Background
The United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) is the United Nations programme that supports sustainable human development globally through the promotion of volunteerism and the mobilization of volunteers. It operates against a background of growing recognition that volunteerism brings benefits to both society at large and the individual volunteer; that it makes important contributions, economically as well as socially; and that it contributes to more cohesive societies by building trust and reciprocity among citizens. Universal and inclusive, UNV embraces all types of volunteer action while holding to the values of free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity, which are the foundations of volunteerism.
UNV engaged 7,521 UNV volunteers in 2007, on a total of 7,766 assignments. With an average of 39 years and the requisite professional skills and qualifications of some 5 to 10 years relevant experience,
UNV volunteers served in 139 countries in 2007 and came themselves from 162. The majority – 77 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$150 million annually.
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 Special Operations, and units for Evaluation and Management Support;
- The Programme Development and Operations Group (PDOG) comprising three geographical sections, as well a Volunteer Resources Unit and a Research and Development Section;
- The Support Services Group (SSG) comprising sections for Information Support Services,
- Finance, Human Resources, as well as Units for Common Services and Administration; and
- The Partnerships and Communications Group (PCG) comprising units for Partnerships and for Communications.
State of the World’s Volunteerism Report
This first State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR) produced by the United Nations will present an alternative vision to the one widely prevailing today as regards what volunteerism is and why it is important. Using a broad brush, it will address first what is meant by volunteerism, why people volunteer their time, what are the manifold ways people choose to volunteer, and the impact of this volunteer engagement. The Report will then take up a number of key global issues that intersect with volunteerism, selected because of their critical nature and/or because of ongoing polarized discourse around them. The final section of the Report will be forward looking with conclusions and recommendations that should assist policy makers, practitioners, researchers and all other concerned stakeholders; including the people
who participate in and direct the benefits from volunteer action, to arrive at a better understanding of what volunteerism is about and to come up with suggestions on ways and means to ensure that it’s potential to contribute to some major issues of our time is properly addressed. The report will be launched on International Volunteer day 5 December 2011.
who participate in and direct the benefits from volunteer action, to arrive at a better understanding of what volunteerism is about and to come up with suggestions on ways and means to ensure that it’s potential to contribute to some major issues of our time is properly addressed. The report will be launched on International Volunteer day 5 December 2011.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the general guidance of the UNV Office of the Executive Coordinator, and in close collaboration with members of the SWVR team (including a Project Manager, a Senior Writer, and in-house researchers) the researcher is responsible for producing a synthesis background paper that will be used to inform and strengthen the State of the World’s Volunteering Report (SWVR). The review will follow the guidelines described under the working title of each paper detailed below.
Each review will include:
1. Background and introduction to key issues (including data access cost-minimization), terms, and data banks/data sets.
Background and introduction to key issues (including data access cost-minimization), terms, and data banks/data sets.2. Comprehensive review of available data banks and quantitative data sets, with access costs, on the identified subject matter. In this case, a set of volunteerism-relevant keywords/terms will be supplied by the SWVR Team.
- Where possible, pay particular attention to key issues of relevance to the development community, including the relationship of volunteerism to gender, age, poverty, ethnicity and religion, inclusion/exclusion, and other relevant topics.
- Provide global perspectives on the issue—with particular focus on research from the global South and less developed countries/regions. Much scientific research on volunteerism focuses on aspects of volunteering in the global North, while evidence from the global South (with a few notable exceptions) tends to be based on anecdotal sources. In the South, volunteerism still flies largely under the radar of public visibility. Since most of the studies on volunteerism focus on developed countries, the SWVR will emphasize developing and transition countries, while also drawing on examples from the developed world.
- For Part A, the text of the paper should be about 5,000 words in length, excluding references, but including information on relevant survey items and data access costs for Part B. for Part B, the text of the paper should be about 10,000 to 15,000 words in length, excluding references but including tables with relevant data (summarized).
3. Implications and recommendations for research, practice, and policy, as well as looking into the trends and future of volunteering within this topic.
4. Conclusions about the identified synthesis topic, based on a comprehensive global review of available data banks and quantitative data sets, with an emphasis on multi-national or at least national surveys/polls of the adult population.
5. Include a full reference list (bibliography) of documents and data banks/data sets/data sources cited in the text, using Author-Date reference format (see reference citation guidelines in the Annex). In addition, highlight 20-30 key references on the identified topic (with at least six references coming from the global South).
This contract also covers the potential participation of the author(s) of this background research in consultation(s) during the research process, in launch activities/events (of limited duration), as well as reviewing relevant segments of the draft for SWVR.
Time-frame
The consultant shall work from contract date until December 15, 2010 with the following schedule:
Task Due Date
A: Scoping phase including costs
Cost estimation of data access 10 days from the date of contract
Inputs from SWVR Team 3 days after cost estimation
First Draft A: November 01, 2010
Inputs from SWVR Team November 05, 2010
Final Draft A: November 15, 2010
B. Data retrieval/analysis phase
Data retrieval/analysis with SWVR Team inputs November 20, 2010
First Draft B: December 05, 2010
Inputs from SWVR Team November 05, 2010
Final Draft A: November 15, 2010
For Part A, an outline identifying key data banks, quantitative data sets, and initial data access costs for key search terms/topics will be due 10 days following the signing of the contract. The consultant will receive SWVR Team feedback on this outline within 3 days and proceed with data access that can be afforded. The first draft of the Part A paper will be due on November 1, 2010. Detailed comments on this Part A first draft will be provided by the SWVR team to the consultant by November 5. After receiving the comments from SWVR team on the Part A first draft, the author is expected to revise the draft according to those suggestions, and resubmit the Part A final draft by November 15, 2010.
For Part B, a first draft of the paper is due December 5, 2010. Detailed comments on this Part B first draft will be provided by the SWVR team to the consultant by December 8, 2010. After receiving the comments from SWVR team on the Part B first draft, the author is expected to revise the draft according to those suggestions, and resubmit the Part B final draft by December 15, 2010.
Brief Annotation of Synthesis Paper
The following annotation describes the specific requirements. Contracted consultants will receive a more expanded description following the date of contract. The consultant will also be required to participate in regular electronic consultations with the SWVR team to discuss the work and clarify key issues. The final version of the background paper may also be published on the UNV or World Volunteer Web website.
BP-2. Summary of Polls / Surveys that Include Volunteerism-Related Terms
Part A. Scoping phase including costs:
This paper will focus mainly on national polls and surveys (and multinational comparative surveys where present). In Part A, the consultant will complete a scoping exercise that describes which polls and surveys have been performed since the year 2000 that ask about volunteerism-relevant terms/topics to be specified by SWVR staff. The enquiry should look for such polls/surveys in all major global regions, with a specific emphasis on those global South. It will also identify surveys on Millennium Development Goal-related topics with a volunteerism component (i.e. the contribution of volunteers to environmental management, to education, in women’s groups, in youth groups, etc.). This initial phase will identify what data sets are available from which major data banks globally, the nature (content) and quality of the data and methodology, and the costs of obtaining the actual quantitative results from each survey and data bank. The consultant will be asked to assess and rank order the suggestions made regarding which quantitative survey results might be obtained for Part B of the project, with a view to relative costs and benefits, realising that the data access expenditures in the second phase must be limited (USD$15,000-20,000).
Part B: Data retrieval/analysis phase:
This paper will present in an ordered, analytical manner the quantitative data results from various major surveys/polls since the year 2000 that included key volunteerism terms/topics from the list supplied by the SWVR Team. Results should be summarized both by global region and by type of term/topic, with a view to providing interesting results that bear on the SWVR analytical themes and special issues. Annexes should present relevant detailed tables that are summarized in the main text. Multi-national surveys/polls with similar or nearly similar questions/items should be given priority in the text of the paper, unless particular country-specific data are very illuminating. An attempt should be made to summarize all the results, and to state what kinds of data being sought by the SWVR Team do not seem to exist for what kinds/global regions of countries. Major surprises in the quantitative data results should be highlighted.
Competencies
- Research & writing skills, such as demonstrated through having successfully formulated journal articles, books/book chapters, background papers, or case studies.
- Strong analytical skills (including analysis of large quantitative data sets).
- Ability to work independently
- Ability to meet deadlines in a complex global project.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree in social sciences or a relevant related field.
Experience:
- At least 7 years relevant work experience.
- Significant experience in accessing large databanks and working with large quantitative datasets.
- Experience with an international or regional volunteer association and knowledge of volunteerism for peace and development with its diverse manifestations and cultural settings an asset.
- Previous published materials/research on volunteerism an asset.
- Previous work experience in the global South an asset.
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in written and spoken English is essential;
- working knowledge of, or access to, additional language resources would be useful for a comprehensive review.
Cumulative Analysis
The contract shall be awarded to the consultant who is the most technically qualified and provides the best value for the money. Only those who pass the 70% technical evaluation score will be considered. Only consultants with relevant experience in supplying similar services will be considered qualified.
Evaluation criteria and weights for Cumulative Analysis:
Evaluation Criteria weight
Planning and Organizing 50
Review and Synthesis 200
Volunteerism for Development 100
Writing and Editing 50
Grand Total 400
How to apply
Applications should be submitted on line and include an up to date CV. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Please send application online. The applicant should clearly specify the paper s/he is interested in writing in the subject of the email (e.g. SWVR: BP-2: Summary of Polls/Surveys).
If you submit an application, UNV expects that you have read and agree with the TOR and the UNV Terms and Conditions, available online: http://unv.org/fileadmin/docdb/pdf/2008/SSATerms2007.pdf