General

Description of assignment title: Telephone Services Support Assistant

Assignment country: South Sudan

Expected start date: 10/01/2023

Sustainable Development Goal: 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions

Volunteer category: International UN Volunteer Specialist

Host entity: UNMISS

Type: Onsite

Duration: 9 months (with possibility of extension)

Number of assignments: 1

Duty stations: Juba

Details

Mission and objectives

Under Resolution 2677 (2023), the Security Council determined that the situation in South Sudan continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region. The Council extended the UNMISS mandate until 15 March 2024. It also emphasized that the Mission should continue advancing its three-year strategic vision defined in resolution 2567 (2021) to prevent a return to civil war, build durable peace and support inclusive, accountable governance as well as free, fair and peaceful elections in accordance with the Revitalized Peace Agreement. Under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, UNMISS is therefore authorized to use all necessary means to implement its mandate which includes: (a) Protection of civilians (b) Creating conditions conducive to the delivery of humanitarian assistance (c) Supporting the Implementation of the Revitalised Agreement and the Peace Process (d) Monitoring, investigating, and reporting on violations of humanitarian and human rights law The overall ceiling for uniformed personnel is maintained at 17,000 troops and 2,101 police, including 88 corrections officers. Please refer to https://unmiss.unmissions.org/mandate for more information.

Context

The incumbent will be under the direct supervision of the Field Technology Section’s (FTS) Telephone Billing Unit supervisor and under the general guidance of the Chief Information Technology Officer (Operations).

Task description

•  Process invoices for services provided to the Mission. This includes invoice charges verification, document certification as well as following up payment with the Finance Section;
•  Assist in the recovery of telephony and mobile call charges from staff for non-Mission-related business and private use;
•  Track and report on all pending and processed invoice transactions;
•  Act as the Field Technology Section’s focal point in coordinating with the Finance Section, specifically with regards to the telephone call charges to be recovered from staff members, with the commitment in the timely processing of payments to vendors and service providers;
•  Coordinate with service provider support personnel regarding service activation, response to service outages, reconfiguration and commissioning of services;
•  Ensure that personnel from UN Agencies, Funds, Programs, as well as UNMISS staff members provided by the Mission with these services comply with standing instructions and procedures in the use of ICT resources as per ST/SGB/2004/15, Use of Information and communication Technology resources and data;
•  Prepare business related memoranda and facsimile correspondence in response to queries from telephone service providers, internet providers and staff members;
•  Maintain a comprehensive filing system of invoices, billing statements and correspondence for all telephone services, including issue and return vouchers for mobile and satellite SIM cards;
•  Process call detail records from service providers;
•  Maintain an accurate filing system and archiving of records in the Unit;
•  Track mobile phones, Thuraya and BGAN portable satellite phones and their corresponding end-users;
•  Provide FTS Management with regular monthly reports;
•  Perform other assigned 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 Program 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.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 27 – 80

Nationality

Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience

4 years of experience in accounting, billing, budgeting and financial management, preferably in an international organization. Experience in UN peacekeeping or other field operations, some of which is in the area of budget or finance is desirable.

•  Minimum 4 years experience on financial data analysis, raising shopping carts, creating service entry sheet and processing payments through UMOJA;
•  Experience in using data to inform decisions, strategies and execution is required.
•  Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.
•  Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing.
•  Familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development.
•  Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment.
•  Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
•  Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office365 applications (Excel, Word, etc.), Email and Internet.
•  Familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.
•  Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

Area(s) of expertise

Administration, Economics and finance, Logistics and Inventory

Driving license

Manual Transmission Required

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in the field of accounting / finance / billing / administrative services, Information Technology or other related fields are highly desirable.

Competencies and values

Professionalism

•  Communication
•  Accountability
•  Commitment to continuous learning
•  Technological awareness
•  Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity, and self-reliance

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

Living conditions vary between UNMISS duty stations. Each duty station where UNMISS has a field presence has basic residential camp facilities, which includes running water and electricity. Candidates should be aware that accommodation may be austere with the possibility of water shortages and power blackouts. On arrival in Juba accommodation will be on a share basis. Ablutions will also be shared. As the accommodation situation improves single unit accommodation, with an attached ablution, should become available in all locations. Hard wall accommodation is available in Juba. All UNMISS duty stations apart from Entebbe, Uganda are considered non – family duty stations. The security level of UNMISS duty stations is classified by the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) who will brief on arrival. A number of locations in South Sudan are prone to conflict. Primary health care services (preventive and curative) are provided in 11 United Nations Owned Equipment (UNOE) Level-I clinics, 21 Contingent Owned Equipment (COE) Level-I clinics, 4 COE Level-II medical facilities within the mission area and the establishment of contractual agreements for Level-III and Level-IIII care outside the mission area. The 4 Level-II facilities available in Juba, Bor, Malakal and Wau, run by the Troop Contributing Countries (TCC), take referrals from the Level-I clinics and provide hospital-based care. The climate is tropical with a rainy season in many areas, which should normally span from around April to October. Ability to live and work in difficult and harsh conditions is essential.

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.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy