Associate Community-Based Protection (Specialist in HEALTH)

Contract

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

The COVID19 pandemic has brought new challenges for the person of concern (poCs) in Ecuador as well as for UNHCR in promoting their protection. On one hand, the pandemic implicated a higher risk of exposure to the SARS-Cov2 for PoCs, in light of the deterioration of their socioeconomic situation. On other hand, they faced a reduction in the access of pub-lic services, such as specific health services, mostly due to the overload of the national public health system. In this framework, one of the major initiatives consist in boosting the community-based pro-tection work through community promoters with whom the community epidemiological sur-veillance exercise has surged. Furthermore, this community promoters’ network is also used in order to monitor the access of PoCs to generic public health services and, in the context of the pandemic, to the national vaccination scheme. Finally, the needs related to sexual and reproductive health of person with specific needs, such as women, pregnant adolescents, sexual workers, LGBTI+ people as well as people living with HIV have been increased by the pandemic. Consequently, projects destined to reinforce the capacities of communities and persons with specific needs have been developed, enabling them to advocate for their rights and promote the visibility of their needs, such as their sexual and reproductive health.

In order to carry out this work, the UN Volunteer will be properly trained both formally, through available workshops, seminars, e-Learning platforms; and informally through on-the-job training, intensive coaching/mentoring, shadowing other colleagues to familiarize his/herself with the relevant global and local policy and procedures related to Community-Based activities, especially in areas related Health.

The UN Volunteer will be closely supervised by both senior and middle level management within the unit and it is expected that within a few months s/he will have the necessary skills to carry out many of the daily tasks with limited guidance.

Under the direct supervision of Head of Field Office, the UN Youth Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Support the development and implementation of projects related to the community epidemiological surveillance initiative. • At local level, contribute to monitoring the access to health services for people of concern, including the COVID19 vaccine scheme. • Support the continuity and follow up of sexual and reproductive health projects destined to people with specific vulnerabilities. • Provide inputs about the health situation of people of concern in order to consolidate the advocacy with the Ministry of Public Health. • Support the community-based protection team in UNHCR field offices in improving access to public health services for refugees and the host community, as well as in the implementation of the AGD and AAP policies.

Working in Teams, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Ethics and Values, Integrity, Accountability, Adaptability and Flexibility, Commitment and Motivation, Communication.

• Demonstrated interest and/or experience (up to 2 years) in public health issues, especially related to the control and prevention of infections in the covid19 or other pandemics, community epidemiological surveillance, mental health, etc. Experience in working with communities in processes of strengthening participation will also be valued. • Previous experience in sexual and reproductive health and rights, including access to services and capacity building of people with specific needs.
• Basic understanding of forced migration issues. • Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded.

Ibarra is a city in northern Ecuador and the capital of the Imbabura Province.It offers a great variety of activities, both cultural and sporting, as well as many places of commerce, restaurants, etc. The health system is public and private.There is good connectivity in the city with high-speed Internet as well as availability of the 4G network. Accommodation is available in smaller houses or shared apartments for students.