Mission and objectives

UNDP has been providing development assistance to the people of Myanmar since the 1950s. UNDP operated under a restricted mandate from 1993 until 2012 implementing the Human Development Initiative programme which provided assistance directly to communities and individuals for improving their lives and livelihoods. In 2013, UNDP began working through two country programmes, and between 2018 and 2020 the focus shifted to direct support to the Myanmar Government. Following the military takeover in 2021, UNDP Myanmar pivoted to directly target the extremely vulnerable by meeting their basic needs and supporting community recovery, through the Community First Programme: 2021-2025. We have and extensive presence with 4 field offices covering 11 states and regions, with offices in Mon State - covering Mon and the southeastern regions including Bago – and Kachin and Shan states. UNDP also has a field office in Rakhine State and a sub-office in northern Rakhine. UNDP Myanmar works with an extensive network of local Civll Society Organization, Community Based Organization, grassroots partners and community leaders established by UNDP under the Human Development Initiative which started in 1993. These networks remain operational, and UNDP has been able to quickly connect and deliver support through them despite rapid changes in Myanmar’s political and social landscape.

Context

On March 28, 2025, a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, gravely impacting Mandalay, Sagaing, and neighboring regions. The earthquake has impacted over 20 million people across 58 of Myanmar’s 330 townships and caused widespread destruction of homes and critical infrastructure. Major bridges, roads, universities, hotels, historical and religious sites, public service buildings in urban and rural areas have been heavily damaged or destroyed. Essential services, including electricity, water, and telecommunications, were affected. More than 200,000 people are left homeless and struggling to meet basic needs such as access of clean water, sanitation, shelter and healthcare. Reconstruction efforts are hindered by ongoing conflict in parts of Mandalay and Sagaing, complicated logistics, limited access to finance, and persistent macroeconomic challenges. While humanitarian actors and local partners have mobilized to respond to the needs of the community for the damaged infrastructure, progress is delayed due to resource gaps, and evolving community needs. In this context, the UNDP Mandalay Earthquake Recovery Project is establishing interdisciplinary teams to accelerate equitable, high-quality recovery interventions. The Team Coordinator will play a pivotal role in orchestrating and harmonizing the technical, operational, and community engagement components of critical infrastructure restoration, through both direct implementation and partnership modalities. The Team Coordinator will facilitate transparent communication, effective task delegation, and timely resolution of challenges to ensure the delivery of safe, resilient infrastructure solutions that respond to the priorities and aspirations of affected communities. Upholding UNDP’s core principles of gender-responsiveness and zero tolerance for discrimination or abuse - including sexual exploitation and harassment - the Team Coordinator is instrumental in restoring community well-being, dignity, and hope for Myanmar’s most vulnerable earthquake survivors.

Task Description

Under the direct supervision of Technical Officer (Engineer), Team Coordinator will: • Coordinate the activities of the community infrastructure teams under both direct implementation and partnership modalities, ensuring clear communication, efficient task distribution, and alignment with project timelines. • Support the Technical Officer (Engineer) in conducting infrastructure needs assessments and collecting data from affected communities, UNDP teams, and partner organizations. • Develop and maintain tailored work plans for the execution of community infrastructure recovery activities, addressing specific requirements and timelines for both direct implementation and partnership initiatives. • Facilitate the translation of technical engineering designs and assessments into actionable tasks, ensuring that community infrastructure teams and partner organizations have clear guidance and practical tools for effective delivery. • Collaborate with the procurement team to ensure the timely and compliant sourcing, supply, and delivery of materials required for infrastructure works. • Supervise daily implementation of infrastructure activities, including onsite coordination, engagement with beneficiary communities, and prompt resolution of challenges, whether activities are carried out directly or through partners. • Ensure all infrastructure recovery activities comply with established technical standards, quality benchmarks, and UNDP guidelines, promoting safety, resilience, and inclusivity across modalities. • Conduct monitoring visits to verify and report on the progress and quality of community infrastructure works, and identify and address any issues, risks, or proposed changes in collaboration with the Technical Officer (Engineer) and partner organizations as needed • Promote transparent and responsive communication with affected communities and facilitate feedback mechanisms to incorporate community input in both direct implementation and partnership modalities. • Uphold UNDP’s standards of safety, environmental and social safeguards (including SES compliance), gender-responsiveness, and zero tolerance for discrimination or abuse in all aspects of community infrastructure delivery. • Prepare and submit regular progress reports to the Technical Officer (Engineer) and Project Management Unit (PMU), including updates, challenges, and recommendations.

Competencies and values

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNDP; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNDP procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNDP in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNDP’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Living conditions and remarks

The duration of the assignment is indicated above with the possibility of extension subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. The current Conditions of Service for national UN Volunteers will apply to UN Community Volunteers as an interim measure until a full review of the national Conditions of Service is undertaken, with the following modifications as per Interim Policy Note on UN Community Volunteers. UN Community Volunteers are expected to be recruited locally and work within their community, they are therefore not expected to travel to the duty station and are not eligible for a settling in grant. In addition, UN Community Volunteers should not require reintegration back into their locales upon completion of their service. Therefore, there is no entitlement to a resettlement allowance. The applicable volunteer living allowance is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included. Furthermore, in non-family duty stations that belong to hardship categories D or E, as classified by the ICSC, a Well-Being Differential (WBD) will be provided monthly.