Communications assistant

Contract

This is a UNV National Youth contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Youth contracts.

UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UN volunteers, throughout the world. UNV embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive and recognizes volunteerism in its diversity as well as the values that sustain it: free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity. The UNV Regional Office in West and Central Africa (ROWCA) provides oversight and strategic guidance to the UNV Field Units in their respective geographical assignments and are mainly accountable for the placement of UN Volunteers mobilized for UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes focused on peace, development and humanitarian needs. Furthermore, ROWCA represent, and strategically position, UNV and bring UNV’s services and solutions closer to its partners from governments, UN entities, civil society and private sector.

Under the direct supervision the ROWCA Communication analyst, the UN Youth volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Report and article writing support: conduct research, support article writing to effectively disseminate success stories, articles, lessons learned and impact of ROWCA initiatives to internal and external audiences. • Use information from program activities to create information products about ROWCA's work and impact (briefs, fact sheets, etc.). • Use analytical and reporting tools to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the social media strategy in collaboration with the Social Media Communications Assistant. • Contribute to knowledge sharing initiatives within the regional office and across national offices in the region. • Link knowledge generated by the regional office or field units to other regional/global information centers/portals. • Provide support to teams on communication projects: organizing events, following up with FUs and partners, etc.
• Ensure dissemination of information to relevant contacts • Participate in the development of tools and brainstorming for communication campaigns (IVD, AHWC, etc.) • Manage the dissemination of communication articles on the regional website and according to the defined retro schedule. • In consultation with the communications team, manage the content and organization of the ROWCA Sharepoint communications page

B) Competencies and values: • Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in 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 area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective 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: 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 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.

communication highly desired • Know how to plan and meet deadlines • Manage emergency situations • Process information • Mastery of the Office suite, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint • Mastery of Drupal an asset • Commendable organizational skills. • Knowledge of UN agencies and civil society organizations in West and Central Africa is highly desirable

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the national Youth Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National Youth UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.