Preamble:
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programmeis 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.
1. UNV Assignment Title: National UN Volunteer Gender Programme Officer
2. Type of Assignment: National UN Volunteer /X/
3. Project Title: AusAID-UN Women Policy and Program Partnership in the Mekong sub-region
4. Duration: One year (with possible extension)
5. Location, Country: Hanoi, Viet Nam
6. Expected Starting Date: As soon as possible
7. Brief Project Description:
This project represents a strategic partnership to strengthen technical and analytical support to AusAID in Viet Nam in order to inform AusAID policy engagements in the area of gender equality (GE); improve the integration of GE issues into program design, implementation and review; and improve capacity in the area of GE for AusAID staff, project staff, and staff of some local institutions. It will also strengthen UN Women’s capacity to engage in broader policy and program fora in line with its approved Country Strategy Note and Annual Work Plans.
8. Host Agency/Host Institute: United Nations Entity on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) –VietNam Country Office
9. Organizational Context:
UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women’s rights at the center of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender
equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.
UN Women is an active member of the One UN Country Team in Viet Nam and is convenor of the Gender Joint Programming Group. The UN Country Team in Viet Nam is strongly committed to harmonization, increasing effectiveness and coherence, and achieving a more sustainable impact of UN support to the development challenges currently facing Viet Nam. The One UN Initiative, which has led to the development of the One Plan 2012-2016, is an expression of this common goal, enabling the UN to
implement the core goals of the Hanoi Core Statement on Aid Effectiveness.
The National UN Volunteer will be responsible for promoting information sharing, including strengthening national networking on gender issues and strengthening skills of national and international UN staff on gender.
10. Type of Assignment Place: assignment with family
11. Description of tasks:
Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Senior Programme Officer, the UN Volunteer Specialist on Gender will be responsible to promote information sharing through supporting the day-to-day activities, as follows:
- Proactively work with national organizations on gender issues such as GAP (Gender Action Partnership), and bilateral organizations (especially AUSAID), to increase networking and sharing information on gender equality in Viet Nam;
- Be the focal point regarding information on national data and research on gender equality to disseminate through established communication channels;
- Give technical input to UN/UN Women activities, including conducting research/studies on the situation of specific groups of men, women, boys and girls in Viet Nam;
- Be responsible for the classification and maintenance of all gender equality resource materials and administrative documents;
- Follow up and keep updated on all issues regarding gender equality in Viet Nam and the region;
- Work with the International UNV Gender Specialist in providing technical capacity building to UN Women/UN staff, including two annual gender analysis training courses;
- Participate in national and selected regional forums related to gender equality issues;
- Promote the involvement of volunteers (e.g. online volunteers; university volunteers) in gender activities of the United Nations;
- Undertake any other task as directed by UN Women Country Representative.
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.
12. Results/Expected Output:
- Coordination of research studies, briefs, and strategies on gender and areas of common interest between UN Women and AusAID. This will be done in conjunction with the International UNV, the Senior Programme Officer and the Gender Policy Officer
- Provision of support and advice/training/guidance to AusAID staff and on key AusAID documents, in liaison with the international specialist
- Provision of gender support for Australia scholarship recipients
- Assistance in preparing for high level gender policy guidelines with donors
- A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.
13. Qualifications/Requirements:
- University degree in social sciences with specialization in gender issues a strong asset;
- Sound knowledge of the major development issues regarding gender issues in Viet Nam;
- Experience in working with gender equality issues;
- Full proficiency in English and Vietnamese, including excellent written and spoken skills in both languages;
- Strong interpersonal and networking skills;
- Highly organized and self-motivated;
- Personal sensitivity and commitment to issues affecting disadvantaged women;
- A high level of computer literacy;
- Basic administration / secretarial skills;
- Demonstrated personal sensitivity and commitment to the values and principles of volunteerism, gender equality and cultural diversity;
- Prior volunteering experience is an asset;
- Persons with ethnic minority background are strongly encouraged to apply
- Proof of Vietnamese Nationality is required.
14. Living Conditions:
The incumbent will live in Ha Noi which has most of the economic and social amenities at a reasonable cost. Depending on living arrangements, housing can be expensive. Security is good. Ha Noi has a humid, tropical climate and monsoons. Summers, between May and September, are very hot with plenty of rain, while winters, from November to March, are cold and relatively dry.
15. Conditions of Service
A 12-month contract with possible extension; monthly volunteer living allowance (VLA) intended to cover housing, basic needs and utilities, equivalent to 10,029,815VND, Settling-in-grant (if applicable), life, health and permanent disability insurance, moving cost (if applicable) and resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.
Description of Assignment prepared by the UNV Field Unit/UN Agency:
Date: 25/06/2013 (day/month/year)
Ms. Shoko Ishikawa
UN Women Viet Nam Country Representative
Description of Assignment approved by UNDP/RR/CD or UNV Field Unit:
Date: 01/07/2013 (day/month/year)
Tran Thi Kim Chung
UNV Programme Assistant
Interested national candidates should include a detailed curriculum vitae (CV) and an application letter (both in English) marked: “National UNV Specialist on Monitoring and Evaluation” to the address below or via email to [email protected] [1] (preferable)
UNV Field Unit
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
72 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hanoi
Deadline: 20 January 2014