Communications Officer

Contract

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

UNV Bangladesh has a very vibrant programme in the country. UNV Bangladesh established very strong and strategic partnerships with the Govt bodies, UN entities and other key stakeholders. As of April 2022, UNV mobilized 330 (cumulative) UN national and international UN Volunteers in Bangladesh, which is the highest in the region. UNV has built a strong positive image in the country as a catalyst for fostering volunteerism, to support the national development. UNV signed MoU with the Economic Relations Division on Govt-sponsored Fully Funded IUNV Programme for Bangladeshi Nationals. As a result of the extensive advocacy of UNV Bangladesh, Govt of Bangladesh is now at final stage on formulating a national volunteer policy. UNV built strong partnership with Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB), who continued countrywide volunteer programme titled ‘Volunteers for Sustainable Tourism’ with their own budget.

UNV is working on promoting and integrating volunteerism into national framework and perspective plans. It also focuses fostering volunteering actions within the NGOs, CBOs, Government, UN, VIOs and other key stakeholders. UNV is also working Department of Youth Development on promoting youth volunteerism. Efforts to innovation and private sector engagement to support Volunteerism Mobilization and corporate volunteerism, is also one of strives of FU interventions. Given the demographic of Bangladesh, and the criticality of employability, approaching youth as a crosscutting issue beyond the traditional boundaries. Volunteerism is also well-positioned in the current UNSDCF. With the ongoing Rohingya crisis, FU has already mobilized a good number of UN Volunteers to support the crisis. UNV is the only programme – apart from RCO – that works with almost all agencies in the UN system. With UNV's offer of flexible volunteer modalities and cross-sectorial partnerships, is best positioned to partner with multiple agency projects. This is why, communication is an important area for FU, which needs to be strengthened for increasing mobilization through harnessing credible partnerships and fostering volunteerism in the country. The position will also support to the ongoing process of national volunteer policy, which would include advocacy and technical supports towards drafting action plans, dissemination strategies and integration efforts of volunteering actions within the Govt bodies, key institutions and development partners.

Under the direct supervision of Country Coordinator of UNV Bangladesh, the UNV Communications Officer will undertake the following tasks:

• Support to build strong synergies with the serving UN Volunteers and reflect their contributions towards different platforms i.e. UNVFU social media, RO/HQ • Maintain FU website and social media with developing contents and regular day-to-day updates • Produce audio-visual promotional contents on UN Volunteers’ contributions for promoting volunteerism • Support to Country Coordinator in developing volunteer networks within VIOs, universities, CBOs, volunteer groups, Govt bodies and youth • Provide support to develop tools, methods, and strategies to monitor and measurement of the impact of volunteering contributions towards SDGs: • Provide support developing database on volunteer interventions within government machineries and development partners • Support to organize workshops, consultations on volunteerism and national volunteer infrastructure • Prepare presentations for various meetings, conduct desk research and draft communication materials and strategy. • Support to prepare various knowledge products towards national volunteer policy, which may include actions plans, dissemination strategies, integration of volunteering actions within the institutions • Develop documentations of good practices on volunteer initiatives and focus through UNVFU social media and pertinent sources • Support to Country Coordinator in maintaining linkages; good working relations and partnership with the private sector, Government Counterpart(s), UN agencies, and other NGOs/INGOs. • Produce bulletins, magazines on increasing visibility of UNVFU works and promoting volunteerism • Actively engage on communications tools/social media and support the scale up of FU advocacy initiatives • Support to develop innovation and effective strategies linking with building youth volunteer networks and fostering volunteerism • Draft quality reports, policy briefs, create contents for projects as needed • Provide advocacy support to increase the UNV modality and UNV Talent Pool for registration of potential candidates • Any other tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor

Results/Expected Outputs:

• Increased the visibility of UNV Bangladesh activities and contributions of UN Volunteers in a wider arena • Increased understanding on national volunteer policy among the stakeholders and Govt bodies • Enhanced the trends of integration of volunteerism into the various institutions • Strengthened the volunteering practices among the citizens and stakeholders through robust advocacy initiative • Strengthened the positioning of UNV among the UN, Govt and key stakeholders as a credible, effective and result-driven organization • Developed a strong partnership and database with the stakeholders and corporate sector in Bangladesh • Developed effective knowledge products on UNVFU interventions and power of volunteerism • Produced at least 4 FU quarterly bulletin in a year • Increased the UNV talent pool • Successfully day-to-day maintain of UNVFU social media with a target of increasing ‘like/followers about 1000 in a month’ (as a set indicator) • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

• Accountability • Adaptability and Flexibility • Commitment and Motivation • Commitment to Continuous Learning • Communication • Creativity • Ethics and Values • Integrity • Planning and Organizing • Professionalism • Respect for Diversity • Working in Teams

professional relevant work experiences on communications interventions.

• Solid experience and proven skills in graphic designs, photo and video editing software packages (e.g., After Effects, Lightworks, Final Cut, Photoshop, etc.) • Solid experiences on producing contents on social media, promotional materials and communication products • Proven skills on updating website, social media, graphic designs, producing audio-video materials • Experience in drafting report, news, stories, policy updates • Experience in arranging various events, coordination with the partners, dealing with he volunteers with effective manner • Experience in working with local media and establishing networks • Experience in working in a demanding environment with the skills of dealing crisis communications • Experience in maintaining excellent coordination/relations with the volunteers and diverse community • Good interpersonal and team building skills will be highly desirable • Experience on knowledge products, research skills, • Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded.

Dhaka is the centre of political, cultural and economic life in Bangladesh. Although its urban infrastructure is the most developed in the country, Dhaka suffers from urban problems such as pollution, lack of public transport and overpopulation. In recent decades, Dhaka has seen modernization of services, communications and public works. The city is attracting large foreign investments and greater volumes of commerce and trade. It is also experiencing an increasing influx of people from across the nation; this has reportedly made Dhaka one of the fastest growing cities in the world.

Historically, Bangladesh has been a safe country for internationals. While Dhaka is not categorized as a hardship station and a cessation of incidents is expected to lead to relaxation of security measures, the volunteer should be prepared for limitations in freedom of movement on foot, by public transport, and to certain locations.