UNV Jobs - 50736- Regional Training and Civic/Voter Education Office

Regional Training and Civic/Voter Education Officer

Advertised on behalf of

UNV

Location :

Biratnagar, Dhangadhi, Pokhara, Nepalgunj and Kathmandu, NEPAL

Type of Contract :

UNV

Starting Date :

17-Nov-2014

Application Deadline :

31-Oct-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

UNV

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

12 months (with possibility of extension upon successful performance)

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.

Brief Project Description:

UNDP Electoral Support Project (ESP) provides technical assistance and advisory support to the Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) for the period (2008-2016). The ESP support aims at building sustainable and enduring institutional and professional capacity within the ECN that could be easily and effectively deployed in future elections. Through the provision of on-site technical advisory services and specialized electoral support, ESP seeks to enhance and further consolidate the institutional strengthening of the Election Commission of Nepal, of its Secretariat and its regional and district offices. This support will also aim to enhance the professional capacities of its staff down to district level to meet the numerous priorities required to be addressed in order to further enhance the credibility and the adequacy of Nepal's future electoral processes.

Host Agency/Host Institute: UNDP/Electoral Support Project.

Organizational Context:

An evaluation report with recommendations on ECN's Training and Capacity Development (TCD) strategy was submitted to UNDP/ESP by an International Consultant in April 2013 shows a gap in human resources in district offices. The gaps identified were the level of ECN staff skills, knowledge, understanding, and access to information, which encumbers them to plan and implement electoral activities and perform their functions efficiently. This was also reflected during the Constituency Assembly Election 2013. At the request of Election Commission of Nepal, UNDP/ ESP provided technical assistance of international experts at the five regional centers during CA Election 2013. International experts’ service was very much instrumental for the success of CA Election 2013.

Following the successful organization and conduct of the 2013 CA Elections, ESP continues to provide operational and technical support, particularly in view of the preparations for the upcoming possible local and provincial elections. ECN through the five regional offices intends to coordinate capacity development and civic/ voter education activities at local level. Therefore, in order to support the institutional development of the ECN at regional level, as an independent, professional, accountable and sustainable institution, fully able and prepared to conduct future electoral activities in Nepal UNDP/ESP is seeking to recruit Regional Training and Civic/Voter Education Officer (national UN Volunteers).

Duties and Responsibilities

The national UN Volunteers will provide specific technical assistance and expertise to ECN regional offices in the overall effort to strengthen and enhance the ECN capacity to function as a permanent, professional and independent electoral management body. These Volunteers will consult regularly with Regional Office staff and headquarters to find out their professional development need for advancing electoral activities in the region in particular and ECN in general.

The Regional Training and Civic/Voter Education Officer will work be part of the UNDP/ESP Regional Team which works closely with the Regional Offices of the ECN to develop and implement training and capacity building programs for district level ECN staff in strengthening their knowledge and skills and making them more aware on the latest developments in election and democracy at the international arena. This will include team building, training and staff development programs, technical assistance on voter and civic education and facilitate ongoing support to increase regional staff’s confidence and ability. He/She will also assist in formulation and implementation of civic and voter education strategies and support in designing public outreach activities targeting socially excluded and marginalised groups/castes/communities.

Type of Assignment: Assignment with family

Description of tasks: The National UN Volunteer provides support to programme planning, implementation, monitoring and documentation to ECN Regional Office through UNDP/ESP Regional Office and ensures high quality, professionalism and consistency of works. The UN Volunteer will work under the coordination of the UNDP/ESP Regional Electoral Officer in close collaboration with personnel in the Regional ECN Office, District Offices, and relevant stakeholders to assist in programme delivery towards achieving programme results.

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Electoral Advisor – Regional Coordinator, the national UN Volunteer is expected to work in close collaboration and coordination with the regional and district offices of Election Commission and other district level relevant government officials, ESP team and project partners to carry out her/his responsibilities.

Duties and responsibilities:

Training and Capacity Development

Develop, support and coordinate a skills and training needs assessment for regional and all district election offices (DEOs).
Involve in design, development and implementation of all training programs on electoral matters for ECN staff and other key electoral stakeholders;
Support to BRIDGE partners while conducting trainings on BRIDGE module in their working areas;
Assist with the revision of existing, and development of new, training materials for in-house courses, including handbooks, handouts and other supportive documents;
Support in devising cascade training program or/and other training programmes developed at regional level;
Ensure information sharing and coordination among the regional offices, EEICs and DEOs;
Advise and involve in monitoring of training programs at regional level;
Support in the drafting of the capacity development activities and programs for the project Annual Work-Plan, quarterly and monthly work-plans and the annual budget.

Civic and Voter Education

Provide support in customizing Civic and Voter Education activities in the region and districts;
Provide advice and support to ECN in its efforts to integrate lessons learned and best practices from the CA elections held in 2013;
Support ECN regional and district offices in their effort to improve civic/voter education strategies, its contents and methodologies with special focus on developing approaches that would allow for more effective delivery of voter information in region and districts including socially excluded and marginalised groups;
Review efforts and provide recommendations to regional and district offices in mainstreaming illiterates, women, youth, marginalized communities in the electoral process;
Develop implementation plan for disseminating the outreach products;
Support UNDP/ESP in conducting civic/voter education related training programs at both regional and district levels;
Implement M&E mechanism to oversee implementation of a region-wide civic/voter education, and public outreach activities and archive digital electoral materials.

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.

Results/Expected Outputs:

Effective implementation of training and civic/ voters education activities and programs at regional and district level and delivery of project target results in compliance with UNDP rules and procedures;
Regional/district support for the design, implementation and M&E of the regional/ district levels capacity development in training and civic/voter education programs;
Pro-active support in the drafting and implementation of the regional operational plan and contingency plans;
Effective support for the preparation and organization of electoral processes at regional level and district as appropriate;
Periodical reports on specific regional electoral activities including field visit reports.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Demonstrated high moral integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards, impartiality and discretion and proven capacity of initiative, discretion and autonomy;
Promotes the vision, mission and strategy of UNDP;
Displays respect to diversity and cultural, gender, religious, race, nationality and age sensitivity.

Functional Competencies:

Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University degree (Bachelor) in political, social science, communication, education, rural development or related field.

Experience:

At least 3 years of experience in training, voter/civic education, outreach campaigns or in election related field;
Ability to work effectively and harmoniously in a team, especially with EMBs will have added value;
Experience in the usage of computers and software packages and knowledge of spreadsheet.

Language:

Proficiency in English and Nepal is a must; and
Working knowledge of the duty station will be an asset.

Living Conditions:

UNDP Nepal works across the country where frequent interruption of electricity and often without internet facility particularly during the travel to the districts is a reality. UNDP/ESP regional offices are based in Biratnagar, Kathmandu, Pokhara, Nepalgunj and Dhangadi with power back up system and internet facility in the office.

The living condition is moderate with high temperature in Biratnagar, Nepalgunj and Dhangadi (up to 40 Degree Celsius during summer and cold climate in Kathmandu and Pokhara regional office with minus temperature during winter.

Conditions of Service:

A 12 months contract; monthly volunteer living allowance (VLA) intended to cover housing, basic needs and utilities in the amount of: 32,194 NPR; settling-in grant (if applicable; life, health and permanent disability insurance; resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.