, with the objective of restructuring the organization into a volunteer resource and information centre under the auspices of the government’s National Planning Commission.
 
Building on the experience from the UNV component of phase-I, MoFALD and UNV are setting up a new pilot initiative, “University Youth IT Volunteers” for LGCDP phase-II. This component aims to digitize the working procedure of government of Nepal as well as strengthen and maintain the IT infrastructure of LBs (DDCs/Municipalities). A total of 141 Volunteers (133 IT) will be placed in 75 districts, 58 municipalities, 6 in each of the Regional Coordination Units (RCUs) and 2 in the Ministry (MoFALD) initially for 2 years. Through this UNJP, UNV will support capacity enhancement of youth volunteers and promotion of volunteerism and voluntary action at the local levels.

Duties and Responsibilities

Host Agency/Host Institute:  Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD)
Organizational Context:
The Local Governance and Community Development Programme (LGCDP) is a national programme which is being implemented by the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD) and supported by a range of development partners.  Under the overall supervision of the National Programme Director (NPD), Joint Secretary of the Local Self Governance Division in MoFALD, and the day-to-day supervision of the National Programme Manager (NPM), the Programme Coordination Unit (PCU) is responsible for providing support for the implementation of agreed programme activities. The national UN Volunteer ICT Coordinator will be located within the PCU and reports to the NPM.

Type of Assignment Place: assignment with family/without family
 
Description of tasks:
 
Under the direct super vision of the National Program Manager of the MoFALD, the national UN Volunteer ICT Coordinator will undertake the following tasks: 
  • Provide policy and programmatic advice to MoFALD regarding all ICT issues related to LGCDP II in line with the priorities outlined in the Annual Strategic Implementation Plan (ASIP);
  • Provide MoFALD Outcome Coordinators, the PCU, the RCUs and DGAs/UGAs with advice and support regarding their ICT facilities;
  • Provide input on ICT issues to any LGCDP II guidelines, manuals or other such documents;
  • Work closely with the PCU’s RBM Specialist to establish data collection/analysis, reporting and management information systems;
  • Integrate, document and compile the regional reports sent by National UNV ICT Expert (Regional) and submit to MoFALD;
  • Provide support to keep interlinked software between MoFALD, RCU and LBs up-to-date;
  • Provide technological backstopping and support on the regular reporting process of the MoFALD;
  • Help to establish digitized LGCDP records;
  • Support contingency management in ICT for the MoFALD;
  • Conduct ICT training for the ministry’s Officials;  
  • Compile and prepare ICT status/system audit report generated by UNV ICT Expert (Regional) and present to the MoFALD/LGCDP;
  • Prepare materials of MoFALD activities to be uploaded in the LGCDP website;
  • Assist MoFALD/LGCDP field missions and provide necessary support and information as requested by LGCDP PCU and UNV Field Unit;
  • Provide ICT support for meetings, workshop and seminars organized by MoFALD and LGCDP;
  • Support the IUNV IT Specialist and MoFALD technical staff with Installing, testing, upgrade and maintain system software’s, hardware and overall database system in MoFALD;
  • Provide support to ensure smooth day-to-day operation of the Ministry’s computer systems, include server infrastructure and LAN, desktop and laptop operations, overall networking system, troubleshooting and other ICT related issues;
  • Maintain close coordination with MoFALD and UNV Field Unit;
  • Provide support for Volunteer Information Management System (VIMS) installation;
  • Provide support to the MoFALD for the development of operational manual/guidelines for volunteer component;
  • Provide regular monitoring, supervision, coaching and mentoring of the Youth ICT Volunteers and the UNV ICT Expert (Regional);
  • Provide support to maintain, update, develop, website of LGCDP and MoFALD;
  • Provide support to develop and maintain the ongoing and required MIS systems for the Ministry;
  • Provide support for the implementation of outreach activities and promotion of volunteerism;
  • Support advocacy initiatives on volunteerism; 
  • Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing;
  • Promote/Organize advocacy initiatives on volunteerism. 

Furthermore, UN 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 mark International Volunteer Day (IVD);
  • Be acquainted with and build on traditional 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 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.
The key results and expected outputs of this position are as follows:
  • Substantive support is provided to UNV Nepal Field Unit and MoFALD regarding successful commencement of new pilot volunteer component;
  • The new pilot volunteer component is efficiently coordinated, facilitated, executed and monitored;
  • The planned MoFALD and LGCDP activities are regularly documented, communicated and reported to UNV Field Unit Nepal and UNV HQ (South Asia Portfolio Manager);
  • VIMS is well incorporated in the DB of the MoFALD;
  • ICT capacities of MoFALD, Regional ICT Experts and Local Bodies assessed and strengthened;
  • Operational manuals/guidelines for the volunteer component developed;
  • Social, poverty and resource maps digitized and fed into a MoFALD database system;
  • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

Living Conditions:

The whole of Nepal is currently in Phase1 of the UN security classifications. Although the duty station is Kathmandu there are possibilities of field missions to execute and support the activities.

Conditions of Service:

Monthly volunteer living allowance (VLA) intended to cover housing, basic needs and utilities, settling-in-grant (if applicable); life, health, and permanent disability insurance; assignment/repatriation travel costs to/from place of residence to duty station (if applicable); resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies: 
  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism.
Functional Competencies:
 
Knowledge Management and Learning
  • Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;
  • In-depth knowledge on development issues;
  • Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
  • Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.
Development and Operational Effectiveness:
  • Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
  • Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources;
  • Good knowledge of the Results Management Guide and Toolkit;
  • Strong IT skills;
  • Ability to lead implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change.
Management and Leadership:
  • Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
  • Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
  • Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
  • Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering,  BBIS, BCA, BIIM, Information Technology, Software/IT Engineering, Computer Applications or Electronics Engineering supplemented by relevant courses in Information and Communications Technologies or; alternatively a combination of relevant education in IT.
Experience:
  • At least 3 years of experience in local governance, development, volunteerism or related fields;
  • Proficiency  in  modern  standard  software  and  Operating  System  will  be  an advantage;
  • Strong IT skills; database creation, website development & regular maintenance and networking;
  • Well versed with MS Office package;
  • Basic Hardware/Networking skills;
  • Strong commitment to the principles and values of volunteerism;
  • Voluntarily self-motivated and passionate to contribute in local development;
  • Successful experiences of working with government system and its local bodies, development agencies, Volunteer Implementing organizations (VIOs)/NGOs and governmental partners;
  • Good knowledge of decentralization and local governance as well as experience with social/community development programmes (incl. Social Mobilization).

Language:

  • Proven ability in producing high quality reports in English and Nepali;
  • Excellent oral and written English as well as Nepali communications skills.