By continuing to browse this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Read our privacy policy

Administrative Assistant

Colombo

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Colombo
  • Grade: Volunteer - National Specialist - Locally recruited Volunteer
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Operations and Administrations
    • Administrative support
    • Environment&Disaster Reduction
    • UN YOUTH VOLUNTEER IN ADMINISTRATION AND DISTRICT SUPPORT
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

In Sri Lanka, an island country where over 75% of the population lives in rural areas with agriculture as the primary source of livelihood, the impacts of climate change are significant amongst the marginalized groups, including women who are among those most affected as they traditionally manage household water, family gardens and livestock and are therefore in the frontline of managing impacts of hazards.

Since 2005, there have been significant improvements in the country’s capacity to manage disasters through the development of the “Road Map Towards a Safer Sri Lanka”, the set-up of a number of DM programmes, institutional and legal frameworks, and the development of the Sri Lanka Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (SLCDMP). Nevertheless, latent challenges still remain in terms of the preparedness, response, awareness, risk-based decision making and fostering of an enabling environment for risk reduction.

Building on UNDP and UNV’s strengths and expertise, the project will respond to the challenges, through harnessing the potential of volunteerism to increase communities’ and individuals’ resilience and adaptation to hazards and climate change. The overall goal is to promote community resilience for environmental management and DRR by mobilizing volunteers and integrating the critical force of volunteerism as a substantive resource.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN's global development net-work, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. The UNDP operates in 166 countries, working with people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and its wide range of partners.

UNDP’s focus is helping countries build and share solutions to the challenges of:

•  Democratic Governance;

•  Poverty Reduction;

•  Crisis Prevention and Recovery;

•  Environment and Energy;

•  HIV/AIDS.

UNDP helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all its activities, it encourages the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women. UNDP focuses on key development issues, providing measurement tools, innovative analysis and often controversial policy proposals. In all its operations, UNDP well-coordinated and inclusive approach seeks to ensure the most effective use of UN and international resources.

The United Nations Volunteers programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of Project Coordinator, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

· Support the project coordinator with the implementation of project activities at national and district levels;

· Support the project coordinator for the effective management of project financing including processing payments and following up on deliverables by consultants;

· Assist with the coordination of UNVs at the district level;

· Assist with the organization of trainings, workshops, and stakeholder consultations at national and district levels;

· Draft a final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for disaster risk reduction during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed;

· Perform any additional administrative tasks, including minute-taking and report writing.

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 instance 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.

Results/Expected Outputs

· Administrative and logistical support adequately provided

· Good relationship established with project stakeholders, including the government counterparts, consultants, and the project team

· Well-maintained documentation and support provided to the project team and the UNVs at the district level

· A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for disaster risk reduction during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

Competencies

· Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented.

· Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations.

· Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.

· Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities.

· Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender;

· Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;

· Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary;

· Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

Required Skills and Experience

- A Bachelors degree in Management and/ or Finance is desired

- Experience with performing administrative tasks and familiarity with financial procedures is desirable

- Strong spoken and written English skills is essential; Sinhala and/or Tamil will be an advantage.

Living Conditions:  

Colombo is situated on the Western Province of Sri Lanka and is the commercial capital of the country. Colombo is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to the administrative capital, Sri Jayawardenepura, Kotte.

The climate is fairly temperate all throughout the year but humidity is usually high. From March to April the temperature averages around 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit). The only major change in the Colombo weather occurs during the monsoon seasons from May to August and October to January when heavy rainfalls occur.  Sri Lanka became a member of the United Nations on 14 December 1955.

Conditions of Service for a National UN Youth Volunteer:

A 6 - month contract; with subsequent contract extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.

Travel to duty station (if applicable) and a Settling-In-Grant will be provided in the event duty station is not within commuting distance from the place of recruitment. A Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) of LKR 47,720 is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included), as well as final repatriation (if applicable) and resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.

Disclaimer

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme which welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture.

United Nations Volunteers reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this opening for other openings with United Nations Volunteers with similar assignment description, experience and educational requirements.

This vacancy is now closed.
However, we have found similar vacancies for you: