Client Engagement Assistant Full-Time

Mission and Objectives

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.

Context

At country level, the UNV Field Unit (FU) and/or designated UNV personnel are responsible for the mobilization and placement of UN Volunteers in UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes in the areas of peace, development and humanitarian assistance. UNV Field Units/designated UNV personnel represent and position UNV in the respective countries with a focus on the UN Country Team, bringing UNV’s services and solutions closer to its partners within a client service approach and collaborating with other stakeholders from government, civil society and private sector. As UNDP represents UNV at country level, UNV personnel are usually hosted within a UNDP Office and are accountable to the Supervisor and UNV Executive Coordinator for compliance with UNV and UNDP policies, rules and regulations.

Task Description

Under the general guidance of the Regional Manager, with day-to-day reporting to the Country Coordinator, the UN Volunteer serving as Client Engagement Assistant supports the identification, development, and cultivation of select partnerships with UN Agencies/ Host Entities at the country level. This includes managing the relationship with priority partners, gathering and sharing data and information that influence mobilization opportunities, ensuring client satisfaction with volunteer services, and bridging the delivery of services from centralized functions of the volunteer management cycle. The critical purpose of this UNV assignment is the sustained mobilization of volunteers to the designated partners (clients) and support to the duty of care for serving volunteers. The role involves regular contact and liaison with counterpart UN personnel at all levels, including senior-level staff. Within UNV, all personnel are expected to work across multiple units, functions, and teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

1. Assist in mobilizing volunteers and developing and maintaining partnerships

• Support the management of assigned partner accounts and maintain relationships with UN entities to promote UNV’s mandate, offers, and the added value of volunteer assignments.
• Identify volunteer placement opportunities aligned with UN agency strategies and assist in preparing descriptions of assignments.
• Contribute to the development of tailored offers and initiatives that address partners’ evolving needs for volunteer solutions. • Support advocacy campaigns, key events, and communications that raise awareness of volunteerism and highlight impact stories.
• Collect and analyze data from UN Cooperation Frameworks and agency programmes to identify opportunities for volunteer engagement.
• Record mobilization opportunities and partnership intelligence in UNV’s Client Relationship Management (CRM) system and ensure knowledge is documented and shared.
• Prepare presentations, mapping, and key messages for engagement with partners and internal use. Act as focal point for online volunteering, in consultation with the Regional Office, by supporting host entities in developing OV opportunities, promoting the concept of OV, and assisting with accreditation of OV service organizations.

2. Support volunteer experience and duty of care

• As a fellow UN Volunteer, assist with onboarding and provide ongoing support throughout the volunteer management cycle to ensure an inclusive, smooth, and positive experience for all UN Volunteers in the country.
• Respond to volunteer inquiries, escalate concerns when needed, and gather feedback through surveys or check-ins to inform improvements.
• Help organize appreciation initiatives and local events that recognize contributions and foster belonging.
• Support host entities with information on volunteer roles, wellbeing, and enabling instruments (e.g. insurance, benefits).
• Contribute to duty of care by liaising with security focal points, supporting emergency headcounts, and coordinating assistance in cases such as medical evacuation.
• Provide tailored support to peers facing language or integration challenges to help them navigate their assignments effectively.
• Backstop other Field Unit/country-level functions during peak periods or staff absences to ensure continuity of service and support.

Eligibility criteria

• Age: 18 – 80.
• Required experience: 3 years.
• Nationality: Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Assignment requirements

• Relevant experience: 3 years.
• Languages: English, Level: Fluent, Required.

Required Education Level

Technical/vocational diploma in Social Sciences or related area. Highschool diploma with 2 additional years of relevant experience can be considered.

Competencies and Values

• System Thinking – Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
• Integration within the UN – Ability to identity, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work. Knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations.
• Knowledge Generation – Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations. Communication – Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
• Customer Satisfaction/Client Management – Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.
• Relationship management – Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.
• Event planning and execution – Ability to plan, manage and execute public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNV’s overall brand and mandate

Skills and Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of practical and relevant experience at national or international level in partnership engagement, advocacy, management, client service or related areas.
• Fluency in the local language of the duty station.
• Previous experience with international or development organizations is considered an asset.
• Experience in preparing presentation materials, including PowerPoint slides and talking points, as well as minute-taking and report drafting.
• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), database packages, and web-based management systems such as ERP.
• Knowledge and experience of ticket-based service management systems (e.g., Salesforce/UNALL, or equivalent) is considered an asset.

Area(s) of Expertise

Administration, Communication, Volunteer management.

Other Information

Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.

Living Conditions and Remarks

Mozambique is located on the southeast coast of Africa. The country lies on the east coast of Southern Africa and borders the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Swaziland. The total area of Mozambique is 799,380 square km from North to South. The land borders have a length of 4,445 km, while the coastline measures 2,515 km. Monte Binga, culminating at 2,436 m over the Zimbabwe border, is the highest point of Mozambique. With a total population of roughly 34 million people, based on the 2017 census, Mozambique is a country where 73% of the population is under 30 years old. Portuguese is the official and business language, although English is also widely spoken in business and academic settings, particularly in the capital city of Maputo. There are 11 provinces, and a wide array of local languages spoken, including Shangane, Bitonga, Xitswa, Chope, Ronga, Elomwe, Chuabo, Sena, Shona, Ndau, Nyandja, Emakua, Kimwani and Chimakonde. Mozambique’s climate ranges from tropical and subtropical in the north and central regions to dry, semi-arid steppe and arid desert in the south. The hottest and wettest period occurs between December and February, with average daily temperatures ranging from 22°C to 30°C. The rainy season spans from October to April, while winters, from June to August, are mild with average daily temperatures between 13°C and 24°C. Maputo, the country’s capital, serves as both its commercial and cultural hub. Housing in Maputo, which includes apartments and houses, can be rented for US$700 to US$4,000 per month, depending on the amenities and size. Restaurant meals typically cost between US$10 and US$15. Food, household commodities and clothing can be found in shops and local markets at reasonable prices. An entry visa is required for all travelers and must be obtained from the Mozambican Embassy prior to travelling. The metical is the local currency, and the exchange rate stands at USD 1 equivalent to about 63.90 meticais (MZM) as of June 2025. Commercial banks are operational in the country and Visa cards are accepted in very limited hotels. Maputo is categorized as a family duty station offering a variety of different accommodation options. It has a vibrant international community whilst also providing excellent opportunities to work in a national, Mozambican context.

Inclusivity Statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 Vaccination Requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

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