UN VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT. AZER SDG Policy Adviser

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1 UN VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT AZER SDG Policy Adviser 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 longestablished, 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. General Information Country of Assignment Azerbaijan Host Institute United Nations Development Programme Volunteer Category National Specialist Number of Volunteer 1 Duration 12 months Possibility of Extension Yes Expected Starting Date Immediate Duty Station Baku [AZE] Assignment Place Family Duty Station Assignment Place Remark Living Conditions Situated in a strategic place, Azerbaijan shares borders with Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Iran. East of the country is bound by a length of the Caspian Sea coastline. In addition, the exclave of Nakhchivan (accessible from mainland Azerbaijan only by airplane) is shares border with Armenia, Iran, and Turkey. Baku is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan. It is also the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. Baku is located 28 meters below sea level, which makes it the lowest lying national capital in the world. Security in Azerbaijan is fairly calm. While there is active deployment of troops at the Line of Contact (LoC) between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh issue, the likelihood of an active conflict is considered low. There is no risks from terrorism. The level of crime in Baku is low. Public safety is also of very good level. The winter season brings some snow, particularly in the northern mountains. Summers are relatively hot and humid in the Baku. The city has a subway train system and also public buses which are safe to be used. There are many taxi companies operating, several of which have been assessed and approved by the UN Security. The security level of Baku and most of the country by the UN 25 May 2018 Page 1 of 5

2 security has been assessed as Minimal (level 1). Assignment Details Assignment Title SDG Policy Adviser Organizational Context & Project Description At the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit on 25 September 2015, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change by The Sustainable Development Goals build on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), but the new SDGs, and the broader sustainability agenda, go much further than the MDGs, addressing the root causes of poverty and the universal need for development that works for all people. UNDP supports countries in three different ways, through the MAPS approach: mainstreaming, acceleration and policy support: Mainstreaming - Providing support to governments to reflect the new global agenda in national development plans and policies. This work is already underway in many countries at national request; Acceleration - Supporting countries to accelerate progress on SDG targets targeting national (and UN) resources at priority areas, identified in the mainstreaming process; and Policy support - Making the UN s policy expertise on sustainable development and governance available to governments at all stages of implementation. To take advantage of the opportunities presented by Agenda 2030 and the SDGs, a Presidential Decree signed in October 2016 created the National Coordination Council for Sustainable Development (NCCSD) in Azerbaijan. This marked a significant step towards promoting coordinated, participatory policy dialogue on sustainable development in Azerbaijan and integrating the SDGs into the national development agenda. The work of the NCCSD in its first year included inter alia: The drafting of Azerbaijan s Voluntary National Review (VNR) of progress in the national implementation of Agenda 2030, which was presented at the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York in July 2017; The formation of four inter-ministerial thematic working groups to promote integrated approaches to Azerbaijan s development challenges. These have been defined in the 2017 VNR as building inclusive and resilient growth, moving from oil based to a more diversified economy, continuing investment in human development, and ensuring greater connectivity to regional and global markets to fully unleash Azerbaijan s export potential; The initiation of work on SDG nationalization (which is to be completed by mid of 2018), as well as the Rapid Integrated Assessment of the national development planning framework s alignment with the SDGs; and Public outreach on Agenda 2030, SDGs, and sustainable development. Related to this, twelve Strategic Road Maps were adopted by a Presidential Decree in 2016 outlining eight sets of policy measures focused on re-balancing the economy by focusing inter alia on: (i) private sector development; (ii) high technology intensive sectors; (iii) sectors based on highly skilled labour; (iv) high return markets versus; and (v) high value added generating sectors; In 2017, UNDP provided capacity building and policy support to the Government on nationalization of the SDGs which enabled the Government to carry out an assessment of its national development plans and align it with SDGs; present a Voluntary National Review report at the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and develop a conceptual framework for the National Information Portal on SDG indicators which is expected to be launched in early UNDP also led the UN inter-agency SDGs mission on Mainstreaming, Acceleration and Policy Support (MAPS) in close coordination with the National Coordination Council on Sustainable Development. In 2018, UNDP will continue to support to the Government of Azerbaijan in the localization of SDGs and implementation of the MAPS report recommendations. UNDP will also support the government to finalise the prioritizing targets and indicators, and mainstreaming gender equality in policy development and implementation across all SDGs. UNDP will also support the Government with the implementation of the actions envisaged in the Baku Principles for National SDG Mainstreaming and Acceleration proposed in the MAPS workshop of 14 February 2018 and expected to be adopted at a regional SDG forum in autumn UNDP has also 25 May 2018 Page 2 of 5

3 started discussions with selected private sector representatives with a view to partnering up in joint SDG-related projects. To provide broader perspective, UNDP would like to engage a Policy Adviser who will provide support the Country Office to engage with the Government of Azerbaijan on SDGs nationalization and implementation processes including SDG monitoring. To support these efforts, the Policy Adviser will be required to undertake a range of activities as outlined in the following. Sustainable Development Goals 17. Partnerships For the Goals UNV Focus Area National capacity development via volunteer schemes Task description Under the direct supervision of UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, the International UN Specialist Volunteer will have specific responsibility as follows (scope of work): Provide policy advice with respect to inclusive and sustainable growth issues; Provide guidance on statistical issues related to nationalising SDG targets and indicators and monitoring SDG progress; Provide oversight, and serve as resource person, for SDG capacity building initiatives to the Government of Azerbaijan. 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 Provides strategic direction and advice to UNDP management on key policy issues related to integrated SDG policy issues preferably with respect to inclusive growth Support in conducting participatory and multi-stakeholder sectoral reviews and identification of SDGs accelerators; Define and lead an analytical policy research agenda to enable Azerbaijan to contribute to global debates on SDG implementation; Provide support to the nationalisation of SDG targets and indicators, facilitate the development of a SDG baseline report based on national data and assist in determining key trends that could be used as medium-term and long-term SDG targets. In consultation with the NCCSD and UNDP facilitate consultations for the preparation of an SDG-aligned development strategy till 2030; Provide strategic direction, guidance and quality assurance for the preparation of the National Voluntary Report and country report on SDGs; Provide support in preparation for a SDG regional forum organized by the Government in partnership with UN agencies in Azerbaijan; Organize capacity building activities of the NCCSD and its working groups in formulation and implementation of comprehensive development strategies; Support to NCCSD in the design and implementation of the National SDG Innovation challenge; Coordinate and support SDG awareness-raising events and campaign; Provide support with South-South cooperation and knowledge-exchange for SDGs facilitated around Baku principles; Explore possibilities for fundraising for the SDG implementation. The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including 25 May 2018 Page 3 of 5

4 supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counter-parts, including Implementing Partners (IPs); Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development dur-ing the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed Qualifications/Requirements Required Degree Level Master degree or equivalent Education - Additional Comments Master degree in economics, statistics, social sciences, international development or closely related fields. Required experience 84 months Experience Remark At least 7 years of experience working on economic and social development issues including applied modelling approaches; Experience working with MDGs and SDGs; Hands-on experience working in a development setting; Ability to synthesize data and understand trends and complex issues drawing synergies and linkages between development issues (governance, inclusive growth, poverty, environment, etc.); Good understanding of the local context and previous work in Azerbaijan will be an asset; Experience working in the Europe and CIS region would be an asset. Strong drafting, presentation and reporting skills; Strong computer skills, in particular mastery of all applications of the MS Office package and internet search; Language Skills English (Mandatory), Level - Fluent AND - Russian (Optional), Level - Working Knowledge AND - Azerbaijani (Optional), Level - Working Knowledge Area of Expertise Development programme management Mandatory Microeconomics Optional Other development programme/project experience Optional Area of Expertise Requirement economics, statistics, social sciences, international development or closely related fields. Need Driving Licence No Competencies & Values Accountability Adaptability and Flexibility 25 May 2018 Page 4 of 5

5 Building Trust Client Orientation Commitment and Motivation Commitment to Continuous Learning Communication Creativity Empowering Others Ethics and Values Integrity Judgement and Decision-making Knowledge Sharing Managing Performance Planning and Organizing Professionalism Respect for Diversity Self-Management Vision Working in Teams Conditions of Service and other information Condition of Service Click here to view Conditions of Service Conditions of Service: The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of 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 the duty station is not within commuting distance from the place of recruitment. The applicable Volunteer Living Allowance 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 final repatriation (if applicable) and resettlement allowance for satisfactory service. Furthermore, in non-family duty stations that belong to hardship categories D or E, as classified by the ICSC, a Well-Being Differential (WBD) on a monthly basis will be provided. 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. 25 May 2018 Page 5 of 5