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: Sierra Leone has made notable progress in consolidation of peace and democratic governance since the end of the 11-year civil war in 2002. This includes the successful administration of three elections, including a peaceful transfer of power in 2007 and peaceful presidential, parliamentary, and local council elections in 2012, with significantly less international involvement than the previous elections. However, a lot more remains to be done to address the underlying challenges in the country as well as to solidify democratic norms. The 2012 elections while hailed as a milestone in country’s consolidation of democratic governance also demonstrated deep seated ethno-regional political divisions – that need to be addressed. Despite major progress, young people – who constituted the majority of combatants during the civil conflict and now comprise almost 70% of the population – face a very high unemployment rate, which in turn poses a key challenge to the consolidation of peace.

In early 2013, the Government of Sierra Leone indicated its intention to initiate a major review of the 1991 Constitution. This will be done through an appointed Constitutional Review Committee, comprised of 80 members representing political parties, independent bodies, CSOs, the judiciary and the legislature. The CRC composition and TOR are currently being finalized and the constitutional review process has been formally launched in July 2013.

The overall project objective is to ensure that the constitution is prepared in an inclusive participatory manner involving all sectors of the population and adopted by popular referendum.

Duties and Responsibilities

The National UN Volunteer will work under the Chief technical Adviser in the research and public consultation unit.

Under the supervision of the Chief technical Adviser, and in close cooperation and collaboration with other UNDP sections and UNCT members, the UNV will be responsible for:

• To manage events and workshops;
• To set event objectives;
• To put together workshops and events brief;
• To be able to select event management organizations, partners and sponsors;
• To plan and control costs;
• To avoid pitfalls;
• To explore the options available in the market;
• To share knowledge with others;
• To provide the resources needed for the event or workshop;
• To prepare and manage the agenda, work plans and budgets of the events or workshops;
• To control the events or workshops including external speakers and facilitators;
• To facilitate some events and workshops.

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 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

Reporting Arrangements:

• The UN Volunteer reports directly to the Chief Technical Adviser, Sierra Leone Constitutional Review Project.

Results/Expected Output:

• Achieve the aims, purpose and goal of the events and workshops within the given time;
• Meet the requirements specified;
• Reach the targeted audience.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrate integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Promote the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
• Display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional competencies:

• Proficient Word, Excel and PowerPoint skills;
• Presentation;
• Leadership;
• Team player;
• Good Listener;
• Hardworking, flexible with a can-do attitude;
• Effective negotiation skills.

Communication

• Strong communication, (spoken, written and presentational) skills, including the ability to produce a variety of written reports in a clear, concise style, to deliver presentations to external audiences, to build and maintain effective partnerships.

Planning and Organizing

• Ability to establish priorities and to plan work assignments, juggle competing demands and work under pressure of frequent and tight deadlines.

Teamwork

• Ability to work effectively in a team, including contributing to team cohesiveness, while supporting other team members towards effectiveness and successful implementation of activities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A degree or diploma in one or more of the qualifications listed below:

• Events and Workshop management;
• Business Administration with financial management;
• Facility Management;
• Time Management.

Work experience:

• At least 2 years of progressively responsible work experience in Workshop and Events Management.

Language:

• Fluency in English required.

Living Conditions:

• Sierra Leone enjoys relative stability and living conditions are therefore reasonable. Infrastructure, such as transportation and social services, is poor in general, and western amenities (food, restaurants, apartments, etc) tend to be a little bit expensive but it is possible to obtain most essential items of food and clothing etc. Electricity and water supplies still remain volatile and many people are relying on generator and private delivery. Sierra Leone has maintained peace and stability since the end of the civil conflict ten years ago, and emerged as success story in peace building. Sierra Leone is a family duty station, with stable security. There are several mobile telephone companies providing services and SIMs can be easily bought with credit vouchers. There are no fixed telephone lines. There are local banks dealing in both local and foreign currencies. Credit cards and travelers checks are not accepted.

Conditions of Service

• A six months contract with monthly volunteer living allowance (VLA) of SL 1,976.590 intended to cover housing basic needs and utilities, life, health and permanent disability insurance; return airfares (if applicable); resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.

Applications should be addressed to:

The UNV programme Officer,

United Nations Development Programme,

55 Wilkinson Road, Freetown-Sierra Leone

To reach him on or before 23th October 2014 by 3pm.

Kindly indicate the position applied for on the top right hand corner of the envelop.