Development Specialist

Mission and objectives

With the focus on the RRP and its importance for the immediate to short term support, moving towards a development plan aligned with the UNSDCF Armenia would be of high importance for the UN Country team. The need for the development plan is considered in the following key areas:

Sustainable Recovery: A development plan will help transition from short-term refugee response efforts to long-term sustainable development by promoting resilience within refugee and host communities.

Addressing Underlying Issues: A development plan will allow for a more comprehensive understanding of the underlying social, economic, and political factors that contribute to vulnerability, poverty, and instability, thereby enable more effective and targeted interventions.

Long-Term Impact: By focusing on development, there is a greater potential to create lasting positive changes in the lives of the refugees, including those that will choose to become republic of Armenia citizens. The change may include improvements in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, leading to improved livelihoods and overall well-being.

Strengthening Resilience: Development initiatives can build resilience within communities, equipping them with the necessary tools and resources to better withstand future shocks and crises, thereby reducing their vulnerability to emergencies.

International Cooperation: Emphasizing development fosters international cooperation and partnerships, encouraging collaboration between various countries, organizations, and donors to support long-term sustainable development goals and promote global stability and security.

Context

With the support of the UN Office of the Resident Coordinator and in collaboration with the UN Country Team, the UNHCR in Armenia has developed a Refugee Response Plan (RRP) to address the needs of over 100,000 refugees forcibly displaced from NK after the escalation of the hostilities in September 19, 2023. To prioritize the integration of the refugee population along with enhancing resilience, a development plan would be of key importance after the initial humanitarian response: working around humanitarian-development-peace nexus, stakeholders can work together to foster sustainable and inclusive development, social cohesion, thereby reducing the risk of future crises and promoting the well-being and resilience of affected communities.

Task description

The UN Volunteer will play an important role in bridging the gap between humanitarian aid and long-term development efforts, ensuring a coherent and effective approach to addressing complex crises and promoting sustainable development. Some of the key tasks and responsibilities for a professional in this field may include:

• Support to initializing the development plan of the HDPN: Develop a comprehensive plan of actions that integrates humanitarian assistance and development initiatives to address the short to mid-term needs of refugees and hos communities, including those who choose to become citizens of Armenia.

• Coordination and Collaboration: Facilitate coordination and support collaboration among various stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations, and local communities, to ensure a cohesive and integrated approach to humanitarian and development interventions.

• Policy Development: Contribute to the development of policies and frameworks that promote synergies between humanitarian assistance and development programming, advocating for approaches that build resilience and address the root causes of vulnerability and poverty.

• Resource Mobilization: Support RCO colleagues in identifying and mobilizing resources from various sources, including governments, donors, and private sector entities, to support integrated humanitarian and development programs that contribute to enhancing resilience of refugee population, along with the host communities.

• Monitoring and Evaluation: Support RCO in establishing robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track the impact and effectiveness of interventions, ensuring that development efforts will be evidence-based and responsive to the needs of affected populations.

• Conflict Sensitivity: Integrate conflict-sensitive approaches into programming to mitigate potential risks and ensure that interventions do not exacerbate existing tensions.

• Advocacy and Awareness: Support the advocacy efforts for policies and practices that promote the humanitarian-development nexus, raise awareness about the importance of integrated approaches to address complex crises.

• Knowledge Sharing: Facilitate knowledge sharing and learning across UN Agencies, Funds and Programme signatory to the UNSDCF Armenia 2021-2025, disseminate best practices and lessons learned to improve the effectiveness of humanitarian and development interventions.

Outputs / Responsibilities:

1. Integrated development plan: Comprehensive and well-documented development plan that outlines the coherent approach to addressing the medium to long term development needs of affected populations Coordination Framework: Suggested coordination framework to facil-itate collaboration among various stakeholders, outlining clear roles, responsibilities, and mechanisms for effective coordination and cooperation between humanitarian and devel-opment actors.

2. Resource Mobilization Plan: Well-defined plans for mobilizing resources from various sources, including governments, donors, and private sector entities, to support integrated development programs and initiatives, including country level pooled funds.

3. Monitoring and Evaluation Tools: Monitoring and evaluation tools and frameworks to enable the tracking and assessment of the impact and effectiveness of integrated interventions, providing evidence-based insights to inform decision-making and program adjustments.

Qualification Requirements

• Master’s degree or equivalent in international development, international affairs, humanitarian assistance, public administration, or a related area is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in public administration with national and/or international institutions in the context of development cooperation, humanitarian support or related area is required.
• Fluency in English and working knowledge of Armenian are required.
• Experience in political management positions is desirable.
• Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

As of Feb 2024, National UN Volunteer Specialists in Armenia receive AMD 374,248/month as their Volunteer Living Allowance.

Other benefits and entitlements include:

1. Pre-assignment:

Entry lump sum – USD 400 (one-time payment)

Relocation costs – USD 200 at beginning and end of assignment if duty station is outside of commuting distance (as determined by UNV)

2. During assignment:

Volunteer living allowance – AMD 37,4248.5

Learning – Access to UNV’s learning and career development resources

Annual leave – 2.5 days per month

Insurance – Comprehensive coverage for health, dental, life and malicious acts for the UN Volunteer and health insurance coverage for up to 3 eligible dependents.

3. End of assignment:

Exit allowance (paid on successful completion of the assignment)