Programme Assistant

UNV PNG organization mission TBD

Papua New Guinea is one of the UNV programme countries under Asia and the Pacific region. There is no UNV field unit yet in Papua New Guinea, and the position will be stationed within UNDP office in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. In 2024 (as of December), 21 UN Volunteers (international and national) served with various UN agencies. There are notable potentials to increase UN Volunteers mobilization in the country. UNV contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through engaging UNV volunteers and promoting volunteerism at national and sub-national level.

The position is envisaged to support the volunteer management, volunteer mobilization within UN agencies, Funds, and Programmes focused on peace, development and humanitarian needs along with increasing talent pool efforts in the country. The position is expected to deliver smooth processes of UN Volunteer recruitments, repatriations along with onboarding, inductions, extensions, day-to-day volunteer management, coordination with the UN agencies, UN volunteers ensuring close coordination with UNV Regional Office and HQ.

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Portfolio Specialist, Programme Assistant will deliver the following tasks:
• Establish strong partnerships with the UN agencies and create opportunities for increasing UN Volunteer mobilization for Papua New Guinea
• Ensure comprehensive outreach and advocacy with the UN partners through regular in-person/online meetings, responding to the agencies’ queries, exploring new partnership opportunities to increase diversified UN Volunteers
mobilization.
• Provide all relevant support to the serving UN Volunteers and respond to their queries and maintain excellent coordination with UN Volunteers and host entities for their wellbeing.
• Support to UNV mobilization by close coordination and follow-up with the agencies and partners following the guidance Regional Portfolio Specialist
• Complete tasks the pertinent steps of day-to-day UNV recruitment processes, onboarding, repatriation, extensions and HR actions on UVP in close liaison with the host entities, VSC/VSS and Regional Portfolio Specialist
• Conduct pre-and post-arrival arrangements of UN Volunteers including pre-departure allowances/Settle-in-Grants, hotel booking, arranging inductions, and other pertinent issues for national and International Volunteers
• Conduct induction for the new UN Volunteers, providing support to necessary administrative and operational support to the new UN Volunteers i.e., introducing buddy system, liaising with VSC, and other pertinent issues.
• Provide necessary support to online and onsite volunteer mobilization with regular coordination with the agencies, Govt counterparts, and other key stakeholders following the guidance Regional Portfolio Specialist
• Arrange Talent Acquisition sessions for increasing talent pool together with RO TA team, observance of International Volunteer Day and advocacy initiatives following the guidance of UNV Regional Office.
• Provide support to the Regional Portfolio Specialist for coordination with the partners, arranging meetings, research works, arranging UNV missions, policy works on volunteerism, and improving documentation.
• Support to liaise with country of recruitment on logistical/travel/financial arrangements for international UN Volunteer recruitment.
• Provide necessary support to FU personnel with travel, visa arrangements, procurement, and payment issues.
• Maintain volunteer files, partners’, and volunteers’ database, and build an efficient documentation system.
• Maintain the files on UNV assets, repairing of ICT stuff and keep tracking on UNV furniture and other goods, if any
• Perform quantum and UVP role as guided by UNV.
• Perform any other duties as guided by supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

• Strengthen knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities.
• 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.


Results/Expected Outputs

• Efficient and quality UN Volunteer recruitment, volunteer mobilization, volunteer management mechanism is in place.
• Increased diversified volunteer mobilization in the country.
• Improved and smart documentation, coordination, feedback techniques are practised.
• Competent volunteer management system is ensured
• Quality volunteer support (including entitlements, procurements, UVP support, volunteer queries) is practised.
• Improved coordination with the UN agencies, partners and UN Volunteers
• Increased talent pool in PNG, to meet the demands of the agencies
• Improved image of UNV on volunteer management/agency partnerships, HR, procurement (if any), and pertinent activities