Community Officer, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

General

Description of assignment title: Community Officer

Assignment country: Uzbekistan

Duty stations: Tashkent

Work location: On UN premises

Expected start date: 07/15/2026

Expected end date: 12/31/2026Long-term benefits and allowances

Sustainable Development Goal: 3. Good health and well-being

Host entity: UNOPS UZB

Modality: Onsite

Type: National

Volunteer category: Community UCoS from Apr2026

Work schedule: Full-time

Number of Assignments: 1

Details

Mission and objectives:

• Enhancing Uzbekistan's Health Care System through activities implemented in 'Covid-19 Emergency Response Project'

Context:

• This United Nations Volunteers (UNV) assignment is part of the UNOPS 'COVID-19 Emergency Response' project, which is part of UNOPS health infrastructure strengthening portfolio. The project's main aim is to enhance Uzbekistan's resilience to COVID-19 and future epidemics by upgrading over 150 existing facilities of the Committee of Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It includes infrastructure assessments and upgrades, procuring diagnostic equipment, establishing an ICT-based national epidemiological surveillance system, and expanding patient treatment capacity.
• Volunteers are expected to be engaged based on workload and current needs across project activities, with primary focus on delivery of goods for Covid-19 Emergency Response project in the last 6 months of 2026, potentially spanning to a longer period subject to project needs.
• The UNVs will be part of the Biomedical Engineering and Procurement Department activities, with a main focus on administrative activities related to contract management for procurement of goods, and observation of handover, installation and training of medical and lab equipment to end-users, which are part of the laboratory and hospital network within the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Well-Being and Public Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Task description:

• Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Biomedical Engineer assigned for the specific project, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
• Handover and Delivery of Medical & Lab Equipment Observation
• - Verify Inventory: Cross-reference incoming equipment (e.g., hematology analyzers, coagulometers, microscopes, etc.) with official UNOPS procurement rules and packing lists to check for complete delivery, quantity checking, damages, etc.
• - Assess Storage: Ensure regional laboratories have adequately prepared, secure, and climate-controlled storage spaces prior to installation and document these.
• - Observe communication: observe practices between supplier, end -user, facility management, SES/PIU management and UNOPS.
• - Identify bottlenecks: explore rationale behind and report these to the supervisor in the shortest possible time. Apply remedy actions based on supervisor's feedback.
• - Document Status: Under supervision log all required information such as serial numbers, delivery dates, and missing or damaged items, reporting any discrepancies directly to the UNOPS project supervisor and assist in system inputs.
• Installation Monitoring
• - Track Timelines: Monitor the arrival and on-site presence of certified engineers and vendors tasked with setting up the equipment.
• - Observe Safety Protocols: Ensure that the installation adheres to required international bio-safety, electrical, and structural standards.
• - Verify Calibration: Observe initial testing phases to ensure medical and laboratory instruments are correctly calibrated and ready for operational use. Observe and report on faults. Record all activities and discrepancies, and report directly to the UNOPS supervisor.
• Training and Knowledge Transfer Oversight
• - Confirm Participation: Monitor attendance of regional laboratory staff and medical personnel during vendor-led training sessions for simple lab/medical technology.
• - Evaluate Comprehension: Observe whether the local staff can confidently navigate the basic functions, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and routine maintenance of the new devices.
• - Identify Gaps: Report any immediate training deficits or lack of translated instructional materials, record all activities and discrepancies, and report directly to the UNOPS supervisor.
• Administrative activities linked to Contract Management
• - Filing and Archiving: Digitizing, scanning, and organizing contract documents, Purchase Orders (POs), and vendor correspondence in folders or Document Management Systems such as PDS.
• - Document Preparation: Assisting staff by drafting standard contract clauses, generating templates, and updating administrative processes.
• - Deadline Monitoring: Tracking key dates such as contract renewals, milestones, and expiration dates using PDS contract tracking system or Excel sheets.
• - Vendor & Contract Data Entry: Maintaining and updating internal databases with vendor performance metrics, contact lists, and status reports.
• - Document Verification: Assisting in checking that received goods match Purchase Orders or ensuring valid vendor documents (like liability insurance certificates and tax forms) are up to date.
• - Audit Support: Assisting with the Contract Management in Procurement: pulling contract files, reconciling delivery receipts, and quality-checking documents for consistency.
• - Stakeholder Support: Following up with internal departments regarding required signatures or missing contract information.
• - Supplier Follow-up: With supervision, communicating with external vendors to request basic quotes, delivery confirmations, or accounts payable documents
• General Volunteer Responsibilities
• - Maintain Confidentiality: Safeguard sensitive data or proprietary organization and facility information handled during different tasks implementation.
• - Submit Progress Reports: Provide regular updates to project management/direct supervisors on the deployment progress.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 18 - 80

Required experience: No experience required

Nationality: Candidate must be a national, legal resident or hold refugee status in the country of assignment.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience:

• 1 month

Languages:

• English, Level: Working knowledge, Required
• Russian, Level: Working knowledge, Required
• Uzbek, Level: Working knowledge, Required

Required education level:

• Secondary education

Competencies and values:

• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Self-management

Skills and experience:

• United Nations Volunteers (UNVs) acting as administrative assistants and observers in equipment handovers must combine basic skills in handover activities with strict neutrality, cross-cultural sensitivity, and asset management knowledge. They should be able to ensure the proper transfer of clinical assets in accordance with UNOPS Regulations and handover guidelines received from the supervisor.
• Required Core Skills
• - Inventory Verification: The ability to check delivery quantities, verify item conditions against packing lists, and report damages.
• - Asset Documentation: Basic knowledge in filling out physical or digital logs, signing receipts, and maintaining transparency to prevent discrepancies.
• - Technical Familiarity: A baseline ability to understand technical setup requirements, ensuring equipment is installed according to specified guidelines.
• - Communication: The capacity to record questions from users to ensure adequacy of handover, installation and training.
• - Adherence to Code of Conduct: Understanding the organization's operational framework, confidentiality rules, and ethical standards.
• Required Experience
• - Local Presence: Must be a resident of the specific community where the project or service is located to ensure accountability/local trust.
• - Community Engagement: Prior experience in grassroots organizing, neighborhood watch programs, or local development projects desirable.
• - No Formal Degree Needed: Primary or secondary education is sufficient.
• - Basic Administration: Ability to review a Handover Management Checklist or inventory sheet.
• - Communication & Mediation: Ability to relay information clearly between project managers/supervisors, contractors, and locals.
• - Observation & Reporting: Capability to track that goods match receipts, installations are properly completed, and training occurred as stated.
• - Contract/Asset Literacy: Ability to read basic terms of agreement to confirm that deliverables were met.

Area(s) of expertise:

• Administration, Community development, Health

Driving license:

• -

Other information