UNV Youth Volunteer in Skill Development

UN VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT
Preamble:
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.

1. UNV Assignment Title: UNV Youth Volunteer in Skill Development

2. Type of Assignment: National UN Volunteer

3. UNV Programme Strategy: Youth & Basic Services

4. Project Title: Support to District Youth Resource Centers

5. Duration: 12 months

6. Location, Country: Lesotho

7. Host Agency/Host Institute: UNFPA

8. Organizational Context:
In line with the UNFPA global strategic plan, the Lesotho Country Office is investing in young people with the purpose to empower them with knowledge and skills to adopt protective sexual behaviours. The country office further intends to promote participation of young people in decision making at national regional and international levels so as to ensure that young people take charge of their own developmental agenda. In an effort to achieve these long term aspirations, UNFPA is partnering with the UNV to support the youth resource centers located in 7 of Lesotho’s 10 administrative districts.

9. Description of tasks:

Purpose of the position:
To implement a collaborative, coordinated approach to the planning and delivery of youth services across the district. This will involve working closely with relevant youth and volunteer networks, stakeholders and young people to support the development of comprehensive, effective, evidence based services for young people that address current issues and needs.

Under the direct supervision of the UNFPA Resident Representative or Senior Programme Officer, the UN Volunteer performs the following responsibilities (in collaboration with the government Ministry of Youth):

• Conduct /update regular assessment on young people (boys and girls) Development rights and needs in their respective areas of intervention
• Work collaboratively with relevant stakeholders and young people covered by this project to identify and prioritise current needs, services and assets that can be built on;
• Work with the youth Development officers and the youth leaders in the resource centers to build a collaborative, coordinated approach to planning and service delivery that takes into consideration the specific needs of youth and volunteering and other barriers to youth engagement, leadership and participation;
• Work with the Youth Development officers and other district services providers to collaboratively build the capacity of youth workers and youth services across the district;
• Build creative partnerships with NGO, CBO, and all youth serving organization in the district
• Encourage local youth to participate in regional and territorial programs and build youth networks in the districts and at country level
• Initiate and ensure follow up of cross fertilization experience among young people
• Coordinate a community relations campaign to promote youth programs and create encourage a conductive and save environment for the development of young people especially young girls
• Lead the development of a communication strategy in collaboration with youth service and young people to improve effective promotion to young people, parents and the wider community. This is to include appropriate, effective use of social media tools.
• Assist the youth resource centers record information on and prepare reports concerning youth programs, costs, numbers of participants and equipment and facility use
• Provide monthly and yearly reports about youth programs and opportunities
• Ensure that all programs and activities are implemented according to relevant legislation, policies and procedures
• Develop an evaluation strategy for the implementation stage of this project that measures the effectiveness of a collaborative service system approach;
• Lead the develop an appropriate exit strategy to ensure sustainability of the collaborative models beyond the life of the project.
• Ensure programme visibility and resource mobilisation trough advocacy activities and material and their appropriately and timely distribution
• Document the programme good practices and disseminate.

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.

10. Qualifications/Requirements:

• Tertiary qualifications and / or extensive experience in youth services, social work, community development or related field
• Strong proven organisational and project management skills and the ability to translate youth and service needs into strategies and programs for young people;
• Demonstrated capacity to liaise and work collaboratively with service providers, networks, government, community and young people
• Experience in leading and motivating communication and collaboration between various youth service providers
• Knowledge of current issues facing the community youth and community
• Proficient knowledge on the legislation, regulations, policies and procedures for involving youth in community programs
• Effective negotiation and mediation skills
• Basic counselling skills
• High quality verbal and written communication skills
• Computer literacy

HOW TO APPLY

Detailed job description and recruitment qualifications will be available onwww.ls.undp.org Applications should include copies of curriculum viate and academic certificates and contact details of three referees should be submitted to UNV/UNDP Office in Maseru, UN House, 13 United Nations Road or alternatively posted to UNDP P.O. Box 301 Maseru 100, Lesotho on or before close of business Friday 28th November 2014.

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 and culture.