UN VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT Preamble: The ...

UN VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT
Preamble:
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 long-established, 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.
1. UNV Assignment Title: UNV Bio-engineer
2. Type of assignment: International UN Volunteer
3. Project Title: 3 RD Phase of the Limpopo’s Doctor’s Project
4. Duration: 1 year (renewable)
5. Location/Country: Limpopo- South Africa
6. Expected starting date: as soon as possible
7. Brief Project Description:
The programme in which the UN volunteer Bio-engineer will be embedded is the third phase of the
UNDP Support to the Health Sector in Limpopo (00072506). It is an extension of Phase 1 and
Phase 2, the objective of which is the UNV/UNDP assistance to the Government of South Africa to
improve health care services in Limpopo Province. This sector has been affected by a chronic
deficit of health professionals, as a result of brain drain, due to the remoteness of the region and
more attractive incentives elsewhere and abroad. The health sector is also characterized by a low
culture of volunteerism amongst health professionals and requires an M&E system to improve on
strategic planning processes and accountability.
The overall scope of the programme is support for:
Strategic planning;
Capacity building and skills transfer;
Knowledge management; and
Monitoring and evaluation, including the domestication of MDGs within the health sector.
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The programme will be achieved through the implementation of the following sub programmes
1. Health Professionals Volunteerism and Capacity Development Programme. This sub
programme will provide skills to assist with service delivery challenges through:
the recruitment of 192 UN volunteer health professionals, and their placement in needy
areas;
Institutionalization of the local volunteerism programme.
2. Health Planning Support Programme. A Health Economist will be deployed to strengthen
health service planning, capacity of local health personnel at policy and planning level,
through the analysis, development and institutionalization of effective Health Planning.
3. Knowledge Management and Leadership Development Programme. Establish a Health
Knowledge Management Centre to systematically generate, collect, store and utilize
information to inform strategic planning processes. This sub programme will, also facilitate
“knowledge development and exchange platform”, to enhance knowledge sharing between
local and international practitioners. A leadership development programme will be
implemented for relevant local Senior Managers to improve on overall departmental
performance.
4. MDGs, Monitoring and Evaluation System Programme. Establish the provincial
Department of Health and Social Development (DoHSD) M&E system to improve on
service delivery, accountability and strategic planning.
It will also assist with the domestication of MDGs within the Limpopo DoHSD.
8. Host Agency/Host Institute: UNDP - PMU/Department of Health and Social Development,
Limpopo Province.
9. Organizational context: The provincial department of health and social development is second
below the national department of health. The provincial departments are coordinating all activities
of the national department of health in the province. The provincial departments also provide an
oversight role to all facilities within its boundaries.
10. Type of assignment place: Assignment place is not known at the moment as volunteers will
be placed at different facilities of the province. Most hospitals provide family accommodation
suitable for a family of 3 to 5 members.
11. Description of Duties:
Under the supervision of the Hospital Head of Department, the UN volunteer will be
responsible for the following:
Programme electronics and evaluating prototypes of medical equipment;
Liaise with technicians and manufacturers to ensure the feasibility of medical equipment;
Arrange clinical trials of medical products;
Advise senior health service staff or other managers on medical equipment;
Solve technical queries and troubleshoot problems from hospitals;
Test and maintain clinical equipment;
Train technical and clinical staff; and
Investigate safety-related incidents.
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12. Results /Expected Output:
1. Improved provision of specialized engineering services to local communities in
Limpopo;
2. Increased number of treated patients;
3. Improved organizational effectiveness of the hosting health facility;
4. Increased levels of volunteerism; and
5. Increased high level of patient safety.
13. Qualifications/Requirements:
Post-degree qualification or experience in bio-engineering;
Registered and accredited by a relevant professional body;
Knowledge of current literature and developments in the field of engineering;
Ability to mentor junior engineers and staff;
Knowledge of the UN system and particularly UNDP-managed programmes/ projects an
asset; and
Language skills: fluency in English is mandatory.
14. Living Conditions:
The Limpopo province is located in South Africa and has three seasons, cool and dry from May-
Aug, hot and dry from Sep-Nov, hot and wet from Dec-Apr. The political environment in the country
has substantially improved and is now considered to be stable. The official currency in use is the
South African Rand (R) but other major currencies can also be exchanged in the banks. All basic
food and accessories are available.
15. Conditions of Service:
A 12 or 24-month contract; monthly volunteer living allowance (VLA) intended to cover housing,
basic needs and utilities, equivalent to US$1,879 for single person, US$2,129 for person with one
recognized dependant; US$2,329 for person with two or more recognized dependants; settling-ingrant;
life, health, and permanent disability insurance; return airfares; resettlement allowance for
satisfactory service.
Description of assignment prepared by the UNDP/PMU office: Mr. Joseph Mhlaba,
Programme Manager in conjunction with Mr. Robert Palmer, Portfolio Manager, UNV.
Date: 19 July 2011
Description of assignment approved by the department of health and Social Development
in Limpopo: Dr. EV Buthelezi, Acting Senior General Manager, Academic and Tertiary Services.
Date: 19 July 2011
16. Application
If you are not yet registered in the UNV database, please apply by completing the UNV web application at
the following link: http://one.unv.org/main/?Lang=en . Important: Please select the following code from the
drop down menu of the first page of the application: “11SAF_BIO-ENG”
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If you are registered in the UNV database, please update your profile at: http://MyProfile.unv.org, click on
the „Availability‟ option on the left menu, then click on the „Edit‟ button and select the advertisement code
“11SAF_BIO-ENG” from the drop-down list.
The United Nations Volunteers programme is committed to ensuring gender equity among UNV volunteers
and welcomes applications from women.
Closing Date: 15 October 2011
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