Advocacy and Communications Specialist in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

One third of Mongolia’s population are young people aged 15-34 (by Mongolia definition), who currently make up the biggest population group in the country. It presents an unprecedented opportunity to prioritize and invest in the development of young people as the main force for the sustainable development of the country, and achievement of the SDGs by 2030. Mongolian youth is facing many challenges including sexual and reproductive health issues including rising STI rates, rising adolescent birth rate, earlier ages of sexual debut, sexual violence, and high rates of abortion.

Adolescents and youth issues is one of the priorities of the 6th Country Programme (2017-2022). The country programme aims to contribute to the development of a policy environment that 1) promotes quality Sexual and Reproductive Health services for youth; 2) allows for the implementation of Life Skills Education programmes based on human rights and gender equality; 3) encourages greater youth participation and increased representation, particularly for girls, in national laws.

As part of the Adolescent and Youth Programme, UNFPA is implementing the Integrated Support Programme (ISP) for Women and Young People’s Health in Umnugobi Province, jointly funded by the Gobi Oyu Development Support Fund, Government of Mongolia, Embassy of Australia, UNFPA, UNICEF, and WHO, and implemented by the Umnugobi Provincial Government, UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO. The ISP aims to address the critical and emerging health and social issues in Umnugobi province. This includes: women’s, youth and adolescent sexual and reproductive health; non-communicable diseases (for example, prevention of cervical cancer, and trauma and burn management); communicable diseases; youth empowerment; and gender-based and domestic violence.

Under the direct supervision of Programme Specialist, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Adolescents and Youth, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Support in documenting the achievements of the Adolescents and Youth Programme by developing communication materials such as articles, web posts and short videos based on real life cases; for this purpose, the UN Volunteer will be required to travel to countryside, interview service providers and beneficiaries of the project, take photos and film the interviews and project activities;

Assist in developing communication packages on adolescent and youth-friendly health services that would increase demand generation among young people;

Engage with the implementing partners and assist in improving the visibility of the Adolescents and Youth Programme among the decision makers, professionals and the public.

Accountability, commitment and motivation, client orientation, integrity, ethics and values, planning and organizing, professionalism, working in teams.

Sexual and Reproductive Health/Media communication, Digital Media with focus on youth behaviour change and family planning programmes;

Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded;

Excellent organizational skills and ability to handle effectively multiple tasks without compromising quality, team spirit, and positive working relationships with all colleagues. as part of a team;

Motivated to contribute towards development and to serve others;

Cultural sensitivity, inter-personal skills and ability to work under pressure;

Computer skills (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, social media, and others).

Mongolia is a country known for its heroic history, rich traditional culture and natural beauty. While Ulaanbaatar, the country's capital, is a modern and cosmopolitan city with shopping malls, international hotel chains, and restaurants of various cuisines, the rest of the country remains rural, relying primarily on herding for livelihood.

Mongolia is located in the heart of the Asian continent and covers an area of 1,566,500 km2 as the second-largest land-locked country in the world. Mongolia's climate is extreme continental - an extreme climate with four to six months when the average temperature remains below 0°C, and higher temperatures for two to three months in the summer. The coldest months are from mid-December to February when the temperature drops to -20°C and occasionally even lower. However, suitable winter wear is widely available while housing and office buildings are equipped with heating systems that provide comfortable conditions. Spring in Mongolia, which lasts from mid-March to May, is usually characterized by dust storms, gusty winds, and constant changes in air pressure. Aside from extreme weather conditions, social, economic and health conditions are the main factors that affect the security situation in Mongolia. Overall however, it is generally a peaceful country without any major security risks.

Ulaanbaatar has an official population of about 1.6 million, accounting for the half of the country's population. The official language is Mongolian, which is spoken and understood throughout the country, while Kazakh is spoken by a minority group in Western Mongolia. Russian is partially spoken, and English is becoming more popular in urban areas, though still scarcely used outside of international business meetings. Ulaanbaatar has a fairly good number of international flights and train connections. With regular flights every day operated by 4 different airlines, travel by air is the most convenient and fastest mode of transport to and from Ulaanbaatar. The Trans-Siberian and Trans-Mongolian trains also connect Ulaanbaatar to Europe (via Russia) and the rest of Asia (via China). All key locations in the country are accessible by air and by road. International telephone and internet services work well in Ulaanbaatar, with several operator companies providing a range of options. Internet service is widely available in Ulaanbaatar and provincial centres at reasonable rates. Wireless facilities are also available in many locations. Foreigners can rent fully furnished apartments in any part of the city for a reasonable fee.

As of March 2021, travel restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic are being applied, and only charter flights have been operating by MIAT Mongolia Airlines. A proof of negative PCR test for COVID-19 is mandatory for boarding these charter flights. Schools and kindergartens are currently closed and leaning is conducted through TV and online teaching. Currently, in-country travel is limited, and mass events are banned. However, no lockdowns are expected in the near future.

Medical and dental services are available for international personnel in Ulaanbaatar. For more information on Mongolia, the following link is recommended: http://lonelyplanet.com/mongolia.