The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) 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. In most cultures volunteerism is deeply embedded in long-established, ancient traditions of sharing and support within the communities.

In this context, UN Volunteers take part in various forms of volunteerism and play a role in development and peace together with co-workers, host agencies and local communities. In all assignments, UN Volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct.

Engaging in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, as well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make the time they spend as UN Volunteers even more rewarding and productive.

UNV Assignment Title: Project Assistant

Type of Assignment: National UN Volunteer

Project Title: Improving the Health and Safety of Miners in Eastern Ukraine

Duration: Three months

Location, Country: Kyiv, Ukraine

Expected Starting Date: March 2012

Brief Project Description: Ukraine’s mining industry has one of the highest rates of mining injuries and casualties in the world. Between January and July 2011 alone, the Ministry of Emergencies of Ukraine reported over 100 casualties, an average of about one casualty every other day. Miners also endure high rates of occupational health ailments, including musculoskeletal disorders, hearing loss, and respiratory diseases. The State Committee of Ukraine for Industrial Safety, Labour Protection and Mining Supervision, though not addressing mining specifically, stated that the approximate rate of professional diseases grows at about 7,000 people per year in Ukraine. The State Committee also noted that about 17,000 citizens become disabled every year due to injuries sustained at work and that 25 per cent of workers in the industrial sector work under hazardous conditions.

Thus, the purpose of this first project (the first of two phases) is to assess the health and safety risks faced by miners in the cities of Krasnodon, Rovenky and Sverdlovsk. The Project Team—in consultation with mine, health and government workers—will conduct health risk assessments to analyse and prioritise the communities’ health and safety needs. The projected outcomes of this initiation phase are community risk assessments, health and safety data, and action plans for each of the three cities.

Host Agency/Host Institute: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Organizational Context: UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in 177 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. In Ukraine, three development focus areas define the structure of UNDP’s assistance activities. These include democratic governance and local development; prosperity, poverty reduction and MDGs and energy and environment. In each of these thematic areas, UNDP ensures balance between policy and advocacy work, capacity building activities and pilot projects. UNDP established its presence in Ukraine in 1993.

Type of Assignment Place: family duty station

Description of tasks:

Under the direct supervision of the Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Support the daily implementation of the Project (administration, planning, logistics, budgeting, implementation, monitoring and closure).
• Organise meetings and workshops with key stakeholders in Krasnodon, Rovenky and Sverdlovsk.
• Travel to Krasnodon, Rovenky, and Sverdlovsk at least twice to help with overall execution of community meetings and workshops.
• Administer community surveys and interviews.
• Translate correspondences from Ukrainian or Russian into English and vice versa.
• Write reports and take notes as necessary.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged 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 IVD);
• 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; and
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage local individuals and organisations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/Expected Output:

• At least 6 sets of notes (one from each community meeting).
• Work log of weekly tasks and achievements.
• Completed logical framework that corresponds to the Initiation Plan.
• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilised, activities participated in and capacities developed.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• University degree in public health, mining sciences, community development, or other relevant degree.
• At least 2 years of relevant experience.
• Experience with community mobilisation, public health and/or mining.
• Experience with project implementation.
• Experience with office administration.
• Fluency in English and Ukrainian and/or Russian required.
• Ukrainian citizenship required.
• At least 25 years old.

Living Conditions: Kyiv is a family duty station and has no security phase. Ukraine is stable and safe with reasonable health and education facilities and good transport infrastructure.

Conditions of Service: A three-month contract; monthly volunteer living allowance (VLA) intended to cover housing, basic needs and utilities, equivalent to UAH 5000; life, health, and permanent disability insurance.

If you are interested and qualified for the position, please apply through this link.

The deadline is the 26th of February.