Climate Change & SRH Resilience Program Assistant

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.

With approximately 59% of PICTs’ population below 29 years and 28% of PICTs’ population between 10 and 24 years , the Pacific is a very young region. The percentage of the adolescents and young people i.e. 10-24 years is highest in the Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Kiribati and Nauru where it exceeds 29% of the total population. The lowest is observed in Palau and Niue where it is less than 25% of the total population but still higher than 19%.

The region continues to experience high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and young people are more affected due to their limited access to SRH information and services, STI prevalence is high particularly chlamydia infections in pregnant women according to recent DHS/MICs surveys where FSM recorded 25.8%; Fiji: 29%; RMI: 25.1%; Samoa: 36%; and Vanuatu: 25.1%.

Access to quality adolescent and youth friendly SRH services according to international standards is very low. Persistent low availability, accessibility, acceptability, affordability, quality of care and services in health systems and beyond are the primary barriers affecting adolescents more than other age groups. Poor readiness of health facilities (0-3% in the region) to provide Adolescent sexual and reproductive health according to international standards is limiting the use of family planning and other SRH & GBV services by adolescents and young people .

As the impacts of climate change make most of the SIDs uninhabitable, disaster and climate-induced displacement is already taking place and is expected to intensify. The ways in which the climate crisis uniquely impacts the security, development, SRHR and protection needs of young people remains significantly unstudied but directly felt by affected communities especially women and girls in the Pacific. Young people at formative stages in their development will experience wide-ranging impacts of the climate crisis. Young people have specific vulnerabilities linked to the climate crisis impacts as they constitute a very large proportion of those most vulnerable, but also those for whom the effects of such vulnerability can extend over a very long term. The intergenerational inequities as a result of the climate crisis place a significant burden on young people to spearhead actions for climate justice and be bearers for climate justice for their own and future generations.

Under the direct supervision of Chief of Adolescents & Youth the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

1. Contribute to advocacy for Climate change and SRHR for young people through national and regional youth frameworks, policies and programs. More specially, develop key messages, contribute to technical briefs and undertake analytical review of existing frameworks, policies and programs to identify entry points for SRHR advocacy amidst climate change action and justice discourse.
2. Support development of innovations and initiatives on Climate resilience and SRHR for vulnerable adolescents and youth at community and national levels.
3. Contribute to resource mobilisation through development of concepts and proposals on Climate Change and SRHR linkages.
4. Develop areas/topics for climate related SRH research and policy that leverages community engagement and includes diverse key stakeholders.
5. Support preparation of technical briefs and presentations to Health sectors on financing for adolescent sexual reproductive health within the development- humanitarian- peace nexus.
6. Provide programmatic support in reporting against planned results and indicators by field offices on youth SRHR on a quarterly and annual basis.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take 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.

☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning ☒ Communication ☒ Creativity ☒ Ethics and Values ☒ Integrity ☒ Knowledge Sharing ☒ Planning and Organizing ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Self-Management ☒ Technological Awareness ☒ Working in Teams

SRHR, Climate Change action Advocacy
Proactive, good emotional intelligence Good written English language skills Good drafting skills and ability to write reports Ability to organize and plan work following the established timeframes Computer Literacy: Proficiency in the use of standard MS Office packages and the Internet.

Fiji, one of the larger countries of the South Pacific region, has a relatively high level of human development and is one of the most developed economics in the region. After nearly a century as British colony, Fiji became independent in 1970. Its multi-ethnic population, which numbers approximately 900,000, is growing slowly due to a moderately low level of fertility and a high level of emigration. The economy rests primarily on sugar production and tourism, but is becoming more diverse, with manufacturing now an important sector of employment. The unit of currency is Fiji Dollar. Fiji comprises of approximately 330 islands, approximately third of which are inhabited. Fiji covers about 1.3 million square kilometres of the South Pacific Ocean. The two major islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. The capital city is Suva and is located on the South-Eastern side of the main island of Viti Levu. Fiji's population is made up of a mixture of native Melanesian and Polynesian islanders, and a blend of Indian, European, Chinese, Rotuman and Rabi islanders making it a rich and vibrant mix of cultures, sights, sounds and exotic island delicacies. English is spoken widely on the Island and it is the common language of communication although the native indigenous Fijian language is spoken by many as is the Hindi language. Fiji enjoys a mild and stable climate most of the year, due to the large expanses of open water that surround its islands. The wet season extends from November to April, but rain falls throughout the year. Tropical cyclones can blow up between November and April, although they are rarely dangerous. Fiji enjoys year-round tropical temperatures of between 25-29 degrees with generally high humidity, making it a perfect location for sun-lovers. Suva, the capital of Fiji, has a population of approximately 141,000, and it is a multiracial and multicultural city. Suva is the largest city in the whole of the region but remains easy-going and friendly. It has reasonably modern facilities including two large hospitals, sporting facilities, restaurants and supermarkets. Modest accommodation is readily available in Suva, but availability of small apartments is limited; an open mind and flexibility come in handy when looking for housing in Suva. The public transport is quite good: local busses run every day of the week, and taxis are affordable. Public transport is available also for exploring and visiting other parts of the country, which provides plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities and tropical nature. Fiji along with many other Pacific islands is known for being one of the friendliest nations in the world. It is a unique country and UNFPA is a unique (humanitarian) operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.