Organization Mission

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. We work with partners to integrate qualified, highly motivated and well supported UN Volunteers into development programming and promote the value and global recognition of volunteerism. UNV is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and reports to the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board. Read more about the added value of UNV, UN Volunteers and volunteerism https://www.unv.org/Added-value-UNV-UN-Volunteers-and-volunteerism.

Context

At country level, the UNV Field Unit (FU) and/or designated UNV personnel are responsible for the mobilization and placement of UN Volunteers in UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes in the areas of peace, development and humanitarian assistance.  UNV Field Units/designated UNV personnel represent and position UNV in the respective countries with a focus on the UN Country Team, bringing UNV’s services and solutions closer to its partners within a client service approach and collaborating with other stakeholders from government, civil society and private sector.
As UNDP represents UNV at country level, UNV personnel are usually hosted
within a UNDP Office and are accountable to the Supervisor and UNV Executive
Coordinator for compliance with UNV and UNDP policies, rules and regulations.

Key Responsibilities

Under the general guidance of the Regional Manager, with day-to-day reporting to the Country Coordinator, the UN Volunteer serving as Client Engagement Assistant supports the identification, development, and cultivation of select partnerships with UN Agencies / Host Entities at country level. This includes managing the relationship with priority partners, gathering and sharing data and information that influence mobilization opportunities, ensuring client satisfaction with volunteer services, and bridging the delivery of services from centralized functions of the volunteer management cycle. The critical purpose of this UNV assignment is the sustained mobilization of volunteers to the designated partners (clients) and support to
the duty of care for serving volunteers.
The role involves regular contact and liaison with counterpart UN personnel at all levels, including senior level staff. Within UNV, all personnel are expected to work across multiple units, functions, and teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.1. Assist in mobilizing volunteers and developing and maintaining partnerships
• Support the management of assigned partner accounts and maintain relationships with UN entities to promote UNV’s mandate, offers, and the added value of volunteer assignments.
• Identify volunteer placement opportunities aligned with UN agency strategies
and assist in preparing descriptions of assignments.
• Contribute to the development of tailored offers and initiatives that address partners’ evolving needs for volunteer solutions.
• Support advocacy campaigns, key events, and communications that raise awareness of volunteerism and highlight impact stories.
• Collect and analyze data from UN Cooperation Frameworks and agency programmes to identify opportunities for volunteer engagement.
• Record mobilization opportunities and partnership intelligence in UNV’s Client Relationship Management (CRM) system and ensure knowledge is documented and shared.
• Prepare presentations, mapping, and key messages for engagement with partners and internal use.
• Act as focal point for online volunteering, in consultation with the Regional Office, by supporting host entities in developing OV opportunities, promoting the concept of OV, and assisting with accreditation of OV service organizations.2. Support volunteer experience and duty of care
• As a fellow UN Volunteer, assist with onboarding and provide ongoing support throughout the volunteer management cycle to ensure an inclusive, smooth, and positive experience for all UN Volunteers in the country.
• Respond to volunteer inquiries, escalate concerns when needed, and gather feedback through surveys or check-ins to inform improvements.
• Help organize appreciation initiatives and local events that recognize contributions and foster belonging.
• Support host entities with information on volunteer roles, wellbeing, and enabling instruments (e.g. insurance, benefits).
• Contribute to duty of care by liaising with security focal points, supporting emergency headcounts, and coordinating assistance in cases such as medical evacuation.
• Provide tailored support to peers facing language or integration challenges to help them navigate their assignments effectively.
• Backstop other Field Unit/country-level functions during peak periods or staff absences to ensure continuity of service and support.

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum of 3 years (with technical or vocational diploma) or 2 additional years (with high school certificate) of practical and relevant experience at national or international level in partnership engagement, advocacy, management, client service or related areas.
• Previous experience with international or development organizations is considered an
asset.
• Experience in preparing presentation materials, including PowerPoint slides and talking
points, as well as minute-taking and report drafting.
• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.),
database packages, and web-based management systems such as ERP.
• Knowledge and experience of ticket-based service management systems (e.g., Salesforce/UNALL, or equivalent) is considered an asset.

Core Competencies

System Thinking – Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to
understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and
to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
Integration within the UN – Ability to identity, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN
system, and engage in joint work. Knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this
knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations.
Knowledge Generation – Ability to research information and to turn it into useful
knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing
concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable
solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models,
and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.
Communication – Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both
through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose
communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage
communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other
appropriate channels
Customer Satisfaction/Client Management – Ability to respond timely and appropriately
with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality
results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers” needs. Provide
inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value
beyond clients” immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client”s upcoming needs and
concerns.
Relationship management – Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private
partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual
understanding.
Event planning and execution – Ability to plan, manage and execute public and private
events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and
advocacy initiatives, as well as UNV”s overall brand and mandate.

Living Conditions

The assignment will be in Brasília, the Federal capital of Brazil and seat of government of the Federal District. Brasilia is a family duty station and classified A (hardship). The living conditions in Brasilia are good as well as the access to health services. The accommodation facilities are in general good, and the choice is wide.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging their own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.

Brazil is security level 3 (moderate). United Nations Department of Safety and Security UNDSS Brazil advises to exercise a high degree of caution in Brazil due to high levels of serious and violent crime, particularly in major cities. Violent crime as muggings, armed robbery, kidnappings, and sexual assault, is very high. Avoid shanty towns (favelas) in the big cities and if you are attacked or robbed, do not resist. Demonstrations can occur at any time and may turn violent with little or no warning. All United Nations personnel must scrupulously comply with UNDSS procedures and recommendations during their assignment in Brazil. For missions in rural areas or indigenous reservations, special procedures may apply; UN personnel should consult with the local DSS office in advance.

Information on entitlements at the duty station is available at https://app.unv.org/calculator.
The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.