Mission and objectives

Established in 1996, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organisations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. UNAIDS provides the strategic direction, advocacy, coordination and technical support to catalyse and connect leadership from governments, the private sector and communities to deliver life-saving HIV services. UNAIDS has shaped public policy on HIV at the global, regional and national levels. It has mobilised investment for sound national policy using evidence, experience and political advocacy, built health and community systems, established legal frameworks and shaped public opinion towards creating healthy and resilient societies. The UNAIDS China Office, also established in 1996, has made relentless efforts to introduce the best practices of the global HIV response to China, provide technical support for China’s health authorities, and help China to build capability on HIV epidemic monitoring, HIV prevention and control.

Context

UNAIDS – the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS – brings together the efforts and resources of 11 UN system organizations to the global AIDS response. The UNAIDS team in China takes a leading role in advocacy and resource mobilization efforts to fund and support national AIDS activities implemented by the various partners, including the provision of funds and technical support to assist initiatives by UN agencies. UNAIDS initiated and guided the development and implementation of the UN Joint Programme on AIDS in China, which links directly with the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration and other stakeholders from ministries, academic institutions, NGO and associations involved to jointly support the AIDS response in China and globally. Under the overall leadership and guidance of the UNAIDS Executive Director, and supervision of the Director of Multilateral Systems in the Executive Office—in close consultation with the Resident Coordinator (RC) who retains the overarching leadership and authority to strategically position the UN system in China and beyond, and the Director of Regional Support Team (RST) for the Asia and Pacific who provides leadership and coordinates support for an expanded UN system response to ending the AIDS epidemic at regional and country level—the UNAIDS Office in China functions to perform a set of triple mandates: liaison function, global outreach and country support. a) Liaison function: Build, strengthen and sustain the relationship between UNAIDS and the emerging international development institutions and mechanisms of China, to ensure achieving the Global AIDS Strategy and Political Commitment Declaration for 2021-2026, and the goals of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 and leave no one behind, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). b) Global outreach and special initiatives: Promote the vision and corporate agenda of UNAIDS, and develop policy positions, strategies, special initiatives, and campaigns that support China’s partnership with the rest of the world, focusing on China’s south-south collaboration and global health diplomacy agenda and engagements, including strengthening of local production and security of global supply chain of health commodities, especially in Africa. c) Country support: Provide leadership and coordinate support for an expanded UN system response to support China’s domestic HIV agenda towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 and leave no one behind, with a Fast-Track approach to rapidly scale up HIV services focused on populations and locations most affected by the epidemic. The office mandates are devised to work and collaborate not only at a technical level, but also a strategic and policy level, including global health agenda and diplomacy and pursuing the persistent ambitions to achieve SDGs.

Task Description

Under the primary supervision of Dr Zhou Kai, Global Partnership Advisor, UNAIDS Office in China, the UN Volunteers will undertake the following tasks: • Review and analysis information and data interpretation related to the programmes, and seek effective feedback from national and international collaboration partners, particularly in the area of global health and South-South collaboration. • Plan, organize, and participate in international and national meetings and conferences on global partnership and take meeting minutes to share with partners. • Coordinate and support South-South cooperation-related programme initiation, implementation, and evaluation process in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders (i.e. National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, China International Development Cooperation Agency, Chinese Association of STD and AIDS Prevention and Control) and UNAIDS co-sponsors agencies. • Participate in health-related tasks and programmes in the office and with co-sponsor agencies. • Communicate with partners and stakeholders when necessary to follow up with programmes. • Support to organize relative events and activities, and preform any other tasks, as required, to ensure efficient facilitation of UNAIDS work priorities. Furthermore, UNVs are encouraged to: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and taking an active part in UNV activities (for instance, IVD celebration events); • Get 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; • Contribute news and articles on field experiences and submit them to UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UNV volunteers; • Promote online volunteering and encourage individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering Service whenever technically feasible. Results/Expected Output: Global partnership is a very important pillar of UNAIDS Office in China. Under this pillar, UNAIDS’ work can be reflected in the following areas. • Political contribution – assist China to fulfill the commitment of the Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS and positioning HIV in its global health diplomacy work and in the wider context of Universal Health Coverage. • South-South learning – support China to avail (and benefit from) opportunities for south-south learning and exchange to address strategic gaps in meeting global HIV targets and ending AIDS. • Resource mobilization – explore funding opportunities from the Government of China, foundations and the private sector for the work of UNAIDS and partner countries in their efforts to end AIDS. • Access to medicine – improve the accessibility of HIV-related medicines and health commodities in Africa, promote China-Africa collaboration under the framework of FOCAC, extended to global and regional levels. • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment. • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

Competencies and values

☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning ☒ Communication ☒ Integrity ☒ Knowledge Sharing ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Working in Teams

Living conditions and remarks

The duty station of the national UN Volunteer is located in Beijing city, where modest public infrastructure and excellent health services are available. It is the foremost political and cultural metropolis in China. In general, rent for apartments in central locations is high relative to other regions in China, but quality is good. Beijing is well served by many shopping malls, large supermarket chains and international brands. Buses and subways are the most common form of mass transportation. Metered taxis are widely available and domestic and regional travel by train and airplane is popular. Conditions of Service for national UN Volunteers: The National UN Volunteer receives a standard volunteer living allowance (VLA), which is intended to cover their accommodation and basic living expenses. In China the VLA is about 8161.91 RMB per month. The National UN Volunteer is entitled to an excellent health, life and disability insurance package. A modest Settling-in Grant and end of assignment allowance will also be provided, along with travel to and from the duty station. International travel to duty station will not covered by UNV. The National UN Volunteer is entitled to 2.5 days personal leave per month and government official holidays.