UNV Jobs - 59634- Project Officer

Project Officer

Advertised on behalf of

UNV

Location :

Sulaymaniyah, IRAQ

Type of Contract :

UNV

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

08-Sep-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

UNV

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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. 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.

Background

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.

The project “Youth Opportunities: UNV Capacity Development and Support to the Kurdistan Regional Government through Volunteering” was endorsed by the Ministry of Planning of the Kurdistan Region. The objectives of the project are the following: (a) to develop the capacity of selected Kurdish youth through participatory approaches and in this manner provide an opportunity for Kurdish youth to become champions for the work of the United Nations in their communities, and get actively involved in the realization of Kurdish regional development goals; (b) to reinforce KRG project implementation capacity, specifically through the injection of a robust local knowledge base. This will be achieved through the addition of Kurdish National UN Youth Volunteers to existing UN projects in selected fields of programme management, as well as thematic areas prioritized by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The project encompasses a strong learning component throughout the assignment cycle of the National UN Youth Volunteers.

The Safer Cities Programme was launched in 1996 by UN-HABITAT in order to seek sustainable urban management to tackle urban crime and violence in cities. To date UN-HABITAT has supported 77 cities in 24 countries all over the world. The project in Sulaymaniyah aims to be a good practice on the Safer Cities Programme in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The project encourages cooperation among the various key stakeholders to promote urban safety particularly for women and girls in the city to secure human rights and enhance the rule of law in the KRI. The project also support the establishment of a safer cities platform between citizens, civil society organizations, local authorities and security institutions in Sulaymaniyah, and implement a series of physical interventions in public spaces to prevent and reduce crime in the center of Sulaymaniyah city. The project is jointly implemented by UN agencies including UNDP and UNWOMEN.

Host Agency: United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT Iraq

With the support of Kurdistan’s Ministry of Planning, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Iraq opens opportunities for youth to champion the United Nations in their communities, and become actively involved in the realization of the KR-I’s development agenda and Vision 2020.

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UN Volunteers, throughout the world. UNV embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive, and recognizes volunteerism in its diversity as well as the values that sustain it: free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity.

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, is the agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. Under UN-HABITAT Iraq Programme, UN-HABITAT Office in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has been providing technical support to the Kurdistan Regional Government and its three Governorates: Erbil, Dohuk and Sulaymaniyah.

Duties and Responsibilities

Support the Program Manager to develop and maintain daily contact and organize meetings with the Sulaymaniyah Governorate, UN partners and humanitarian actors to locate UN-HABITAT work among stakeholders in Sulaymaniyah;
Support the Program Manager for the project implementation of Safer Cities Programme in Sulaymaniyah and share information among team members in UN-HABITAT Sulaymaniyah Office for effective and efficient project implementation;
Support Admin and Finance Officer in UN-HABITAT the KRI Office, Erbil to proceed procurements and recruitments for the Sulaymaniyah Office;
Submit attendance log, weekly work plan and progress report and ensure submission of these report from the staff in Sulaymaniyah Office;
Collect and laws, regulations, policies and strategies on urban safety, urban planning, land, housing, building standard and development control in effect;
Support organizing public debates, workshops and seminar on urban safety, urban planning, land, housing, Refugees and IDPs to involve public into policymaking process;
Support implementation of surveys on urban safety, urban planning, land, housing, Refugees and IDPs;
Support the formulation and implementation of community based project related to the project, and including participation of volunteers and of local population;
Support the capacity development strategy and attend trainings as required;
Translate relevant documents upon needs;
Perform other duties as assigned by the Head of UN-HABITAT Kurdistan Region of Iraq Office and/or Program Manager of UN-HABITAT Sulaymaniyah Office.

Competencies

Learning and development are a central part of the UN Youth Volunteer’s assignment and take place before, during and after his or her assignment in the field. Ideally, offering diverse opportunities for learning and development aim to strengthen the volunteer’s skills and competences, improve the quality of the assignment and keep the volunteer’s motivation high.

Learning elements for the UN Youth Volunteer include the development of:

Professional skills: including specific competencies and reflection on assignment-related abilities; and on-the-job skills such as time management, problem solving, team building; and career preparedness such as interview skills, CV preparation, job searching;
Inter-personal skills: including communication and listening skills; multi-cultural awareness and cultural competency; and conflict and stress management;
Volunteering-related skills: including leadership; civic responsibility; and engagement and active participation.

Beyond the learning opportunities provided by UNV, host agencies are expected to support knowledge and capacity development in the technical areas that are relevant to the UN Youth Volunteer’s assignment. Host agencies are also expected to provide, at their expense, UN Youth Volunteers with equal opportunity to participate in training courses and workshops offered to the host agency’s personnel.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic degree, preferably in Business Administration, Human Resources or Management;
Demonstrated interest and up to two years of experience in the area of business administration, logistic management and workshop facilitation;
Previous experience in voluntary service;
Experience in working with volunteers or civil society organizations an asset, as well as experience of another culture (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship);
Experienced user of MS Office applications;
Fluency in spoken and written Kurdish and English is required, and knowledge of Arabic is an asset;
Good interpersonal, networking and communication skills;
Willingness to contribute and work as part of a team;
Flexible and open to learning and new experiences;
Respect for diversity and adaptability to other cultures, environments and living conditions;
Motivated to contribute towards peace and development and to serve others;
Have affinity with or interest in humanitarian relief, post-conflict situations, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system.

Note:

UN Youth Volunteers must be between 22 and 29 years for the whole duration of their assignment;
This position will be subject to approval by the Erbil Governor/Deputy Governor (counterpart/head of steering committee) and Minister of Planning (funder of the project);
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme which welcomes applications from qualified professionals and is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender and culture.