Community Development Associate (NPSA7)_Multiple locations (Samarqand/Kashkadarya/Surkhandarya)

Background

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.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Project Description

In 2023, the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) approved a 5-year (2024 – 2028) project for the Republic of Uzbekistan entitled Integrated Rural Development (IRD) Project in Uzbekistan that is financed and executed by the IsDB in response to an official request from the Government of Uzbekistan. The Project will be implemented under the National Implementation Modality (NIM) with the MEF playing an executing entity’s/implementing partner’s role for it. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) County Office in Uzbekistan is responsible for Component B: Consultancy services for rural infrastructure development – Community empowerment.

•   Under the direct supervision of the Project Analyst in Samarqand/Kashkadarya/Surkhandarya and overall supervision of Project Manager and in close collaboration with relevant project staff and partners, the Community Development Associate will be responsible for successful achievement of the project results towards ensuring enhanced rural community development and on the overall project activities. The incumbent will perform the following duties and responsibilities:

•    Select vulnerable rural communities and help them with participatory decentralized planning and rehabilitation of essential public services such as water supply, agriculture infrastructure and access to digital solutions;
•    Ensure activities are aligned with the GoU renewable energy and green development national priorities;
•    Enhance participation of women and vulnerable groups and ensure throughout the project cycle to support their empowerment;
•    Conduct capacity building needs assessment and organize trainings to address them;
•    Provide assistance to execute community development plans in target communities through an inclusive community engagement, differentiated at the levels of gender, age, location and disability;
•    Collect passport data from mahalla committees and Village Council of Citizens in target districts, select major socio-economic statistic data relevant to the Project interventions. Conduct analysis of compiled data on relevant indicators and provide rapid analysis report with the list of most vulnerable communities to implement the Project interventions;
•    Undertake a desk-based study, including a literature review on the community mobilization techniques and methods in order to use the best-practices and lessons-learned for promoting participatory local development in the Aral Sea region;
•    Use and develop participatory approaches consistent with gender equality in organizing the community engagement and empowerment related events (meetings, consultations, etc.,);
•    Develop training modules and manual on community mobilization, which should cover the detailed steps of community mobilization and appropriate methods that needs to be used in the context of target regions; Ensure that developed training methodologies promote women’s equal access to different social benefits including the labour markets and sustainable employment;
•    Carry out all stages of community mobilization and development work in accordance with the project AWPs; Provide trainings and consultations on preparation of community development plans to initiative groups;
•    Undertake community mobilization workshops in project districts for initiative group members; Conduct regular monitoring of community activities in terms of community development plans and other activities;
•    Work closely with the established initiative groups and provide support and assistance to group on proposal development, community projects implementation, reporting and other activities; Provide necessary expert support to the relevant project team and local partners in identifying pilot communities for the project interventions;
•    Support in piloting the establishment of different local resource-based approaches (e.g. the Drinking Water Association(s) for maintaining the water supply systems to ensure their sustainable functioning; Community Advisory Groups to monitor and provide substantive inputs in maintaining the social infrastructure, e.g. rural schools, healthcare points, etc.);
•    Support in developing and deploying methods for effective and sustainable development of infrastructure in rural areas through promoting the local resource-based approaches;
•    Contribute to facilitate Learning and Knowledge-Sharing: Promote peer-to-peer learning, knowledge-sharing, and documentation of best practices to make local action more effective, sustainable, and replicable.
•    Facilitate knowledge and best practice sharing between projects, UN/DP agencies, national implementing partner, government, communities to deeper integrate the work and idea of the programme; participate in relevant networks and meetings of practitioners.  
•    Perform other duties as required by the direct supervisor and/or Project Manager in the scope of the current position.
 

4.      Institutional Arrangement

Community Development Associate will work under the direct supervision of the Project Analyst in Samarqand/Kashkadarya/Surkhandarya and overall supervision of Project Manager and in close collaboration with relevant project staff and partners, the Community Development Associate will be responsible for successful achievement of the project results towards ensuring enhanced rural community development and on the overall project activities.

Competencies

Core

Achieve Results:  LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively:  LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

Learn Continuously:  LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility:  LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination:  LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner:  LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:  LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination .

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

•    Completion of Secondary education is required
•    University degree in Social and/or Development Studies, Education, Project Management, Business and Administration or relevant related discipline would be given due consideration, but this is not a requirement. 
 

Experience:

Minimum 7 years (with Secondary education) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of proven track and relevant work experience in project implementation, preferable in rural areas.  

Required skills:

•    Experience in training coordination and management, community mobilization and developing community development plans.
•    Experience in facilitating community development related projects;
•    Skills/Experience in project management and events coordination;
•    Willingness to travel in-country; 

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

•    Experience with UN and/or other international development organizations is an advantage
•    Strong organizational, operational and communication skills/experience, ability to work in a team;
•    Knowledge and experience with development situation in Aral Sea region;
•    Work experience with development agencies; 
•    Experience/Familiarity with gender issues; belief in UN ethics; 
•    Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the team through leadership and personal example
•    Proven Ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource.
•    Experience in actively working towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
•    Proven Ability to lead planning, results-based management and reporting
•    Proven Ability to formulate and manage budgets 
•    Solid project and personnel management skills/experience, and a consistent record of managing complex and challenging partnerships with governments and bilateral donors
•    Practical experience, knowledge and skills for resource mobilization focusing on multilateral and bilateral donors 
•    Familiarity with UNDP project management
Required Language(s) (at working level):

Fluency in written and spoken in Uzbek and Russian. 
Knowledge of English is an asset.
 

Disclaimer