Jobs - 88799- National Youth Volunteer- Programme Clerk

National Youth Volunteer- Programme Clerk

Location :

Bogotá, COLOMBIA

Type of Contract :

UNV

Starting Date :

01-Jan-2020

Application Deadline :

04-Dec-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

UNV

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 months

Languages Required :

English Spanish

Expected Duration of Assignment :

12 months with possibility of extension

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 Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).

UNHCR has 11 offices in Colombia, including the Branch Office in Bogotá. Despite the Peace Agreement with the oldest armed group in the country, the FARC-EP, and a ceasefire with the now major active armed group, the ELN, forced displacement provoked by other illegal armed groups continues to be a dramatic reality for thousands of people, particularly ethnic communities living in border areas and in the Pacific Coast. Indeed, Colombian still is the country with the highest number of internally displaced people (IDPs) in the world, counting more than seven million people affected. Moreover, Colombia has started to receive people fleeing from the socio-economic and political crisis in Venezuela. Colombia, therefore, represents the greatest humanitarian crisis in the Americas. The challenges with the implementation of the Peace Accord with the FARC-EP, the on-going conflict, sustained internal displacement and increasing refugee flows means that the UNHCR´s presence in Colombia continues to be necessary. Protection of the victims of the Colombian conflict is also a priority for UNHCR, both within and outside Colombia.

To respond to these multifaceted challenges, UNHCR developed a Multi-Year Multi-Partner Strategy (2018-2020) aiming at attaining effective protection mechanisms for both IDPs and refugees, promoting an integral and coordinated institutional response to the humanitarian crisis, while seeking durable solutions, bearing in mind the special needs of specific groups. However, as the situation is highly dynamic and constantly evolving the Office must on a regular basis adjust its operational planning.

The United Nations Volunteer (UNV) will support implementing a Community-Based approach in all interventions planned in UNHCR´s strategy while mainstreaming UNHCR´s Age, Gender and Diversity policy to ensure a differential protection for both IDPs and refugees. It is worth to mention that International UNVs are considered to be an essential part of the labour force within the operation, and they have assignments equally meaningful and important as the ones that are performed by regular UNHCR Staff members. During his/her assignment, the United Nations Volunteer will have to liaise with Colombian Institutions, other UN agencies, Donors Embassies and International NGOs, as well as support partner organizations, mostly National NGOs and Community Based Organizations. His/her labour would contribute to implement UNHCR´s strategy and better respond to the protection needs of both IDPs and refugees.

Duties and Responsibilities

Description of tasks:

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Collect, register and maintain information on project activities.
Prepare status and progress reports, prepare tables and draft routine correspondence.
Access the relevant information and programme records, Focus/ MSRP data.
Prepare background material for use in discussions and briefing sessions.
Review the implementation and performance of IP agreements through appropriate physical monitoring to evaluate the projects by reviewing work plans, progress reports, budget, financial reports and expenditures. This may include field visits for specific monitoring and evaluation issues.
Perform other duties as required.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required 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 International Volunteer Day);
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:

UNHCR country office has sufficient administrative assistance and support in routine services and activities within Programme Section thus better able to meet the needs of persons of concern.

Implementing Partner (IP) agreements are established in a timely manner, regularly monitored and reported on in compliance with established guidelines and procedures.

Competencies

Competencies and values:

Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented.
Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations.
Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.
Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities.
Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working

relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender;

Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;

Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary;
Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications, skills, experience:

Degree level: Secondary Education

Type of Degree: Completion of Secondary education courses / training / certificate in Business Administration, Social Science, International Law or related field

Years of work experience: Six months of job experience relevant to the job will be an advantage

Language: Knowledge of English (Obligatory)

working knowledge of another UN language will be an advantage.

Driving license required: No

Computer skills: Excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint and data management).

Living Conditions:

Bogotá is the capital of the Country. Full public and health services are available in the duty station as well as cultural and other recreational activities. Missions and official movements should be reported to UNDSS.

Conditions of Service for national UN Volunteers

The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.

Travel to duty station (if applicable) and a Settling-In-Grant will be provided in the event the duty station is not within commuting distance from the place of recruitment. The applicable Volunteer Living Allowance is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included, as well as final repatriation (if applicable) and resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.

Furthermore, in non-family duty stations that belong to hardship categories D or E, as classified by the ICSC, a Well-Being Differential (WBD) will be provided monthly.

Important

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme which welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, age and culture.

Only applications that contain the signed P11 format will be considered (Under no circumstances will applications be considered that do not correctly attach the file in question). You can find the P11 format at http://www.co.undp.org/content/dam/colombia/docs/Operaciones/P11_Personal_history_form-en.docx