Community Outreach Volunteer

Contract

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

UNHCR opened its representation in the Republic of Kazakhstan in 1995 to assist the country to protect over ten thousand refugees. The majority of those refugees either naturalized in the Republic of Kazakhstan or returned to their countries. UNHCR Kazakhstan National Office is located in Astana. UNHCR Representation to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan is located in Almaty. Communication with Communities (CwC) is a key element of UNHCR’s protection response and engagement with communities. The priority of CwC activities is to ensure that refugees receive the right information in a timely manner in order to preserve their protection, access to services, well-being, and to prevent fraud and other protection risks. In line with UNHCR’s policy on accountability to affected persons (AAP), UNHCR is accountable in ensuring that its responses include continuous and meaningful engagement with persons of concern, under-stand their needs and protection risks and build on their capacities. To ensure that refugees and asylum-seekers receive the right information and prevent any protection risks associated with misleading information, UNHCR shares information both proactively and reactively through various communication channels. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective relationships with communities of concern. UNHCR has started implementing DAFI (Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative) Programme in Kazakhstan in 2021. The goal of the DAFI Programme is to support young refugee women and men who possess a secondary education diploma to pursue higher education in their first country of asylum. With the qualifications they acquire, they can build a more secure future for themselves and their families, make informed life choices and contribute to the peaceful development of their host country or country of origin. UNHCR awards undergraduate scholarships to refugee youth who meet the DAFI programme selection criteria. The scholarship, which applies to refugee youth in their first country of asylum, includes context-specific support structures and preparation for economic inclusion. The incumbent will support the National Office in implementing the DAFI programme. The Community Outreach Volunteer reports to Head of National Office. S/he monitors educational standards and provides technical education support to all refugees. The Community Outreach Volunteer assists refugees to enrol in suitable educational levels, institutes and builds strong relationship with the implementing and operational partners on education and the host government to monitor the implementation of UNHCR’s existing education strategy and to respond to queries from refugees, external agencies and other UNHCR units. In collaboration with the programme and protection teams, s/he will work to improve access to and quality of refugee education. The incumbent will contribute to the development of innovative education approaches for emerging needs in refugee education.

The Community Outreach Volunteer will provide support to UNHCR Kazakhstan National Office and will be based in Astana, Kazakhstan in implementation of everyday activities.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Head of National Office or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the Community Outreach Volunteer will:

• Direct and sustained engagement with communities, through transparent and continuous two- way communication; • assist in management of DAFI progarmme: support the call for applications for the DAFI programme, pre-screening for candidates with the required documentation, monitoring student performance and activities of the DAFI club. • Assist Office in organizing activities for effective participation of communities in identifying their needs and concerns throughout programme cycle for providing informed response; • Work with refugee youth in building their capacity to maximize opportunities for self-reliance • Contribute to the development of partnerships with a variety of stakeholders including refugee community, civil society actors inclusive of youth, disability, LGBTI, women rights stakeholders and other diverse groups for the purpose of advocating for community-based approaches for the protection of refugees and asylum-seekers, including communication with diverse groups; • Assist the supervisor in managing and coordinating DAFI programme; • Assist in monitoring of implementation of the education strategy and activities • Act as first point of contact for refugee families to provide information and support on enrolment in DAFI, and other scholarship programmes. • Assist in providing regular reports on educational activities, achievements and challenges. • Assess needs for services of persons under UNHCR mandate, as related to education and other responses. • Systematically promote and comply with the Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) policy and other priorities. • Liaise on behalf of UNHCR with external partners in relevant areas to the mandate. • Assist in the planning and coordination of UNHCR’s role concerning education. • Assist in preparing and drafting of education input in key internal and external documents and reports. • Draft and translate official correspondence and documents; • Perform other related duties as required, including general administrative and protocol work.

Results/expected outputs: • As an active UNHCR team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNHCR and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: o UNHCR provides an informed and efficient protection response to refugees and asylum-seekers o Protection concerns of POCs are provided on time and mainstreamed through all sectors o The UNV is expected to work closely with other staff from different units in organizing various events o The UNV is expected to communicate effectively with the population of concern and other stakeholders o Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment o 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

Professionalism Integrity Teamwork and respect for diversity Commitment to continuous learning Planning and organizing Communication Flexibility Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNHCR’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

• 1-2 years of relevant experience with international organizations is desirable; • Proven communication and advocacy skills, and ability to work in an environment re-quiring liaison and collaboration with government representatives and NGO partners; • Fluent knowledge of English, Russian and Kazakh languages. • Good computer skills (especially Microsoft office applications) and ability to use in-formation technology as a tool and resource; • Excellent interpersonal, communication and facilitation skills; as well as good organizational skills.

The UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

• The UN Volunteer will be based in Astana, Kazakhstan. • Astana has international airport with flights to many countries • The public transportation available: buses, taxi • Astana has a four seasons climate with hot summers and medium to cold winters. • There are many restaurants, cafes, pubs in the downtown. • Cost of living varies depending on the place of residence. Fruits and vegetable out of season can be expensive. Buying a car can be expensive. Household items, clothing, and public transportation is far less expensive than Western prices. Housing can be expensive closer to downtown, but in the outlying areas of the city, all with excellent public transportation, homes and nice apartments are much more reasonably prices, and well below Western prices. • No special vaccination is required to travel to Kazakhstan, Astana. • Medical services (including dental care) are provided at European standards. Clinics working 24 hours are available in the city. There are both private and state clinics and hospitals. • Kazakh and Russian are spoken languages in the region and are the official languages of the state.