Consultancy on Volunteer Engagement, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, dedication

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference?

The consultant will provide professional technical assistance and support for the design, planning and implementation, management and evaluation of volunteer engagement initiatives and projects, knowledge management strategies, services and products, data analysis and progress reporting, in support of achievement of Country Programme expected results. Also, the consultant will be leading initiatives, related to the designing, planning and implementation of the Volunteer Projects, to leverage more voluntary initiatives for the fulfillment of children’s rights.

Conceptualize, design and implement volunteer initiatives with government and Civil Society Organization’s (CSO) with the aim of furthering Child Rights and Child Participation:
Research and analyze regional/national cultural, political, health, education and social and economic development trends. Collect, analyze, verify and synthesize information to facilitate programme development, design and preparation;
Work closely with government on the conceptualization and development of the national system to support volunteer initiatives;
Support strengthening of legislative framework to enable volunteering programs;
Support establishment of mechanisms to implement volunteer programs at national and subnational levels;

Contribute to implementation of UNICEF COVID-19 response plan by engaging, training and maintaining volunteers at the national and sub-national level:
Capacity building of volunteers
Support government in recruiting and management of volunteer initiatives

Create new opportunities of engagement of volunteers with existing government institutions that support volunteering:
Build and sustain close working partnerships with national and sub-national government counterparts and stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation;
Provide technical support to improvement of online platform to enable networking and coordination of organization, who supports volunteer initiatives;
Create knowledge hub on volunteering expertise, which will entail best practices and success stories from national and international field of volunteering;
Assist in the preparation of learning/knowledge products, covering innovative approaches and good practices, to support overall volunteering initiatives in the country.

Under the supervision of the Chief, manage the budget and implementation of volunteer projects:
Provide technical and administrative support throughout project implementation and monitor implementaiton of volunteer projects;
Conduct routine monitoring of the project implementation, including field visits and collect and share reports with partners/stakeholders. Report critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems to supervisor, for timely action;
Contribute to office fundraising initiatives, particularly on supporting volunteer programs;
Prepare inputs to donor report including project implementation progress, final achievements and project documentation;
Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts and prepare minutes/reports on results for follow up action by higher management and other stakeholders;

Monitor and document ongoing volunteer projects and explore new opportunities for future engagement with volunteers:
Document success stories and best practices, while ensuring accuracy, timeliness and relevance of information share with the volunteer network and public;
Support communication team in advocating and communicating about volunteer initiatives, supported by Mongolia Country Office;
Contribute to global communication about UNICEF volunteer initiatives and achievements;
Document lessons learned during the implementation process and suggest strategies to overcome challenges.

Within already-existing national framework, support capacity-building efforts to strengthen capacity of key child rights-focused partner at all levels of society to ensure better programming and national planning for all children at schools and community levels, including capacity building of volunteers at central and community level:
Assist in creating and delivering online and offline learning opportunities for government and non-government partners on volunteering, to ensure the sector capacity remains up-to-date with latest developments;
Support establishment of effective mechanisms for continuous capacity building of volunteers.

Support UNICEF contribution to United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) priorities “By 2021, governing institutions are more responsive and accountable to people, while ensuring effective participation of young persons and realization of the rights of all, especially the poor and marginalized”:
Contribute to the implementation of relevant results areas in UNDAF Outcome;
Participate in inter-agency meetings/events on youth and volunteer programming and collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF operational planning and implementation;
Integrate and harmonize UNICEF outputs and project results into the reporting of UNICEF contribution to UNDAF Outcome implementation;
Work closely with UN Youth Working Group and coordinate volunteer initiative with other agencies’ efforts;
Effectively involve and provide guidance to UN Youth Advisory Panel members in the project planning and implementation and monitoring process

Duration

The consultancy will begin 1 August, 2020 and end on 16 July, 2021. The selected consultant will be working full time at UNICEF during the length of the assignment. The consultant will be provided with a working space, access to internet and other administrative support when needed. The consultant will mostly be office-based, with occasional field visits during the time of assignment.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

University degree in the Social/Behavioral Sciences (communication, marketing, public health), international relations or in a related technical field. Advanced university degree in relevant field is added advantage. Knowledge in HRBA, Results-based management, Child Rights, gender issues, child participation and strategic partnerships is an asset.
Minimum three years of professional work experience in programme design, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation related to networking and partnerships for child rights.
Work experience related to advocacy, communication, social mobilization and partnerships, including proven experience of working with government and civil society groups.
Field work experience. Background/familiarity with Emergency situations is an asset.
Fluency in English and Mongolia, both speaking and writing.

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are…

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

More Information