Mission and objectives

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world. UNOPS has engaged closely with the Government of Nepal and several development partners in the reconstruction efforts of the government of Nepal, including the assessment of damaged buildings and enrolment of beneficiaries into housing grant schemes. UNOPS Nepal has supported retrofitting of damaged houses, reconstruction of disability-friendly schools, homeowners engagement in the reconstruction process, modernization and improvement of policing services, and delivering health interventions to support COVID-19 response efforts in the country. The functional objective of UNOPS Nepal is to deliver its projects in an efficient and effective manner in alignment with government priorities, following UNOPS rules and regulations, so as to achieve the outcomes sought by the clients and funding partners and contribute to the achievement of SDGs. ● Mission UNOPS’s mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development. ● Vision UNOPS vision is a world where people can live full lives supported by appropriate, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure and by the efficient, transparent use of public resources in procurement and project management. ● Our Expertise UNOPS areas of expertise cover resilient infrastructure, sustainable procurement, project management, financial management, and human resources management. We help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. We bring to this task the values and principles of the United Nations and the innovation, boldness, speed, and efficiency of a self-financed institution. ● Working with us UNOPS offers short and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines. ● Diversity With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage the recruitment of qualified female candidates. ● Work-life harmonization UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Context

This UNV assignment is a part of UNOPS project – “Cities 4 Women: Inclusive and Climate Resilient Urbanization in Nepal”. The project objective is to integrate inclusive and resilient urban planning and design in municipal infrastructure planning and implementation processes, focusing on public open spaces.The project is jointly implemented by UNOPS with UN-Habitat and Cities Alliance and supported by European Commission, USAID and the Government of Finland. Cities in Nepal are growing rapidly, with a significant population moving to urban areas in search of better opportunities. This growth and the increasing climate vulnerability are leading to significant challenges, including the need for inclusive and resilient public infrastructures and urban services. The project assists in addressing these challenges by raising the demand for gender responsive, climate resilient public space, piloting public urban infrastructure, and enhancing the urban planning and design capacity of the selected municipalities. Through 4 main Outcomes, the project will increase the demand for gender-responsive climate-resilient public space, generate proof of concept for participatory public space projects, enhance the urban planning and design capacity of municipalities, review the legal framework to provide recommendations for policy review, and facilitate joint participation of municipalities and national knowledge institutions in the generation and exchange of knowledge related to participatory processes, urban planning, gender, and climate-related initiatives.

Task Description

Under the direct supervision of Project Manager and in close coordination with the Architect/ Urban Planner, the National UN Youth Volunteer will: ● Support in desk review of the existing Municipal planning documents including Periodic Plans, Sectoral Plans, Annual Plans, Integrated Urban Development Plan (IUDP), Landuse Plans, and GESI, DRR and Climate Resilience related plans; ● Support to organize participatory and women-focused workshops, community mappings and data collections; ● Support to co-design gender sensitive and climate responsive urban interventions at ward level; ● Support the project team in developing technical project proposals, visualizing data, visualizing architecture and urban design projects – related to the ongoing Cities 4 Women: Inclusive and Climate Resilient Urbanization in Nepal project; ● Translate community based designs into technical drawings at scale; ● Contribute the UNOPS technical team to approve the developed proof of concept projects to be financed through the Challenge Fund to be implemented by the municipalities; ● Support in other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: ● 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; ● Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. ● 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. ● Municipal urban planning related documents are improved; ● Seven Step Planning Process strengthened by ensuring active participation of women; ● Ward level gender sensitive and climate resilient spatial projects co-designed; ● Proof of concept projects prepared, and approved; ● Monthly progress reports submitted.

Competencies and values

● Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNOPS; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNOPS procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; ● Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNOPS in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; ● Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; ● Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. ● Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; ● Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; ● Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; ● Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNOPS’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Living conditions and remarks

The municipalities in Nepal provide for an interesting and enriching environment together with huge learning opportunities of local governance, but also requires a deep understanding of cultural awareness, as well as more resilience and commitment comparard to major cities of Nepal, to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements