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Application procedure: Application must be submitted online via this website: Community Volunteer in Social Services | UVP (unv.org)

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, working in 177 countries and territories. In line with its 2021-2025 Country Programme, UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) focuses on sustainable and inclusive growth, people-centred governance and social cohesion. UNDP is fully committed to support BIH with regards to its Agenda 2030 commitments as well as the European Union (EU) accession process. The CPD outcomes correspond to 3 outcomes of the UNSDCF 2021-2025 (outcome 1 on resilient, sustainable and inclusive growth, outcome 4 on accountable and transparent governance systems, and outcome 5 on social cohesion and trust).

We are individually and collectively responsible for nurturing and promoting an organizational culture of ethics and integrity where we respect and uphold the organization’s values, and where staff are empowered and motivated to deliver sustainable development results. We seek people who are fair, impartial and honest. We value dynamic and adaptable persons who are not afraid to think creatively and are proactive, flexible and responsive.

This UNV assignment is part of UNDP’s project titled Sustaining peace and social cohesion in Bosnia and Herzegovina through enhanced inter-municipal and inter-entity cooperation on local services (SPSC), implemented jointly with the International Organization for Migration (IoM) in eight local governments in West Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project supports interventions to strengthen social structures and services, with the aim to provide needs-based and quality-improved service delivery to men, women, and youth in the target communities. To that end, the project will focus on the services delivered at the community level, as well as on counselling services targeting families, children, young people, the elderly, people with mental and physical disabilities, the poor, and other disadvantaged individuals and families.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the UNV Community Volunteers Coordinator, a UN Community Volunteer will be catalysts of community engagement, supporting awareness-raising efforts in their communities, increasing community participation in decision-making, and contributing to the increased ownership and satisfaction of communities with the provision of social services. Concretely, the incumbent will be placed at the the Center for Social Work in Kljuc and will perform the following tasks:

1. provide support to the host institution in the targeted community,
2. assist the efforts in the mapping of priority social services,
3. support outreach to social services beneficiaries, e.g. through the provision of social support and improving outreach to vulnerable population
4. record and report on activities and best practices
5. any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

This will also include field trips to meet beneficiaries, provision of support in the organization of meetings, gathering and maintaining data, and other duties within the scope of work.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take an active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• 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.

0 years of experience

• Bachelor’s degree in IT, economy, social sciences, or similar will be considered an advantage
• Volunteer experience in activities and projects of civil society organizations will be considered an advantage
• Working knowledge of English is an advantage
• Ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners including grassroots community members
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines

Area(s) of expertise
Community development

Age
18 - 80

Nationality
Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Languages
Bosnian, Level: Fluent, Required
Serbian, Level: Fluent, Required
Croatian, Level: Fluent, Required
 

Required education level
Secondary education
 

Other information

Living conditions and remarks
As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.