1. UNV Assignment Title:          Project Officer (China-Africa Business Council)  

2. Type of assignment:           National UNV volunteer (open to PRC nationals only)

3. Project Title:                         Capacity Building of the China-Africa Business Council for

4. Duration:                              1 yearwith the possibility of extension

5. Location, Country:                Beijing, China

6. Expected starting date:        01August 2009

The first phase of CABC achieved significant progress in strategic partnership, promotion of Chinese-African bilateral economic cooperation, investment facilitation for Chinese private companies in Africa, training programs organized for entrepreneurs and capacity building of the Council However, some key challenges still exist for the second phase. It is now recognized that capacity building should be further intensified for institutional development of CABC secretariat, provision of diversified services and expanding its network to selected African countries. In light of the great potential of CABC and the challenges to its further development, UNDP, Guangcai and the Ministry of Commerce (through the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges) have committed to support a new phase of the project. The new project will support CABC to build its institutional capacity to be the leading organization is supporting trade and investment between China and Africa through the expansion of CABC’s network in Africa. More importantly the project will continue to assist the CABC to build its capacity to instill good business practices among the business community.

8. Host Agency/Host Institute:   CABC Secretariat

Under the direct supervision of the Director of the CABC Secretariat, the national UNV volunteer will assist the international UNV volunteer (serving as Policy Advisor) and cooperate with him to contribute to the management of the CABC project within the thematic/sectoral areas assigned:

 

o     Analyze and keep abreast of strategic development trends in areas relevant to the project, focusing on national policy development, especially those pertaining to trade and investment, in CABC member countries;

o     Undertake policy advocacy within the framework of the project, preparing project briefs, speeches, presentations and strategy papers, with special focus on trade and investment.

 

o     Support the CABC Director to coordinate the preparation of the annual work plan in consultation with related project partners;

o     Support the CABC Director in the management, coordination and implementation of the work plan;

o     Prepare appropriate progress reports for country governments and UNDP

o     Keep relevant project files and records;

o     Perform other additional tasks as required by the supervisors.

o     Help build and enforce partnerships with key project stakeholders, especially with China Society for Promotion of the Guangcai Programme(Guangcai), China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), The International Finance Corporation (IFC), China Exim Bank, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), other UN agencies, other UNDP country offices, China’s embassies in Africa and relevant African governments;

o     Develop and maintain ties with international donors, business community, financial institutions and the private sector to promote project results and seek long-term technical and financial support;

o     Promote the enhancement of public and private-partnership(PPP) and South-South Cooperation (SSC) in project activities;

o     Support resource mobilization and outreach initiatives.

 

o     Identify sources of information related to policy-driven issues;

o     Identify and synthesize the best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to the project goals;

o     Develop policies that will address member countries’ problems and needs in collaboration with the Governments and other strategic partners;

o     Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practices;

o     Organize training, workshops and events on project related issues and prepare agendas for these activities in consultation with organizers, attend those events and work to implement decisions and recommendations.

 

·            Strengthening their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and taking active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark IVD);

·            Getting acquainted with and building on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;

·            Reflecting on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;

·            Contributing articles/write-ups on field experiences and submitting them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;

·            Assisting with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UNV volunteers;

·            Promoting or advising local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encouraging relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

 

1.        Carry out training needs analysis of members at the start and at the end of the project to assess the needs and interests of potential investors in Africa.

2.        Develop an annual training plan to deliver training workshops to members and ensure that a minimum of at least 25% of the participants will do business in or with African countries.

3.        Strategic partnerships established with specialised and professional institutions.

4.        Road-maps established and updated on doing business in African countries and in China.

5.        Create mechanisms to ensure that events (workshops, conferences, exhibitions, study trips, etc) are self-financing.

6.        CABC establishes a regular source of revenue from diversified services.

7.        CABC is able to finance at least one third of its operating expenses.

8.        CABC chapters established in Africa to increase its activities on the continent.

9.        Human resources database of specialists and advisors in African affairs set up and CABC Information Center established to further improve CABC network

10.    A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during your assignment such as specific quantification of mobilized volunteers, activities, capacities.

 

Computer skills: Strong computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and Internet Research

Language skills: Fluency in English and Chinese, strong drafting skills

Beijing is a developing but modern city with relatively high quality of life indicators. It is the foremost political and cultural metropolis in China. The city has excellent health services available. The Volunteer Living Allowance includes a sufficient housing allocation to support comfortable accommodation.

National UNV volunteers receive a standard volunteer living allowance (VLA), which is intended to cover their accommodation and basic living expenses. In China the VLA is 3,000 RMB per month. National UNV volunteers are entitled to an excellent health, life and disability insurance package. A modest Settling-in-Grant and end of assignment allowances will also be provided along with travel to and from the duty station. UNV volunteers are entitled to 30 days personal leave per year and 10 days of UN holidays.

 

Interested Chinese candidates should include detailed curriculum vitae (CV) and an application letter (both in English and Chinese) marked: “Application for the NUNV Project Officer Assignment” to the unv.china@undp.org [1]