Mission and objectivesUNDPโs Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP) derives its mandate from the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 33/147 of 20 December 1978. Called upon by United Nations Member States in that year, UNDP was requested โto improve the economic and social conditions of the Palestinian people by identifying their social and economic needs and by establishing concrete projects to that endโ. UNDP/PAPP is a responsive development agency that works together with the Palestinian people to fulfil their aspiration for sustainable human development based on self-determination, equality and freedom.
ContextThe United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UNโs global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges to help empower lives and build resilient nations. The UN Volunteer will be assigned to the Gaza office of UNDPโs Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP). PAPP was established through a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 20 December 1978, calling upon UNDP โto improve the economic and social conditions of the Palestinian peopleโ. In partnership with Palestinian institutions, civil society, communities and donors, UNDPโs goal is to empower the Palestinian People to establish a viable State that is able to realize the right to development for its people and support their socio-economic resilience. Since its establishment, UNDP/PAPP has delivered over USD 1.5 billion in development assistance to the Palestinian People. The UNV is assigned to the Early Recovery, Reconstruction, and Resilience programme in Gaza which is designed to be implemented at scale in response to the unprecedented damages and needs - will create linkages both with the ongoing humanitarian needs and longer-term reconstruction priorities. In doing so, it seeks to support sustainable and community-led approaches to respond to the critical and immediate needs of the population, while eventually contributing to a future vision of Gaza that embeds a cohesive Palestinian identity, self-reliance, ownership and leadership, which are key elements of Transformative Resilience - at the heart of UNDP/PAPPโs vision in the oPt. Under the Early Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience programme in Gaza, UNDP will conduct the Damage Assessment in the Gaza Strip to assess damages in housing, public and social infrastructure, education, health, transportation and other facilities that have incurred damages, and identify and quantify rubble removal requirements. In addition, UNDP will implement the Emergency Removal of Post-war Generated Debris in The Gaza Strip. However, UNDP will engage the communities within the proposed activities to be implemented where the Assistant Community Mobilizer will be following up on the community participation and engagement including consultation, discussins on plans and ongoing activities, and receiving feed back from the targeted communities. One of the Lessons Learned from previous/ongoing debris management is Community-Centric Approach where Engaging community incorporates local citizen perspectives, identifies and addresses specific concerns, and fosters a safety culture through education and awareness campaigns. In addition to the importance of Social Assessment to be done at the time of Technical and Engineering Assessment for the damaged housing units considering social criteria such as women, youth, people with disability and other vulnerable groups.
Task DescriptionWithin the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Inclusive Transitional Community Neighbourhood management and with direct reporting to the project Community Mobilizer in the Gaza Strip, the UNV Field Monitoring Officer will: 1. Coordination and Field Monitoring of Community and Inclusion Activities โข Assist the UNDP Community Engagement and Inclusion team in monitoring the implementation of community-based and disability-related interventions under the ITCN project. โข Conduct regular field visits to verify progress, assess the quality of implementation, and ensure that activities are in line with project plans and standards. โข Establish and maintain strong networks with implementing partners, community committees, and other stakeholders through regular meetings and coordination. โข Gather and document lessons learned, best practices, and success stories from the field to inform adaptive management and future programming. โข Support the development and implementation of field-level monitoring tools and contribute to the projectโs Quality Assurance processes. โข Contribute to data collection, analysis, and reporting, ensuring the timely submission of accurate field information. 2. Support the Implementation of Community Engagement and Disability Activities โข Support the planning and follow-up of social cohesion, community engagement and disability interventions, ensuring active participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups. โข Conduct regular monitoring visits to targeted communities and intervention sites to observe activities, engage with beneficiaries, and provide feedback on progress and challenges. โข Prepare field visit reports, photographs, and beneficiary quotations to document progress, lessons, and community perceptions. โข Assist in ensuring that community engagement principles are reflected throughout all stages of project implementation and that local voices are integrated into decision-making. โข Support community focused groups in the development of community resilience and inclusion plans, including locally driven social cohesion initiatives. โข Identify risks, challenges, and grievances in the field and ensure timely referral through the established Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM). โข Provide technical and logistical support for community events, awareness sessions, and inclusive activities, ensuring coordination with implementing partners. 3. Contribution to the Projectโs Communication and Visibility Efforts โข Support the documentation of impact stories, human-interest features, and field highlights that demonstrate community benefits and inclusion outcomes. โข Provide field inputs and data for communication materials, media briefs, and visibility products in coordination with the UNDP Communications Unit. โข Facilitate and support field visits by donors, government representatives, and UNDP staff, ensuring accurate interpretation and contextual explanation when needed. โข Maintain updated records, photos, and beneficiary profiles that showcase project achievements at the community level. โข Contribute to the preparation of presentations and progress summaries highlighting community engagement results. 4. Promotion of Volunteerism and Community Empowerment In line with the UNV spirit of volunteerism and civic engagement, Field Monitoring and Community Engagement Officers are encouraged to: โข Strengthen their understanding of volunteerism and community participation, and promote local forms of civic engagement within project communities. โข Document and share field experiences and lessons learned through UNV or UNDP platforms, newsletters, and reports. โข Participate in events and campaigns promoting social inclusion, volunteerism, and community resilience. โข Support peer learning and collaboration among newly engaged volunteers or community mobilizers.
Competencies and valuesโข Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNDP technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNDP procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy, and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgment; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; โข Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNDP in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organizationโs interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; โข Teamwork and respect for diversity: the ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality, and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; โข Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in the area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. โข 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; โข Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including the 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; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; โข Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; โข Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity, and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNDP mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.
Living conditions and remarksAs this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. A 6-month contract with subsequent contract extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. A Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) of ILS 6,269 is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents), as well as Exit allowance for satisfactory service.