Economist & Community Development Specialist

Update

The Community Development Officer will support the Prosperity Portfolio in promoting the initiatives for economic diversification, local economic development, private sector support at grassroots level and cascading digital transformation initiatives to particularly youth in rural areas. Government of Botswana (GoB) undertook a decentralization reform process in 2020 with a view to ensure a more even development across communities thereby reducing the high levels of income inequality and further reduce the rural-urban inequality. In recent years, the Decentralization policy has progressed to the stage of political buy-in before taking the policy to Cabinet and Parliament. The Officer is expected to support the implementation and rollout of the rural development initiatives. The GoB ratified the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement of which UNDP is supporting both government and SMEs to enabling trading outside Botswana. Further, the successful candidate is expected to rollout the support to development of SMEs and grassroots private sector for an enhanced diversified local economy. This is happening against the backdrop of rising unemployment among youth, but this is much more severe in rural areas than in urban centers and their peripheral villages. The UNV will work directly with all Project Managers of the Prosperity Portfolio in rolling out initiatives at community level.

Under the direct supervision of Prosperity Portfolio Specialist, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
• Develop robust programme in collaboration with key stakeholders, partners and other constituencies in the area of local development (including local governance and decentralization and local economic development), local value chains, SMEs development, Youth empowerment and employment in rural areas and at sub-national levels;
• In collaboration with Project Manager and Portfolio Specialist, plan, implement, and monitor development initiatives, including infrastructure rehabilitation and community development;
• Work directly with communities to understand their needs, ensure their participation in projects, and build local capacity;
• Advise on resource mobilization, partnership development and knowledge management;
• Work closely with program teams, operations colleagues, and other stakeholders, including government officials and other UN agencies, to ensure effective project implementation;

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:
• 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 in-stance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
• 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.