International Consultant Vacancy at the UN (United Nations)

Location : Home Based
Application Deadline : 02-Oct-10
Type of Contract : SSA
Post Level : International Consultant
Languages Required :
English
Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 08-Oct-2010
Duration of Initial Contract : 20 days
Expected Duration of Assignment : ending 15th December 2010


Duties and Responsibilities

Under the general guidance of the UNV Office of the Executive Coordinator, and in close collaboration with members of the SWVR team (including a Project Manager, a Senior Writer, and in-house researchers) the consultant is responsible for producing a synthesis background paper that will be used to inform and strengthen the State of the World’s Volunteering Report (SWVR). The review will follow the guidelines described under the working title of each paper detailed below.

Each review will include:

1. Background and introduction to key issues and terms.
2. Comprehensive literature review on the identified subject matter.

* Provide global perspectives on the issue—with particular focus on research from the global South. Much scientific research on volunteerism focuses on aspects of volunteering in the global North while evidence from the global South (with a few notable exceptions) tends to be based on anecdotal sources. In the South, volunteerism still flies largely under the radar of public visibility. Since most of the studies on volunteerism focus on developed countries, the SWVR will emphasize developing and transition countries while also drawing on examples from the developed world.
* The text of the paper should be 7,500 to 10,000 words in length (excluding references).

3. Implications and recommendations for research, practice, and policy, as well as looking into the trends and future of volunteering within this topic.

4. Conclusions about the identified synthesis topic, based on a comprehensive, global literature review.

5. Include a full reference list (bibliography) of documents cited in the text, using Author-Date reference format. In addition, highlight 20-30 key references on the identified topic (with at least six references coming from the global South).

This contract also covers the potential participation of the author(s) of this background research in consultation(s) during the research process, in launch activities/events (of limited duration), as well as reviewing relevant segments of the draft for SWVR.

Time-frame

The consultant shall work from contract date until December 15, 2010 with the following
schedule:

Task Due Date
Outline of Paper Themes 14 days from the date of contract
SWVR Feedback on Outline One week from submission of outline
First Draft: November 22, 2010
Inputs from SWVR Team December 1, 2010
Final Draft: December 15, 2010


An outline identifying key themes and directions will be due 14 days following the signing of the contract. The consultant will receive feedback on this outline within one week. The first draft of the paper will be approximately two months after the contract date (November 22, 2010). Detailed comments on the first drafts will be provided by the SWVR team or outside experts to the consultant after each submission within two weeks’ time (December 1, 2010). After receiving the comments from SWVR team on the first draft, the author(s) is (are) expected to revise the draft according to those suggestions, and resubmit the final draft by December 15, 2010.

Brief Annotations of Special Issue Papers

The following annotations describe the specific requirements of each Special Issue Paper in brief. Contracted consultants will receive a more expanded description following the date of contract. The consultant will also be required to participate in regular electronic consultations with the SWVR team to discuss the work and clarify key issues. The final version of the Special Issue Paper may also be published on the UNV or World Volunteer Web website.

SIP-1: Volunteerism among the Poor
This paper will review research and identify critical issues related to volunteerism among those in poverty. The common perception that the Poor are too poor to volunteer is pervasive and results in the tendency to overlook a major resource for development in the North and South alike. The tendency to measure poverty in monetary terms and to see the Poor as primarily beneficiaries of assistance rather than as people with the capacity to help one another as volunteers through formal organisations and through informal channels has resulted in overlooking a major societal asset. This paper will review evidence-based studies undertaken in the North and South in recent years that question stereotyping of the Poor as it relates to volunteerism. It will examine deeply rooted cultures of mutual aid and reciprocity and their manifestations such as the wide range of social institutions found at local level including youth clubs, women’s associations, peasant groups, burial societies, savings clubs, tribal networks etc. that are based on volunteerism and that contribute not only to coping and survival but that can, under certain social, economic and other circumstances, enhance the well-being of the Poor and their communities.

SIP-2: Youth and Volunteerism
This paper will review research and identify critical issues related to volunteerism among youth, however defined. Its context is a world where a young person is much more likely to be unemployed than an adult – and about half the world’s population is under the age of 25. The economic downturn has hit this age group especially hard. In the South, where the majority of the world’s youth live, youth unemployment rates soar as high as 50% in some countries. The resultant levels of juvenile crime, drug taking, mental health afflictions etc., as well as the enormous loss to society of the productive potential of an important part of the population in numbers alone, are well known. As serious is youth’s sense of disaffection, alienation from the mainstream and a legacy of distrust and hopelessness. This review will investigate the relevance of volunteerism to young people in such circumstances, especially in developing countries. It will examine research that touches on questions such as: can volunteering prepare youth for the formal labour market; can it lead to self-employment; what role does volunteerism play in instilling a sense of civic responsibility in young citizens beginning their full role in society? It will also identify how to ensure that all youth (not just the well-connected) can have access to a full range of volunteer opportunities.

SIP-3: Gender and Volunteerism
This review will synthesise research and identify critical issues related to gender and volunteerism, especially in developing countries. The issue of the gendered nature of volunteerism at the local level, and its implications, has received scant attention. Women living in poverty are likely to experience material deprivation, social marginalisation, alienation, insecurity, fear and frustration. The traditional view is that volunteering adds an additional burden to the already disadvantaged situation of women. On the other hand, anecdotal information and recent empirical studies indicate that volunteerism can, in fact, provide an alternative context for women being active contributors to the community rather than marginalized recipients. Volunteering can be a means of increasing women’s self-esteem and sense of well-being, and can help women to gain a more accurate view of their own potential. This paper will review research
related to three types of types of women’s unpaid activities, namely: domestic work, subsistence production, and volunteering for others in the community. It will distinguish between care provided to family and care provided to non-related community members. It will highlight differing motivations, activities, burdens and rewards of volunteering for men and women in an effort to clarify the different forces at play. It should identify trends and paradigm shifts in the way that women’s contributions to society, through volunteerism, are perceived.

SIP-4: Volunteerism as a Force for Social Inclusion
This review will identify and discuss critical issues related to volunteerism and social inclusion/
exclusion (globally, regionally, by country, and locally). It will review research addressing how volunteering can help increase inclusion by combating feelings of personal isolation, empowering people with confidence and feelings of self-worth, challenging stereotyping of excluded groups, and offering opportunities for people to gain skills and contacts that can enable them to break out of social and economic exclusion. The review will investigate, for example, how young people acquire the skills and experience through volunteering that may facilitate their entry into the labour market; whether older
people continue to be actively involved in their communities and live healthier and more rewarding lives; whether people with disabilities and HIV/AIDS employ volunteering as way out of stigmatisation; and whether volunteering helps ethnic, religious and other minorities combat social isolation. Attention will be given to good practices in volunteer-involving organisations regarding inclusion/exclusion while also looking at examples where volunteerism may have introduced or reinforced exclusionary tendencies. The paper will investigate the importance of inclusion of volunteerism to individuals, as well as to society as a public good, especially in developing countries.

SIP-5: Volunteerism and the State
This review will identify critical issues related to volunteerism and the State, especially in developing countries. It is generally accepted that public sector support is needed for a healthy volunteer environment that contributes to national development. The paper will review such support, including enacting volunteer-related legislation; introducing fiscal measures; creating volunteer schemes, especially for youth; fostering volunteering in grassroots associations; setting up of local volunteer centres which recruit, screen,
and place volunteers; enhancing national awareness and promoting a positive image of volunteerism, including extending formal recognition of volunteer initiatives. The review will also synthesise evidence of the harmful effects of Government efforts to intervene in support of volunteerism. For instance, in some cases volunteer related policies have attempted to extend the outreach and quality of service delivery or to strengthen social cohesion, but have been underfunded and poorly implemented with deleterious effects.
In other instances, motivations have been more dubious, such as seeking to maintain basic services on the cheap in periods of cost cutting or aligning volunteer schemes with political agenda, with similar poor results. This review will examine the complex and sometimes controversial relationship between volunteerism and the State. It will include both official support for volunteerism, government-managed volunteer programmes, and government attempts to control/channel certain forms of volunteerism (such as advocacy volunteering). The issue of government compulsion of volunteer-like activities and its effects (positive and negative) will be identified.

SIP-6: Volunteerism and Governance
This review will identify critical issues related to volunteerism and its contribution to democratic and participatory governance, especially in the developing world. The argument that peoples’ engagement in volunteerism is positively correlated with participation in the wider political process is a long-standing discussion point. As far back as 1836, John Stuart Mill pointed out that learning the benefits of co-operating in a trustful manner with your neighbour in one endeavour helped develop the foundations for its application to others, including those of participating in a democratic state. This review will synthesise research that addresses whether involvement in volunteerism encourages people to be responsible citizens prepared for civic engagement and participate in democratic processes. Are people who volunteer more likely to vote in elections, join political parties, and become involved in broader governance of local communities? In which direction(s) does the causality seem to go (does civic engagement lead to volunteerism or vice versa)? This research review will help to address the question as to whether volunteerism contributes to healthy democratic societies.

SIP-7: Volunteerism and Technology in the ‘Digital Age’
This review will identify critical issues about how technology affects volunteerism in the ‘Digital Age’. Despite its very recent appearance, the digital age has already generated an enormous amount of literature. Yet, there is less written on how it affects the forms and outcomes of volunteering. The internet is a powerful social networking tool with the potential for group formation with a few clicks of the button. In this sense, organisations do not need to formally organise in order to provide certain kinds of support. Online communities like Facebook and MySpace are springing up continuously. However, the paper should review the literature on the nature and impacts of cyber/online groups that have some structure (electronic tribes; virtual groups). News articles published on the internet draw together people with diverse passions or interests by stimulating comments through blogs and discussions. Wikipedia, composed and edited by over a million volunteers, may now be the largest single-focus volunteer action group in the world. Initiatives may not always be at global scale, but they do give young people in particular a sense of participation and of belonging. As social networks and online communities grow, values such as sharing, openness and collaboration increasingly govern relationships between people but there is likely a trade off in terms of the loss of face to face contact. In addition to online networking, technologies such as mobile phones are often used to coordinate social action using SMS/texting to circulate information or to campaign for advocacy. For instance, mobile phones have been used by volunteers in many countries to monitor elections. However, election monitoring also requires volunteer preparation and training that must often be coordinate face-to-face. This review will consider the potential value of fast growing digital technology on volunteerism and its impacts, especially in the developing world.

SIP-8: The Role of the Media and Entertainment in Volunteerism
This review will identify the role of media and entertainment in the representation of volunteerism and as affecting volunteerism, especially in developing countries. The media have a critical role in shaping people’s views of volunteerism by keeping volunteering in the public domain. Volunteerism often gets media attention after sensational man-made or natural disasters. Informal volunteers are often the first on the scene, and are often portrayed as displaying plenty of goodwill and solidarity, but also as characterised by disorganisation and as lacking in professionalism. The media are also fond of ‘newsworthy’ stories about philanthropic action on the part of individuals helping the less fortunate—accounts that tend to reinforce traditional service views of volunteerism. This review will bring together such anecdotes and synthesise their impact on volunteer engagement. In recent years, there have been
growing discussions about concerns generated by Robert Putnam and others regarding a possible decline in civic engagement in recent decades and its impact on democratic processes. Likewise, surveys of volunteering tend to be the stimulus for articles on the topic. As a reaction against the overwhelming focus on economic indicators, in the past few years the media have also taken up topics such as happiness, trust, goodness/niceness, and values—in which volunteerism is implicitly or explicitly linked and discussed. This review will synthesise these trends and ascertain their impact on volunteerism. It will also identify the effects of media campaigns undertaken during the International Year of the Volunteer in 2001 by national broadcasters such as the UK’s BBC and Brazil’s Rede Globo, as well as more grassroots-focused efforts on the part of local newspapers, radio stations etc.

SIP-9: International/Transnational Volunteerism
This review will synthesise literature related to volunteering in an international or transnational setting (outside one’s own country). The forces of globalisation often promote volunteering in countries beyond one’s national borders. The range of international/transnational volunteer action ranges from short-term ‘voluntourism’ to longer-term, full-time volunteer engagement for a year or longer. Countries increasingly use public dollars to support volunteering schemes abroad as a form of international aid and development assistance. Others countries promote international/transnational volunteering as a means of educating young people for ‘global citizenship’ or to teach competencies needed in a global marketplace. While the typical model is global North-to-South volunteering, South-to-South and South-to-North volunteering also seem to be growing in popularity. This review will synthesise literature related to these trends. It will also identify salient topics such as the effects of volunteer tourism on host-communities, the intentions and
motivations behind publically-sponsored programs, the interplay between international and local volunteering and employment, and the unique overall contribution of international/ transnational volunteering to peace, development, and other positive outcomes.

SIP-10: Conflict Prevention and Recovery
This review will synthesise literature related to volunteerism and conflict prevention and recovery. Volunteering is involved in conflicts ranging from community level tensions and gang-related incidents to national and cross-border skirmishes and more serious violent conflict. Evidence of the role of volunteerism in building enduring peace, essential for the reduction of poverty, is beginning to emerge. Social capital theory points to some highly exclusionary bonding types of mutual support that can exacerbate tensions. It also points to bridging types of capital that can help form new links that cross ethnic, religious and other divides and that can provide the basis for mediation, conflict management and conflict resolution. This review will synthesise research on how volunteerism can connect people and communities in conflict situations. It will also provide pointers for actions that can help encourage people to work together towards sustainable peace

SIP-11: Climate Change, Environment, and Volunteerism
This review will synthesise literature on volunteerism as it relates to climate change and the environment. The climate of the Earth is changing, which continues to affect all peoples and species. This review will identify the key issues related to volunteerism and the environment, including the roles and impacts of volunteering on land degradation, desertification, ecosystem management, environmental governance, conservation, and resource efficiency with particular focus on developing countries. The review will also address how environmental issues affect patterns of volunteering – particularly those related to natural disasters and conflict.

SIP-12: Volunteerism and the Private Sector
This review will synthesise literature related to volunteerism and the private sector. Volunteering is often used by the private sector to make a positive impact on society while, at the same time, boosting their image of responsible behaviour. Increasingly, volunteering is viewed as an integral component of corporate social responsibility programs within the private sector. This review will identify trends with volunteerism and the private sector, such as increasing support for volunteering within developing countries—the Bayanihang Bayan Volunteer Programme, the Global Corporate Volunteer Council within IAVE, and related efforts. It will identify policies that support volunteering, especially in developing countries, such as provision of incentives for companies to promote and mobilise volunteers within their workforce, that contribute to volunteer-involving organisations (financial or in-kind), and that support public-private partnerships for volunteering.

SIP-13: Health and Volunteerism
This review will synthesise literature on the contribution of volunteerism to health, with a specific focus on its contribution to child and maternal health and HIV/AIDS, consistent with the UN Millennium Development Goals. For instance, a recent report from the ILO asserted that, “Recent efforts to eradicate smallpox and inoculate children against polio would not have been possible without the millions of volunteers mobilized for these efforts”. This review will identify key areas where volunteers have contributed to health prevention, promotion, and intervention. It will also identify key issues related to volunteerism and health such as legal and liability problems, issues related to international volunteerism, disaster relief and health volunteerism, formal and informal volunteers for mental health (e.g. counselling), maternal health (e.g. midwives), volunteerism as training for future health professionals, and the possible differences between health services provided by volunteer versus professionals.

SIP-14: Education and Volunteerism
This review will synthesise literature on the contribution of volunteerism to education. In areas where resources are scarce, volunteerism can make a substantial contribution to educational achievement, particularly in primary education. For example, as a part of their national strategy, Ghana has focused on recruiting retirees, as well as local and international volunteers to meet demand for teachers—which anecdotally has made a substantial impact. This review will identify the key issues related to volunteerism and education including student volunteerism, international volunteerism, and their unique contributions in remote and rural areas. Because inequality and poverty impede progress towards achieving universal primary education, the review will focus heavily on Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and other countries in the global South which are home to the vast majority of children out of school.

Competencies

* Research & writing skills, such as demonstrated through having successfully formulated background papers, campaign materials and case studies
* Strong analytical skills
* Ability to work independently

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

* Advanced university degree in social sciences, with an emphasis in human/community development, international development, volunteerism, or related topic

Experience:

* At least seven years relevant work experience
* Experience with an international or regional volunteer association and knowledge of volunteerism for peace and development with its diverse manifestations and cultural settings required
* Previous published materials/research on volunteerism, required
* Previous work experience in the global South an asset

Language Requirements:

* Fluency in written and spoken English is essential;
* working knowledge of, or access to, additional language resources would be useful for a comprehensive literature review.

Cumulative Analysis:

The contract shall be awarded to the consultant who is the most technically qualified and provides the best value for the money. Only those who pass the 70% technical evaluation score will be considered. Only consultants with relevant experience in supplying similar services will be considered qualified.

Evaluation criteria and weights for Cumulative Analysis:


Evaluation Criteria Weight

Planning and Organizing 50
Review and Synthesis 200
Volunteerism for Development 100
Writing and Editing 50
Grand Total 400


How to apply

Applications should be submitted on line and include an up to date CV using the “apply now” option at http://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?job_id=19103. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. The applicant should clearly specify the paper s/he is interested in writing (e.g. SWVR: SIP-6: Volunteerism and Governance). Please note: not all papers are listed on the website link.

If you submit an application, UNV expects that you have read and agree with the TOR and the UNV Terms and Conditions, available online:

http://unv.org/fileadmin/docdb/pdf/2008/SSATerms2007.pdf