Project Associate, International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development

United Nations Volunteers (UNV) is a global programme and shared service for the UN system hosted and administered by UNDP. UNV provides volunteer solutions to UN entities across development, humanitarian, peace and security pillars and provides volunteer advisory services to UN Member States and, on their request, carries out relevant intergovernmental mandates. The Administrator of UNDP is also the Administrator of UNV and delegates strategic management of UNV to its Executive Coordinator.

• The External Relations and Communications Section builds and nurtures corporate donor relations, strategically leads the donor resource mobilization platform and conducts coherent communications efforts to highlight the value of volunteerism for peace and development and the contributions of UNV and UN Volunteers.
• In December 2023, through its Resolution A/RES/78/127, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 2026 the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development and invited UNV, in cooperation with Governments and relevant organizations of the UN system, to facilitate the implementation of the International Year (hereafter referred to as IVY 2026).
• Subsequently, the IVY 2026 Secretariat will be established to be responsible for IVY 2026 preparation and delivery of the workplan. Reporting to the Team Leader for IVY 2026, the Project Associate supports UNV in preparing and implementing IVY 2026.

Duties and Responsibilities

Support the effective and efficient functioning of the IVY 2026 Team Leader and the IVY 2026 team

• Ensure full compliance of administrative activities with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies
• Maintain the Team Leader’s calendar, contacts and appointments with UN/UNV officials, Member State representatives, media, civil society and other stakeholders
• Arrange appointments and meetings, and facilitate contacts with visitors and staff
• Collect, analyze and prepare inputs into the IVY 2026 workplan and reports; provide substantive inputs into overall work planning and design of specific activities; suggest alternative courses of action and work planning, where appropriate, based on assessments of past activities
• Compile and prepare briefing and presentation materials, speeches and background information and documentation for meetings and missions
• Take minutes of important meetings, synthesize and analyse findings to be reported to the IVY 2026 Team Leader

Ensure effective administrative and logistical support

• Provide secretarial, administrative, financial, budgetary, operational and logistical support for high-level meetings, workshops and other events and engagements
• Follow up on deadlines, commitments made, actions taken and coordinate the collection and submission of reports
• Assist in the preparation and updates of budgets and financial reports as required; analyze financial contributions and financial delivery, and suggest alternative approaches to resource mobilization with key stakeholders and usage of resources where appropriate
• Coordinate the quarterly, mid- and end-year financial review meetings with the IVY 2026 Team Leader and contribute to the preparation of the Annual Financial Reports in cooperation with the UNV Finance and Resources Management Section
• Create requisitions and conduct budget checks for requisitions and purchase orders
• Support the administration of procurement processes and travel arrangements, including hotel reservations, travel authorizations and the processing of visas
• Provide translations of correspondence and documentation as may be required
• Make suggestions to improve the design and delivery of services of the IVY 2026 Secretariat

Facilitate knowledge-building, sharing and management

• Facilitate knowledge and information management by conducting necessary research, extracting qualitative and quantitative data from various sources, creating and maintaining relevant databases as required (contacts, correspondence, publications, etc.), and maintaining a system to make information readily accessible for the entire IVY 2026 team; assist in consolidation and compilation of best practices and lessons learned
• Assist in the preparation of communications products and campaign materials, including for dedicated IVY 2026 websites and audio-visual material
• Oversee the incoming and outgoing correspondence, including ensuring that correspondence reaches the relevant recipient in the IVY 2026 team and are responded to in a timely and satisfactory manner
• Ensures effective filing, including through automated filing systems, and safe-keeping of documents and other materials required
• Assist in the design, compilation and implementation of the IVY 2026 evaluation upon conclusion of the year, as mandated by the General Assembly

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary education, preferably with specialized certification in Accounting and Finance;
• University Degree in Business or Public Administration, Economics, Political or Social Sciences is desirable, but is not a requirement

Experience:

• A minimum of 6 years (with high school diploma) or 3 years (with bachelor’s degree) of  progressively responsible administrative or programme support experience is required at the national or international level
• Experience in the usage of office software packages and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages as well as web-based management systems
• Experience working in an international or multicultural environment highly desirable
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management and office technology equipment

Fluency in English

• Solid verbal and written communication skills; good drafting, formulation, reporting skills
• Working knowledge of another official UN language highly desirable

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/requisitions/job/20834