Gender and Culture Support field officer

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.

As a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, UNESCO contributes to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, and sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, and communication and information. The Palestinian National Authority and UNESCO signed an office’s establishment agreement in 1997.

UNESCO Ramallah implements a biennial programme in the West Bank and Gaza designed to integrate the overall goals of the Organization by offering technical expertise and conducting cultural activities. This is carried out in close consultation and collaboration with Palestinian counterparts, including the National Commission, civil society representatives, and other stakeholders and partners.

Following the escalation of conflict in Gaza in May 2021, UNESCO Ramallah, with support from the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund, conducted a series of activities, including a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA), capacity-building workshops, as well as urgent interventions for cultural centers, practitioners and artists in Gaza. These activities aimed to comprehensively assess the impact of the escalation on the cultural sector in Gaza.

The interventions also included the implementation of workshops in the field of music, theatre and fine arts specifically designed for artists who were affected by the conflict. Targeted psychosocial support was also provided to youth and children who engaged in interactive activities which helped them to express themselves through artistic means.

Through this assignment, UNESCO Ramallah aims to build on the findings of the Post Disaster Needs Assessment with a focus on the gendered dimensions of the impact of the escalation on the culture sector in Gaza. The UN Community Volunteer will also support with the implementation of activities which are targeted primarily at women and girls, to ensure their active inclusion and participation.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of UNESCO Ramallah’s Culture Unit, the UN Community Volunteer will:

• In cooperation with the Culture Unit, conduct a review of the Post Disaster Needs Assessment through a gender lens, drawing out the relevant gender-related findings of the assessment and identifying priority gendered gaps in the assessment. • Collate the findings of the review. • Work with the Head of Unit to prioritize areas for additional research. • Organize cultural-related workshops and other activities for women and girls in Gaza which address their needs, based on the findings of the PDNA. • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Community Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• 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; • Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• 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.

.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; • 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; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNESCO’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

• Voluntary service, community engagement or work experience can be considered in lieu of any formal education; • Demonstrable commitment to areas relevant to UNESCO’s mandate, especially culture and gender equality; • Basic research and analysis skills; • Professional/trades skills; • Skills in community development; • Good verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.

The duration of the assignment is indicated above with the possibility of extension subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.

The current Conditions of Service for national UN Volunteers will apply to UN Community Volunteers as an interim measure until a full review of the national Conditions of Service is undertaken, with the following modifications as per Interim Policy Note on UN Community Volunteers.

UN Community Volunteers are expected to be recruited locally and work within their community, they are therefore not expected to travel to the duty station and are not eligible for a settling in grant. In addition, UN Community Volunteers should not require reintegration back into their locales upon completion of their service. Therefore, there is no entitlement to a resettlement allowance.