Associate External Relations and Reporting Officer

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.

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org). Currently, due to the UNHCR´s operational context in Colombia, programmers are directed to respond to the needs of vulnerable persons of concern including internally displaced persons, refugees, returnees, and asylum seekers. UNHCR also works in close coordination with other UN Agencies and other humanitarian actors through GIFMM* in the response to vulnerable groups and persons with specific protection needs. The Interagency Group on Mixed Migration Flows (GIFMM) was created in late 2016. Its main objective is to coordinate the response to the needs of refugees, migrants, returnees and host populations, in a complementary way with the Government. It works as a coordination space for the response to the situation of refugees and migrants in Colombia. It is co-led by IOM and UNHCR

Under the direct supervision of the Senior External Relations Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

•Keep abreast of all developments in operations to prepare appropriate briefings and reports. •Prepare periodic reports, i.e. donor updates, internal sitreps, briefing notes for senior managers, and activity-specific reports as required. •Prepare funding submissions for donors, and draft any required after-action reports. •Develop and maintain working relationships with the government, NGOs, and UN agencies to ensure cooperation in inter-related activities. •Support the UNHCR-led Cluster activities by preparing and distributing minutes, assisting in the organization of meetings; occasionally chairing meetings, and serving as the general secretariat for the relevant Cluster. •Support the supervisor in preparation for meetings and missions drafting of talking points. •Organize and accompany missions for VIP visitors, and delegates to visit refugee sites or the activities of UNHCR implementing partners. •If there is no Public Information (PI) focal point in-country, serve as PI focal point, contributing to and coordinating press events, interviews, PI missions and other activities related to information dissemination to the general public to promote UNHCR activities.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

•Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and taking an active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); •Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; •Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; •Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; •Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; •Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. •Support the work with potential and current public and private sector partners and UN-HCR donors (including responding to queries, ensuring that profiles of the potential donors are appropriately recorded, maintaining the interest of potential donors, supporting in elaborating products for the private sector), in close collaboration with the Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion Unit, especially for potential partners in the labour insertion strategy; •Draft project proposals as well as interim and final reports both in English and in Span-ish for public and private UNHCR Colombia donors in close collaboration with field offices and programme colleagues; •Organize and participate in UNHCR donor missions and briefings, including donor visits; •Draft and/or support in the drafting UNHCR external and internal communication materials, including factsheets, weekly reports, situation reports, briefing notes, background material, talking points and other communication materials (both in English and in Span-ish) in close collaboration with Public Information and Information Management colleagues; •Work closely with the Public Information Unit to assist in providing visibility for donors’ contributions to UNHCR; •Contribute to the consolidation and the maintenance of Excel databases that include the different budgets of UNHCR donors. •Work closely with Information Management, and Public Information to ensure accurate and attractive data presentation, including maps in external and internal communication materials; •Consolidate information on UNHCR’s country operations and identify appropriate messages for campaigns and appeals; •Stay abreast of the challenges posed by the political context, the UN and humanitarian reform, and institutional developments in the area of forced displacement and humanitarian operations; •Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor

Results/Expected Outputs:

•The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs); •Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment. •A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed. •The Associate External Relations & Reporting Officer contributes to the production, editing and quality control of donor proposals and reports for his/her public and private donors assigned. •S/he establishes and maintains open communication with the Field Office colleagues as well as the Programme Unit, including meeting all reporting deadlines and other donor compliance issues such as visibility requirements, as well as receiving information on project implementation challenges. •S/he maintains effective professional relationships with a wide variety of public and private donors, operational and implementing partners, UN agencies, and other stakeholders to gather, analyze and disseminate information about the activities of UNHCR and its partners. •By drafting external and internal communication materials in English and in Spanish, and by systematizing and sharing of accurate and timely information, the incumbent promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNHCR. •S/he establishes close contacts with all UNHCR field offices and branch office Units to gather and analyze information.

•Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in the area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented. •Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations. •Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in the area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in the work environment. •Planning and organizing: practical 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. •Teamwork and respect for diversity: the ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender; •Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including the 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; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; •Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary; •Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

a field related to external relations, communications, media relations or reporting. Knowledge of Microsoft applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Demonstrated skills in oral and written communication.

Living conditions in any UNHCR Colombia destinations, including Bogotá, are generally good. There is a wide variety of activities in these cities, from tourism, theatre, cinema, cultural and sports activities, and restaurants offering typical local and regional food, as well as international cuisine. Medical services in the main cities (clinics and private hospitals) are available. Visitors are advised that some clinics require an initial payment before admitting a patient, even in emergency situations. Visitors should take medical precautions and seek advice before travelling. Travellers to the areas of Urabá, Chocó, Córdoba, Putumayo, Vichada, Guainía, Guaviare, Meta, Amazonas, Casanare, Vaupés, Norte de Santander, and Caquetá should have certificates of vaccination against yellow fever, malaria, measles, and chickenpox, as some airlines require passengers to carry such documents. Rural areas continue to be affected by illegal armed groups (ELN, and recently emerging armed groups) and by clashes between them and the Colombian Armed Forces. Upon arrival in Bogota, all visitors should contact the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) and receive a security briefing for temporary or permanent deployment in Colombia. Each UN agency is responsible for allowing its respective officials to attend the security induction conference. All visitors and newly assigned staff members must complete the "Basic Security in the Field" and "Advanced Security in the Field" courses.