Mine Action Specialist

Details

Mission and objectives

On the ground in about 170 countries and territories, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works to eradicate poverty while protecting the planet. We help countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships and institutions so they can sustain their progress.
In Viet Nam, the Government and UNDP partnership officially started in 1978. Since then UNDP has been working closely with the Government and other partners to expand the choices for people and ensure that everyone has equal access to opportunities to realize their full potentials. The current Country Programme (2017-2021) contributes to three inter-related outcomes of the One UN Strategic Plan for Viet Nam, aiming to address poverty and inequalities; enhance citizen participation and protection of rights; as well as promote sustainable low- carbon development while strengthening resilience of the targeted groups.
Outcome 1: Poverty eradication and greater socio-economic equity.
Outcome 2: Low-carbon, resilience and environmentally sustainable development.
Outcome 3: Institutional accountability, people’s voice and access to justice.

Context

The presence of EO can have a substantial negative impact on human development. Landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive ordnance (EO) are a significant hindrance to countries’ achievements in the simultaneous eradication of extreme poverty and reduction of inequalities and exclusion. In Viet Nam, according to a government-led survey conducted from 2010 to 2014, all 63 provinces/cities across the country were potentially contaminated. Provinces located in the central part of Vietnam are among those most affected. The 15 most contaminated provinces are also among the provinces that have a high ratio of poor and near-poor households, especially the provinces in the Central region.
In recent years, the Vietnamese Government has paid special attention to perfecting management and coordination systems, funding and providing guidelines for the effective implementation of mine action operations. Substantial amounts of funds are spent each year on EO clearance in order to release and recover land for cultivation, ensure safe livelihood activities, as well as provision of emergency treatment to Landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) victims and support to their reintegration into communities and educating these communities about the risk to further reduce accidents and prevent casualties.
The Ministry of National Defense through the Viet Nam National Mine Action Center (VNMAC), the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and UNDP Viet Nam, have a history of collaboration to advance decontamination and development efforts in affected areas. Currently, the three organizations are partnering in the Korea Viet Nam Peace Village Project (KVPVP). KVPVP is a comprehensive mine action programme that started in early 2022 with the aim to enable inclusive, safe and resilient local development by reducing the impact of EO on local communities and supporting them to improve livelihoods and health. The project targets three provinces in the most affected area of central Viet Nam, namely Thua Thien Hue, Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh.
The project has two outcomes. The first outcome on ‘human security’, and its three – associated outputs, relate to mine action and its pillars, whereas the second outcome on sustainable rural development has a focus on livelihoods and health. Its two outputs provide solutions for EO victims and local communities affected by EO.
In this context, the Korean UNV on Mine Action for KVPVP will provide assistance to VNMAC, the Provincial Military Commands and other responsible partners in implementing the project’s first outcome on mine action at the field level. The position will be under the supervision of UNDP’s Chief Technical Advisor on Mine Action. The UN volunteer will work closely with other mine action organizations supporting VNMAC, to contribute to coordination at local level.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor on Mine Action, the International UN Volunteer on Mine Action will support the following areas:
1. Technical and strategic advice on KVPVP Outcome 1 activities:
• Provide inputs to draft technical documents (concept notes, Terms of Reference TORs, work plans, progress annual and final reports) relevant to the workplans under KVPVP Outcome 1, namely survey and clearance (S&C) and Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE),
• Provide technical guidance and capacity development support to ensure close linkages between land release efforts (from identification of contaminated areas for S&C, S&C field operations and lands released to local authorities) and subsequent development interventions on released/cleared land, i.e. close interlinkages between the two project outcomes,
• Support VNMAC and provincial military commands in establishing a pilot within KVPVP for how residual contamination might be addressed, and
• Support implementation of the capacity development activities for VNMAC, according to the comprehensive capacity development framework.
2. Regulation and National Standards
• Support legislation of the mine action ordinance and its regulatory framework to be applied in KVPVP and that lessons learned are drawn from this for the entire sector in Viet Nam,
• Support VNMAC in implementing the National Technical Regulation (QCVN) and legislating National Standards (TCVN) effectively, and
• Provide technical support to VNMAC on reviewing and modifying the Standard Operation Procedure (SOP), which meet the contexts of areas for humanitarian demining.
3. Support effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation
• Provide technical advice and support to the joint UNDP and VNMAC Quality Management team during site visits regarding the Quality Management System adopted for Vietnam, and best international practices, including International Mine Action Standards (IMAS),
• Support to VNMAC on related operational knowledge, general safety experience and technical advice as per all National Technical Regulations and QM Systems application,
• Undertake periodic monitoring of KVPVP- based on the approved project document, national strategy and the Annual Work Plan (AWP). Monitor the project activities from a gender and social inclusion perspective and provide timely feedback to all staff and partner organisations.
• Support the survey on post-clearance impact to socio-economic development after 6 months from the land release, using satellite imaging analysis and/or field observation in collaboration with VNMAC and provincial Project Management Unit (PMUs),
• Support the follow up from any remaining recommendations from the final evaluation of the first phase, the Korea – Viet Nam Mine Action Project (KVMAP),
• Provide advice on all other matters relating to the operations of VNMAC and KVPVP, and
• Support KVPVP M&E efforts and support the independent mid-term and final evaluations of KVPVP and if required support mine action and SDGs assessment.
4. Support Information Management:
• Ensure data and information of the project are collected, uploaded, and utilized,
• Support efficient and effective information management of VNMAC and IM officers of the provincial military commands in the mine action sector in Vietnam, especially procedures and mechanisms for information reporting and sharing for the purposes of development planning at local levels, and
• Provide technical support to VNMAC in planning and establishing provincial database management units (DBU) in the targeted provinces, and monitor stabilization of the DBUs.
5. Technical innovation in mine action
• Support VNMAC in conducting a comprehensive review of existing and emerging technologies, relevant to mine action in Vietnam, such as remote sensing, AI, data analysis, etc.,
• Provide technical support in developing plan for integrating innovative technologies into the KVPVP,
• Act as liaison with technical providers, research institutions, and other stakeholders to establish and maintain partnership for technical innovation, and
• Support VNMAC in organizing and/or representing conferences, workshops, and meetings, related to technology and mine action
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 Vietnam;
• Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute with 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
• As an active UNDP Vietnam team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNDP Vietnam and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions.
• The results will have an impact on the overall efficiency, effectiveness and annual quality and quantity delivery of Outcome 1 of KVPVP and the development of the Mine Action sector in Vietnam.
• 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