REVIEW OF THE UNV UNIVERSITY VOLUNTEERS PROGRAMME AND THE UN VOLUNTEER INTERNS MODALITIES

Background

Background to the UNV Programme:

The United Nations Volunteer (UNV) programme is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges, and it can transform the pace and nature of development. Volunteerism benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity and reciprocity among citizens, and by purposefully creating opportunities for participation. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UN Volunteers, throughout the world. UNV embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive, and recognizes volunteerism in its diversity as well as the values that sustain it: free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity.

Background to the Volunteer Modalities to be reviewed:

The UNV Programme Strategy has youth as a cross-cutting area following a 1976 United Nations General Assembly resolution IRES/31/131 that asked UNV to particularly support volunteer opportunities for youth. In order to follow up with its mandate UNV has developed two youth volunteer modalities to promote the role of youth in peace and development:
The UNV Internship Programme was launched in 2001 in partnership with the Italian Government. This programme is at its eleventh year and is now funded by several participating donor countries including Belgium, The Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy and Switzerland. The main objective of the UNV Internship Programme is to provide fresh university graduates – between the ages of 23 and 27 years - with the opportunity to volunteer for peace and development cooperation in their respective fields of specialization. This exposes them to development realities in the socio-economic and political set-ups of developing countries and enhances their professional as well as life skills. Assignment under this Programme is for twelve months. UN Volunteer Interns are recognized as International UN Volunteers and are deployed in response to requests mainly from UN agencies. At the duty station, each intern is expected to be provided with the necessary work facilities and to benefit from a regular work guidance and supervision. Other terms and conditions on the assignment of the intern are described in the Service Agreement for UN Volunteer interns. All selected interns undergo a special briefing session at UNV HQ in Bonn before travelling to duty stations. Since the inception of the Internship Programme, UNV has fielded 483 UN Volunteer Interns.

The UNV University Volunteer Programme started in June 2001 with the George Mason University (GMU) from the USA, followed in March 2002 by the Universidad Autonóma de Madrid (UAM) from Spain and in 2004 by the Kwansei Gakuin University (KGU) from Japan. The programme mobilizes a specific sector of the population - university students (at times even academic staff), to serve as volunteers in development projects implemented in partnership with UNDP country offices, governments or with other UN entities or UNV partners (including with civil society organizations).

University Volunteers primarily help to build local capacities in areas such as ICT for Development, environment, health and education towards achieving the MDGs. They have contracts with and are directly sponsored from their respective university and/ or government. UNV is responsible for the coordination of the programme, review of assignment requests, guidance to the drafting of Description of Assignments and pre-departure briefing. Once the University Volunteers are in the field, UNV Field Units provide management support (including supervision and monitoring) during assignment. The University Volunteers are not in any respect officials or staff of the United Nations. University volunteer assignments are for a period of three/six months without possibility of extension and receive a moderate allowance intended to cover basic needs (i.e. accommodation, food and local transportation).

The Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) is the coordinating university for the Spanish University Volunteer Network currently comprising 26 Spanish universities. Since the beginning of the collaboration with the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in 2002, UNV has fielded 116 Spanish University volunteers. While in collaboration with the KGU University a total of 58 student volunteers have been fielded, mainly in the area of ICT. The figure includes the three currently serving volunteers. All selected University Volunteers undergo a special briefing session at UNV HQ in Bonn before travelling to duty station.

Justification:

Given UNV’s mission to promote volunteerism for peace and development including the advancement of youth; UNV is seeking to further engage in innovative volunteer modalities. As part of this process, a consultancy is required to undertake a review of the existing volunteer modalities in order to reflect on their current state and how they apply to the work of UNV.
The rationale for reviewing both the youth modalities together is that they both engage young volunteers. Furthermore, there are good practices and lessons learnt from the two programmes which can be retained or can serve to develop new/innovative volunteers’ modalities targeting youth as volunteers.

The objectives of the consultancy are:

  • A desk review and analysis of the process/implementation of the two youth volunteer modalities including their funding, conditions of service, management and administration during the last 5 years.
  • Outline the value added of the youth volunteer modalities for UNV.
  • Map out the recommended role of UNV as regards to advocacy, management and co-ordination of both the youth modalities

Key Areas/Issues to be Addressed:

Based on the objectives of the consultancy, the review will consider the following criteria and key questions:

Relevance:

External coherence: The extent to which the objectives and design of the modalities are suited to locally defined stakeholders’ needs and priorities, to government policies, to other development agencies’ efforts in achieving development results.
Internal coherence: The extent to which the objectives and design of the modalities are suited to UNV’s strategic goals and priorities.

  • What are the key results of both the modalities? How have they been achieved? (e.g: number of volunteers who have been retained by the host agency, quality of contribution of the volunteers)
  • What is the added value of the modalities to UNV’s strategic goals and priorities with reference to GA Resolution IRES/31/131?
  • How coherent were the modalities with the development agendas of the different institutions involved? and how did this affect the implementation of the modalities (positively and negatively)?

Efficiency:

A measure of how resources/inputs (funds, expertise, time, management etc.) are converted to results. Efficiency measures the outputs – qualitative and quantitative –comparing the two modalities and identify the most efficient modality.
What are the implementation issues of both the modalities for UNV, the Host Agencies, Universities and Donors in the following areas:

  • Monitoring and evaluation (Project level)
  • Reporting (volunteer level + report to donors)
  • Relationship with Stakeholders: Host agencies, Donors, Universities (MoU)
  • Volunteer Management (e.g. Conditions of service, Guidelines, Security in the field, workflow, supervision and monitoring, briefings)
  • Operational cost recovery for UNV
  • UNV staff time/resources
  • Risks for youth volunteers including legal issues and safety

Note: All the info should be presented in a Matrix allowing comparing the two modalities:

  • Based on the findings, what are the areas that need improvement and what are the lessons learnt?
  • What could be the proposed cost recovery strategies?

Impact/Effects
The changes produced by the outcomes of these modalities. The examination should be concerned with both, intended and unintended results and must also include the positive and negative impact of external factors.

  • What real difference do these modalities make to the beneficiaries (communities who benefited from their support)? What were the most significant changes that these modalities have helped to generate?
  • What are the advantages and risks for UNV in continuing with the two modalities and how might they be addressed?


Gender:

Whether and to what extent the modalities took the gender dimension into account and whether they promote a gender sensitive approach. It also involves practical measures to guarantee an adequate treatment of gender issues, beyond equal participation by men and women, and addressing changes in attitudes and behaviours.

  • Did the modalities follow a gender sensitive approach?


Partnership:

An analysis of the institutional relationships developed throughout the development and implementation of the two modalities and the extent to which they have contributed to the achievement of results.

  • What were the key factors contributing to building good partnerships with Donors and Universities?
  • What are the advocacy and policy issues in the execution of the modalities? The lessons learnt and areas of improvement?
  • How can partnerships be further strengthened in the future?
  • How can a youth modality be strengthened and grow in numbers also with respect to a better South/South balance of participating youth?


Other key questions:

  • What could UNV learn from reviews of other volunteer sending organisations managing youth volunteers? Lessons learned and best practices.
  • Review with donor partners and university partners their views, concerns and issues with the volunteer assignments and the modalities as a whole.

Methods and Approaches:

The consultancy will be mainly home-based, with one travel to UNV headquarters in Bonn, Germany for briefing and consultation with the interdivisional Steering Group comprising of representatives from Partnerships Section and Volunteer Programme Management Group (VPMG) and Senior Management. A second travel may be undertaken to present and discuss the draft report. The review will be done in part based on UNV sources, but will also require the consultant to identify and pursue additional primary and secondary information sources. Methods and tools can be combined at various stages in the process.

Evaluation Process:

It is envisioned that the consultant will go through the following broad steps to achieve the objectives of the assignment:

  • Desk review: The relevant UNV identified documents on the two modalities will be compiled beforehand to expedite the review by the consultant. The consultant will be responsible for designing and implementing additional research and exploratory consultations as needed.
  • Direct informant research: The consultant will needs to conduct interviews or online exchanges with UNV staff and partner organizations in order to obtain the necessary data and explore possible recommendations.
  • Analysis and report writing.
  • Submission of the draft report for UNV comments will be followed by final version incorporating comments as appropriate including list of recommendations.

Consultation Process

Steps in the review process
Estimated # of working days Deadline for completion
Contract signature --- 30 May 2011
UNV and volunteerism orientation. Preparatory work, desk reviews and exploratory consultations......5 days
Direct informant research.......................................................................................................................8 days
Analysis and drafting – Submit drafts to UNV.......................................................................................20 days, submission by 19 August 2011
Incorporation of UNV comments into the report. Produce final report..................................................2 days, submission by 22 August 2011
Total: ....................................................................................................................................................35 days

Duties and Responsibilities

Outputs:

The consultant will have two main deliverables under the contract:

  • A report on the review of the UNV University Volunteers Programme and the UN Volunteers Intern modality to provide a basis of strategic decision-making regarding how to continue these existing modalities. (considering the key areas and issues to be addressed).
  • List of recommendations to UNV management outlining the possible vision, purpose and applicability of the two modalities for the future.

Management of the Evaluation:

The consultation will be under the overall supervision of an interdivisional Steering Group comprising of representatives from Partnerships Section and Volunteer Programme Management Group (VPMG) to provide advice throughout this review. The group will be chaired by the Volunteerism Policy Advisor. The Volunteer Knowledge and Innovation Section (VKIS) will provide secretariat support.

Competencies

  • Demonstrated project evaluation, policy development, research and drafting skills.
  • Well-developed inter-personal and communication skills.
  • Ability to work with affiliates at all levels and to meet agreed timelines.
  • Proven experience in youth volunteer management, project formulation and evaluation and partnership building.
  • Substantive knowledge and experience of volunteerism for peace and development with its diverse manifestations and cultural settings.
  • Substantive knowledge of engaging youth in development.
  • Excellent analytical and report writing skills.
  • Knowledge of UNV modalities is a distinct advantage.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced university degree in social sciences, such as in the field of human / community development, international development, education, communications or other relevant field.

Experience:

  • At least 10 years relevant work experience of which at least five were in a developing country, in the field of volunteerism or development, preferably with an international organizatio.

Language:

  • Excellent command of the English language.
  • Working knowledge of Spanish and Japanese desirable.

Evaluation Criteria:

  • The technical proposal is evaluated on the basis of its responsiveness to the Term of Reference (TOR).
  • The contract shall be awarded to the “Best Value” applicant, who is awarded the highest combined technical and financial score. Interviews will be used to determine the technical competencies of the candidates. The candidate offering the lowest lump sum price for completing the work, will be offered the maximum points (20%), all others will be awarded a relative score. Excellent language and report writing skills are prerequisites for even being considered for the interview process. Only companies/consultants with relevant experience in supplying similar services will be considered qualified.

Evaluation Criteria Weight
Experience in Youth Volunteer Management ........................................15
Experience in the field of volunteerism or development........................15
Policy Development Skills.....................................................................15
Project Evaluation Skills........................................................................15
Writing Skills .........................................................................................15
Planning skills..........................................................................................5
Total Technical......................................................................................80

Financial Score......................................................................................20
Grand Total..........................................................................................100

Annexes:

Delete or adapt as appropriate:

How to Apply
Applications should be submitted on line and include an up to date CV or Personal History Form (P11). Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.
If you submit an application, UNV expects that you have read and agree with the TOR and the UNV Terms and Conditions, available upon request.
Additionally, send a separate e-mail with your lump sum offer for completing the work, this should include one travel trip to Bonn for 2 days (one night). Please supply the cost of an additional 2 day trip at the end of the consultancy to present the findings. Please provide a beakdown of the lump sum; fees, travel, per diems and misc. costs.
For any queries, please send an e-mail to Procurement@unv.org, att: Marc Wharton with ‘University Review Consultant’ in the subject line.


UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
REVIEW OF THE UNV UNIVERSITY VOLUNTEERS PROGRAMME AND THE UN VOLUNTEER INTERNS MODALITIES REVIEW OF THE UNV UNIVERSITY VOLUNTEERS PROGRAMME AND THE UN VOLUNTEER INTERNS MODALITIES Reviewed by Unknown on 1:12:00 AM Rating: 5

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