Historique

United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV)
 
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges, and it can transform the pace and nature of development. Volunteerism benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity and reciprocity among citizens, and by purposefully creating opportunities for participation. 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 UNV 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.
 
UNV engaged 7,753 UNV volunteers in 2008, on a total of 7,991 assignments. With an average age of 37 years and the requisite professional skills and qualifications of some 5 to 10 years relevant experience, UNV volunteers served in 132 countries in 2008 and came themselves from 159. The majority – 79 per cent – come from developing countries themselves. One third of UNV volunteers served in their own countries, with the others carrying out international assignments. The financial equivalent of programme activities exceeds US$200 million annually.
 
The year 2011 marks the tenth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers (IYV), for which UNV was the designated focal point for the UN system.  In February 2009, the UN General Assembly reaffirmed the significance of volunteerism for the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals and the importance of marking the tenth anniversary of IYV in 2011 and assigned UNV as the focal point for IYV+10 for the UN system.  In alignment with its mandate – Advocacy, Integration and Mobilisation of Volunteers for Peace and Development – UNV will use the opportunity of IYV+10 to further enhance the recognition of volunteerism, establish new partnerships and strengthen existing ones, support the facilitation as well as the promotion of volunteerism worldwide.  
 
Organizational setting:
UNV is headquartered in Bonn, Germany and has approximately 150 staff positions – the majority in Bonn with some dozen positions in different UN peacekeeping missions, and other Headquarters locations (e.g. New York and Tokyo).
 
UNV is headquartered in Bonn, Germany and has approximately 150 staff positions – the majority in Bonn with some dozen positions in different UN peacekeeping missions, and other Headquarters locations (e.g. New York and Tokyo).
 
The major organizational groups within UNV are:
  • the Office of the Executive Coordinator, comprising also units for Evaluation, and Management Support;
  • the Programme Development and Operations Group (PDOG) comprising three geographical sections, as well Volunteer Resources, and Research and Development units;
  • Special Operations;
  • the Volunteer Recruitment Team;
  • the Partnerships and Communications Group (PCG) comprising units for Partnerships and for Communications; and
  • the Support Services Group (SSG) comprising sections for Information Support Services, Finance, Human Resources, as well as Units for Common Services and Administration.

Devoirs et responsabilités

Level of Responsibility
  • The creation of a Project Manager position for marking IYV+10 is to ensure the timely and comprehensive preparation for and marking of IYV+10.  These Terms of References outline the tasks and responsibilities of the Project Manager who will perform managerial functions in her/his capacity as Project Manager.  Besides coordination tasks that will involve all UNV stakeholders – HQ & field staff, UNV volunteers – and relevant external partners, the Project Manager will prepare a full Project Document for marking IYV+10.  This Project Document subsequently results in the recruitment of a special team that is dedicated to the management of IYV+10 solely.  The Project Manager will support the recruitment process, initially coordinate the tasks of this entity and perform supervision functions for its members.  She/he will report directly to the Deputy Executive Coordinator; the designated team for marking IYV+10 will be placed within the Office of the Executive Coordinator.  The Project Manager will play a key role in defining UNV’s mission for marking IYV+10 and designing a appropriate corporate strategy for this one-year event including factors that ensure sustainability of the IYV+10 activities beyond 2011.

Enabling environment

  • Marking IYV+10 will be a global effort for which UNV has been assigned a key role.  UNV”s endeavor and, as such, its preparation will involve full participation and ownership on the part of all UNV staff and UNV volunteers, which will be ensured by the Project Manager.  Promoting and facilitating the marking of the tenth anniversary of IYV is one of UNV’s top corporate priorities in 2011.  Hence, the Project Manager will be supported by all entities in UNV HQ, especially the sections and units responsible for external and internal communication, partnerships, the Office of the Executive Coordinator and UNV’s portfolio managers.

Internal / external focus of the job

  • The Project Manager will play a key role in ensuring corporate ownership for IYV+10.  In order to ensure the full support from UNV HQ staff as well as from UNV’s Country Office Teams and Field Units, the Project Manager will initiate collaboration-processes that bring together representatives from all stakeholders in UNV.  The Project Manager will develop, in close collaboration with UNV’s Portfolio Managers, a strategy on how UNV’s Country Office Teams and UNV volunteers can be supported in marking IYV+10, especially in engaging the leadership by National Volunteer Committees.

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Executive Coordinator the incumbent, as detailed below, performs the following key functions:

  • Project Development
  • Management of intra-organizational collaboration processes
  • Focal point for IYV+10 for external partners
  • Field support for Country Office Teams, Programme Managers, UNV volunteers on IYV+10

Specific duties include the following:
 
Formulation of a Project Document

  • Undertake a comprehensive review on follow-up activities of IYV in 2001 and the current status of National Volunteer Committees.  Draft a Project Document based on discussions with various stakeholders and based on the decisions of the Project Board.  The Project Document will include details on the cooperation modalities among UNV Headquarter, the country office teams and with Team IYV+10.  The Project Document also includes the Terms of References of the members of Team IYV+10 that reflect the need for the development of strategies for:
  • partnerships (especially the integration of UN entities, civil society and private sector actors);
  • public relations (including Web 2.0 tools and social marketing);
  • fundraising for IYV+10; and
  • on how to follow-up on the national committees in the programme countries.

These strategies will be developed and implemented by the respective UNV sections with the support of Team IYV+10, which will be recruited and functioning mid-2010.

Coordination of external requests on IYV+10

  • Ensure timely responses to external requests on IYV+10 and the participatory roll-out of the Plan of Action that was developed at the international Consultative Meeting in October 2009 in Bonn and subsequent collaborative initiatives that emerge.

Management of intra-organizational collaboration processes

  • Manage internal consultations with UNV staff, UNV volunteers and the Project Board and ensure ownership of the processes on marking IYV+10 from all UNV stakeholders.  Support UNV sections, units and groups in developing plans of action on marking IYV+10.

Support Country Office Teams, Programme Managers, UNV volunteers on IYV+10 related activities and projects

  • Ensure timely responses to queries from UNV’s field staff and UNV volunteers.  Coordinate and support the development of various outreach tools that support UNV’s field staff and UNV volunteers in marking IYV+10 in close collaboration with the Communications Unit at UNV HQ.

Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Compétences

  • Strong management skills, such as demonstrated through having successfully managed international volunteerism campaigns / initiatives;
  • Strong networking skills and experience in multi-sector contexts, also at very senior level (including intergovernmental, governmental and private sector as well as civil society organizations);
  • Strong analytical skills in managing programmes / projects, human and financial resources, and group processes;
  • Strong inter-personal and teamwork skills and excellent organizational skills;
  • Ability to work under pressure with colleagues at all levels and with external parties, including at very senior level;
  • Experience in the development and management of projects and formulation of project documents, terms of references, work plans and campaign materials; and
  • Knowledge of the United Nations and UNDP, work experience with UNV an asset.

Qualifications et expériences requises

  • Advanced university degree in social sciences, preferably in the field of human / community development, international development or related topic;
  • At least 7 years relevant work experience in the volunteerism field, preferably in the South including the development and the management of projects.  Experience with an international or regional association and knowledge of volunteerism for peace and development with its diverse manifestations and cultural settings a strong asset;
  • Excellent written and spoken English is essential; working knowledge of Spanish or French a strong asset.