Preamble:

This post is a United Nations Volunteers assignment and based on the values of free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity, which are the foundations of volunteerism. Volunteering brings benefit to the individual volunteer. It makes important contributions, economically, as well as socially. It contributes to creating social cohesion and capital, through helping to build trust and reciprocity among citizens.

The United Nations Volunteers is the UN Organisation that supports sustainable human development globally through the promotion of volunteerism and mobilisation of volunteers. It serves the causes of peace and development through enhancing opportunities for participation by all peoples. It is universal, inclusive and embraces volunteer actions in all its diversity.

Volunteerism is diverse and is embedded in all cultures and traditions. In this context, as a United Nations Volunteer you are encouraged and expected to relate to local volunteerism and to be identified with the concept. You are expected to regard your national colleagues as peers and together uphold trust as volunteers among yourselves and within the communities and the organisation you are assigned to.

UNV Post Title:                       Project Manager              

Contract Modality:                  National UNV Volunteer (Open to Chinese nationals only)     

Duration:                                  1 year

Duty station, Country:            Based in Beijing

Host Organization:                  Aibai Culture and Education Center (Aibai)

Supporting Agency:                 UNDP China

Application Process:                Please send cover letter and CV to unv.china@undp.org                         

Deadline:                                 21 April 2008

Description of Duties: 

After positively appraised in a joint interview by UNDP, UNV and Aibai, the National UNV volunteer, under the framework of the UNDP China initiative, will work in partnership with the Chinese gay, lesbian, bisexual & transgender community (GLBT), under the direct supervision of Aibai. The UNV volunteer will also work closely with UNDP CO and UNV COT.

The primary responsibility of the NUNV volunteer will be to help develop a process for volunteer and project management for Aibai. The NUNV volunteer will be responsible to complete the following duties:

• Investigate the gaps between volunteer participation and organization goals, especially the challenges on the mobilization, participation, effectiveness in delivering results and retention of volunteers in community based organizations engaged in HIV prevention, education and care activities.
• Network with other volunteer organizations and do research to identify relevant best practices in volunteer recruitment and  management
• Establish value-based strategy on volunteer recruitment and management at Aibai
• Plan and facilitate drafting of volunteer handbook.
• Make recommendations to improve project management suitable to the organizational structure and mission.

Expected outputs/Results:

Establish a volunteer recruitment and management model which can be replicated, along with a practicable handbook for volunteers. Develop a project management methodology suitable for Chinese LGBT NGOs working in the area of HIV prevention, education and care.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in development, social work, business/management, or any related field. Good command of Chinese, both written and oral.
• Two years working experience demonstrating good record/results.
• Experience in organizational development, especially with GLBT or youth oriented organizations.
• Experiences in public relations, communication and advocacy programme.
• Experience in non-profit project management and demonstrated interest in volunteerism
• Good interpersonal skills, team spirit.
• Strong computer skills including command of standard office software packages and skills in internet research

*** GLBT people are strongly encouraged to apply 

Brief Project Description:

Aibai Culture and Education Center (ACEC) is a non‐profit organization dedicated to providing critical information of interest to the Chinese-speaking gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community worldwide. Aibai advocates understanding and acceptance of gays and lesbians wherever they are; does not take positions on political matters nor matters of Government policy, but instead seeks to encourage tolerance and equality for all; and supports programs that provide information to Chinese-speaking GLBT, including worldwide developments on issues concerning GLBT, information on physical and psychological health for GLBT, educational materials, and cultural expressions.

ACEC currently has two centers, one in Beijing and one in Chengdu. The Beijing location hosts the Aibai web page, a LGBT library/archive. It manages youth education, legal and translation work performed by volunteers from all over China. The Chengdu Center was established to provide an environment where young LGBT form the Chengdu area can test out ideas on democratic self governance and leadership skills, and to provide cultural, informational and community support services.

There are 230 core volunteers serving in ACEC.

The Aibai web site (www.aibai.cn) is the organization’s main channel for the dissemination of information.  It received over 19 million hits in 2007 and was voted on www.fridae.com (a pan‐Asian LGBT web site) as the “Most Favorite Website 2007”.

Aibai organized the 2007 LGBT College Student Summer Art Camp. Fifteen students from across China participated in the camp and created art works reflecting Chinese LGBT student life. Aibai has provided sexual health and relationship educational lectures in more than 20 universities around China in recent 3 years.

Aibai became one of the first groups involved in HIV/AIDS prevention for Chinese MSM community in late 1990s. The organization creates channels to help Chinese MSM HIV/AIDS group on networking, provide NGO governance training and research on interventional methodology and policy analysis. It works closely with MSM youth and established the first GLBT youth center in China from which it runs special HIV/AIDS projects working with MSM youth in university campuses.

Compensation Information:

Please note that this is a National UNV Volunteer assignment. The recruited candidate will receive 3,000 RMB per month as a volunteer allowance in addition to a strong package health, life and disability insurance package.