Project Coordination Assistant

Details

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the United Nations' global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. It is on the ground in 177 countries, working on solutions to global and national development challenges. UNDP China assists China in developing its own solutions to the country’s development challenges and works to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by reducing poverty, strengthening the rule of law and democratic governance, and by promoting environmental sustainability and South-South Cooperation.

Context

The International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC), based in Beijing, was jointly initiated and established by the Chinese government, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other international organizations in December 2004. The IPRCC is designed to provide a platform for knowledge sharing, information exchange and international collaboration in the areas of poverty reduction and development. The IPRCC aims at strengthening national and international capacities to design and implement policies and programs for poverty reduction, with a focus on both income and human dimensions of poverty, through (i) providing an effective platform for knowledge sharing and mutual learning on pro-poor policies and anti-poverty programs between China and other developing/transition economies; (ii) supporting a comprehensive approach to poverty reduction through policy-relevant research work and training initiatives covering both macro-policies and targeted programs for poverty reduction; and (iii) promoting dialogue between policymakers, academics and practitioners around pro-poor policy options and strengthening the links between pro-poor policy research, formulation and implementation processes at different levels. IPRCC will also build up its institutional capacity to develop a global poverty reduction and development partnership, through active networking and partnering for knowledge exchange, joint research and training initiatives with poverty reduction focused institutions in China and other countries. Brief Portfolio Description: Globally, an estimated 131 million people fell back into poverty in 2020 and up to 800 million people are projected to still remain in poverty in 2030 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other crises – thereby missing the zero poverty goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In line with the UNDP Country Programme Document for China 2021-2025, this project “Building a Global Poverty Reduction and Rural Development Partnership towards Global Poverty Eradication” aims to support the International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC) in scaling up the dissemination of policies, strategies and practices that were developed by China to achieve its goal of ending extreme rural poverty in the country by 2020 with interested partners. The project will support the IPRCC to bolster its institutional capacity to address global challenges through research, pilot demonstration, international exchanges, and capacity building activities, with a focus on women and other vulnerable groups. By supporting the IPRCC in developing a global poverty reduction and development partnership, the project will enhance the Center’s contribution to global progress on sustainable development, and in particular towards SDG1 (No Poverty) and SDG5 (Gender Equality).

Task description

With the Project —Building a Global Poverty Reduction and Rural Development Partnership towards Global Poverty Eradication, and under the direct supervision of the Head of the Foreign Affairs Division of the International Poverty Reduction Center in China, the UN volunteer shall undertake the following tasks to help IPRCC move from generic experiences sharing and exchange into problem-solving oriented and action-based learning, with other developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, and to maintain the South-South cooperative platform established between China and other developing countries: 1) Assist the Foreign Affairs Division of IPRCC in managing and operating the Africa-China Alliance for Poverty Alleviation Alliance (ACAPA). The specific tasks include:  Assist in organizing ACAPA seminars, dialogues, visit tours, training courses, and rural maker activities;  Support the promotion and publication of newsletters, knowledge products, briefs, cases, and teaching materials related to ACAPA;  Liaise with ACAPA alliance members to help with project administrative tasks as required;  Facilitating the implementation of pilot demonstration projects;  Support administrative management and logistics for internal and external missions, events, and activities; 2) Assist in organizing poverty reduction-related and South-South Cooperation-oriented forums/conferences/workshops. The specific tasks include:  Support in Division events management operations, including planning, coordinating, and implementing corporate events;  Draft meeting agendas, issue meeting invitations, collect contact information and participation confirmation from targeted invitees and partners;  Facilitate the carrying out of online and onsite meetings and arrange field trips for participants as required by specific events;  Prepare speech materials, wrap-up and evaluation reports for international forums/conferences/workshops;  Prepare documents required by internal procedures and clear financial procedures for implementing forums/conferences/workshops. 2) Provide support for other foreign affairs activities. The specific tasks include:  Communicate with related stakeholders to make sure the foreign affairs activities are held on time and of high quality;  Provide logistical assistance while foreign affairs activities are undergoing.  Chart out timelines based on event plans and create trackers to monitor the progress. 3) Liaise with related stakeholders to develop various kinds of knowledge-sharing products for South-South cooperation. 4) Assist with the annual archive and documentation procedure. Furthermore, UN volunteers are encouraged to:  Strengthening their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and taking active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark IVD);  Getting acquainted with and building on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;  Reflecting on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;  Contributing articles/write-ups/publications/websites/newsletters/press releases and etc. on field experiences and submitting them for UNV;  Assisting with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UNV volunteers;  Promoting or advising local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encouraging relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. Results/Expected Output: The UN Volunteer will contribute towards the following programme outputs:  Strengthened institutional capacity for effective knowledge sharing, mutual learning, and dialogue on poverty reduction through the exchange events;  Development of knowledge products and programs;  Completion of exchange events, such as forums, workshops, policy dialogues and exchange programme;