Explosive Ordnance Victim Assistance Coordinator

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Mission and objectives

UNDP supports strategic capacity development initiatives to promote inclusive growth and sustainable human development. Together with national, regional and local authorities, civil societies, private sector, UNDP strives to support Ukraine in its efforts to eliminate poverty, develop people’s capacity, achieve equitable results, sustain the environment, and advance democratic governance. UNDP is in line with 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to achieve national strategic capacity development.

Context

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation in February 2022 continues to have profound and far-reaching consequences on civilian lives and regional stability. The war has caused unprecedented social and economic disruptions, internal and external displacement, a breakdown in public service delivery subjecting vast areas to the threat of landmines and explosive ordnance (EO). Ukraine holds the tragic distinction of being the world’s most potentially explosive ordnance-contaminated country, with a staggering 25% of its territory under threat. This not only raises concerns for the safety of the citizens but also magnifies the number of people, both directly and indirectly, affected by the explosive remnants of war. As per International Mine Action Standard (IMAS) 13.10, EO victims are individuals who have directly experienced an accident with EO, as well as those who were indirectly affected – their families or communities contaminated with explosive ordnance. It should be noted that the term “direct victim” refers to a person who has experienced an EO accident, whether or not that person survived, while the term “survivor” is often used to describe a direct victim who has been injured and/or impaired, but who has not been killed as a result of the accident with EO. UNDP Ukraine advocates for the continuous integration of victim assistance into national policies and legal frameworks, spanning disability rights, health, education, employment, and poverty reduction. The national authorities, as well as oblast and local authorities are working on improvement of a wide set of policies regulating the sphere of assistance to EO victims, including the National Mine Action Strategy, which was approved by the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated June 28, 2024 No. 616. UNDP supports the implementation of the National Mine Action Strategy, in particular through a series of measures aimed at achieving Strategic Goal 2 “Reducing the impact of explosive objects on the life and health of the population “. UNDP has developed the Model of Victim Assistance (Model) in Mine Action in Ukraine that serves as a roadmap for collaboration among national and local authorities, international partners, and civil society, securing a holistic and comprehensive approach to addressing the needs of EO victims. During 2023-2024, UNDP provided support to selected affected communities in Chernihiv and Kyiv regions in implementing the Model to increase the capacity of their facilities and institutions to provide assistance to EO victims by purchasing equipment and training staff. Currently, UNDP is extending its support to other regions most affected by explosive devices in Ukraine, including the Mykolayiv and Kherson regions. In this context, the Rehabilitation and Disability Inclusion (R&DI) team seeks to urgently equip the regional and local authorities, as well as members of selected communities of Mykolayiv and Kherson regions with a support to implement the UNDP developed Model for EO victim assistance based on the international standard IMAS 13.10.

Task description

The EO Victim Assistance Coordinator in Mykolayiv and Kherson regions will provide substantive support to the R&DI Project team in implementation of activities related to promotion and implementation of the Model in Mykolayiv and Kherson regions. The EO Victim Assistance Coordinator in Mykolayiv and Kherson regions will work under the supervision of the R&DI Project Manager. She/he will be based in Mykolaiv and will be required to travel regionally to selected communities in Mykolayiv and Kherson regions.

The main objectives of this position will be:

• To support the overall implementation of the R&DI activities taking place in Mykolayiv and Kherson regions;

• To liaise up with regional and local authorities, local communities, NGOs and UNDP grantees present in Mykolayiv and Kherson regions, identifying possible new partners, leading capacity assessment when required, looking for synergies of actions;

• To support the R&DI team, playing a key role in the coordination, communication and liaising with all other stakeholders and partners in Mykolayiv and Kherson regions.

1. Perform support functions to facilitate the implementation of the R&DI project activities in Mykolayiv and Kherson regions, including:

• Ensure and coordinate a timely implementation of planned activities, providing support to ensure high quality of implementation.

• Ensure that all implemented activities are in compliance with UNDP requirements, regulations and policies; and as per the approved plan.

• Provide technical support to R&DI partners in Mykolayiv and Kherson regions, including organisation of workshops, trainings, round-tables, implementation of awareness raising and information campaigns, etc).

• Provide support in collection of information and development of specification for purchase of equipment and clearance with partners; coordinate and follow-up on the delivery of goods and services when needed.

• In close cooperation with the R&DI Capacity Development Officer, Health Governance Officer, Small Grant Analyst and Communication Analyst and others continuously monitor and suggest relevant accountability initiatives in the field as well as strengthening the effort to document the impact of R&DI activities in Mykolayiv and Kherson regions.

• Support and undertake monitoring and evaluation activities, including regular activity monitoring, documentation of case studies, best practices and lessons learned, as agreed with the R&DI Project Manager, regularly monitor the progress and quality of R&DI activities.

• Participate online in regular weekly R&DI team meetings and provide weekly update.

2. Provision of day-to-day assistance support to the R&DI project’s activities in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations, and relevant SOPs including:

• Support R&DI team in collection of the supporting documentation for contracts and payments, grants implementation, events and other projects’ activities;

• other relevant tasks.

3. Ensures gender mainstreaming Ensure the mainstreaming of gender equality and women’s empowerment considerations in the field of expertise, promote a safe and enabling environment free of any kind of discrimination and abusive behaviour, and use the principles of gender responsive communication in line with the UNDP corporate standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in administration, management, finance, grants or relevant fields.

• 3 years of experience in Social Science, Public Administration, Economics, Law, Public Relations and other relevant areas;

• Fluency in Ukrainian and basic knowledge of English is required.

• Work experience in/with a regional or local authority;

• Experience working in the UN or other international development organization is an asset;

• Previous experience working in emergency projects in complex and volatile contexts is an asset;

• Experience in any other relevant sector will be an advantage [health, social services, local/regional development, education, etc.];

• Experience working with CBOs, CSOs is an asset;

Allowances:

• Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): A Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) USD 1587 (equivalent in UAH) is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities, and normal cost of living expenses.

• USD 400 entry lump sum, one-time payment.

Medical and life insurance:

• Medical insurance: The UN Volunteer and eligible PFU dependents will receive UNV provided medical insurance coverage. Coverage for UN Volunteers begins from the Commencement of Service and normally ceases one month after the last day of the UN Volunteer Contract date.

• Life Insurance: UN Volunteers are covered by life insurance for the duration of the UN Volunteer assignment.

Leave entitlements:

• Annual leave: UN Volunteers accrue an entitlement to 2.5 days of annual leave per completed month of the UN Volunteer assignment.

• Learning leave: Subject to supervisor approval and exigencies of service, UN Volunteers may request up to ten working days of Learning Leave per consecutive 12 months of the UN Volunteer assignment, starting with the Commencement of Service date, provided the Learning Leave is used within the contract period.

• Certified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers are entitled to up to 30 days of certified sick leave based on a 12-month cycle. This amount is reset every 12-month cycle.

• Uncertified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers receive seven days of uncertified sick leave working days in a calendar year. This amount will be reset at the established interval period.