General

Description of assignment title: Programme Assistant

Assignment country: Pakistan

Expected start date: 04/15/2023

Sustainable Development Goal: 17. Partnerships for the goals

Volunteer category: National UN Volunteer Specialist

DoA reserved for persons with disabilities: No

Host entity: UNFPA Pakistan

Type: Onsite

Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)

Number of assignments: 1

Duty stations: Islamabad

Details

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA focuses on advancing women’s and young people’s ability to exercise their sexual and reproductive health rights. Since 1970, UNFPA in Pakistan has supported: Sexual and reproductive health information and services; Adolescents and youth; Women’s empowerment and gender equality; Population and development. Our programmes expand across the country with tailored interventions for local contexts. We do this through: Gender-responsive and youth-friendly policies, laws and initiatives; Advocacy for increased investments in health and education; Strengthened capacities of government and civil society institutions for youth-led sexual and reproductive health programmes and partnerships; Alliances and strategies to reduce gender inequality; Integrated and multi-sectoral approaches to population dynamics and its linkages to development; Communication strategies that address social norms change; Enhance government partnership with private and civil society sectors. Working with government, civil society partners and other humanitarian agencies, UNFPA Pakistan advocates for the integration of gender and sexual and reproductive health issues by increasing awareness and commitment among policy makers, decision-makers and program managers and strengthening partnerships with national entities to improve coordination for effective preparedness and response. UNFPA is aligned with national priorities (Pakistan 2025 Vision), the United Nations Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF 2018-2022), UNFPA Strategic Plan (2018-2021), International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs) and Family Planning 2020 commitments.

Context

UNFPA Pakistan has been implementing the project“Sihaat Mand Khaandaan” (SMK): Healthy Families for Pakistan through Accelerated SRH and FP Services” which is designed to address the remaining challenges in the areas of SRHR, including FP and maternal health. This multi-year project is being financially supported by Government of Canada. UNFPA is working closely with the federal and provincial governments, AKFP and other implementing partners to ensure a conducive and enabling policy environment, strengthen delivery of quality, gender responsive, and inclusive FP/RH services and reduce gender and social barriers to utilization and uptake of FP/RH services by women, men, girls, and boys. Policy efforts are concentrated at the federal and provincial levels; whereas, the service delivery strengthening and social change components are concentrated in selected districts of Sindh (Matiari and Qambar Shahdadkot), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Upper Chitral and Lower Chitral), and all districts of Gilgit-Baltistan. The implementation period of the project is from 2020 to 2024. UNFPA provides technical support to their implementing partners in executing and reporting the planned activities in the work plans, guided by UNFPA Policies and Procedures. To further strengthen the management of Programme implementation and to support the Programme team in day-to-day activities, UNFPA seeks to recruit One (1) UNV Volunteer Program Assistant under the SMK Project. The Programme Assistant provides support to Programme team in day-to-day task ensuring the high quality, accuracy and consistency of work. S/He will be oriented on the SMK project and the UNFPA Policies and Procedures and results based Programme management so as to effectively assist in Programme implementation, routine monitoring and reporting as outlined in the SMK work plan and IPs’ Work Plans. The incumbents will report directly to the Programme Analyst– SRH and will closely liaise with and receive technical guidance and support from Programme Assistant.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of Programme Analyst – SRH, the national UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: Programme Management and Implementation: Support Programme Assistant in developing and reviewing the IPs’ and Direct Execution work plans and budget and support in managing those in the system. Assist in provision of logistic support to the SMK team in organizing the field missions, meetings, workshops and other field level activities. Provide technical and programmatic support to Programme reviews, reports and briefs. Provide support to the Programme team in initiating the procurement of SRH equipment, supplies and other material and follow up with the operations team for ensuring the timely delivery of requisite items. Monitoring and reporting: Provide support in monitoring of IPs’ work plan activities and compiling routine reports and follow up with IPs and concerned Programme Officers on implementation of recommended action points as required. Provide inputs on IPs’ work plan progress report. Provide support in managing and compiling project data. Provide support in documenting the lesson learned and best practices documented through the SMK project support. 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 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.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 27 – 80

Nationality

Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience

3 years of experience in Education: University Degree in Business or Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences and Social Sciences and project subject related area would be desirable. Experience: -3 years of relevant experience in Programme/project management, coordination and implementation,admin/Finance, Montoring & Reporting, documentation experience -Experience working with UN organizations/ agencies, governmental offices, and international organizations, preferred; -Good interpersonal and communication skills and team work spirit -Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Area(s) of expertise

Development programmes

Driving license

–

Languages

English, Level: Working knowledge, Required

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in Programme

Competencies and values

–

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

As this is a national UNV assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. UNV Field Unit will help you open a Pak rupee bank account with Standard Chartered Bank or any other local bank at your duty station. Assignment remarks: This is a national UNV assignment and a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) of PKR 111,489/- is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents), as well as final repatriation (if applicable) and resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.

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