IUNV Specialist, Associate External Relations and Reporting Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).

Currently, due to the UNHCR´s operational context in Colombia, programmers are directed to respond the needs of vulnerable persons of concern including internally displaced persons, refugees, returnees, and asylum seekers. UNHCR also works in close coordination with other UN Agencies and other humanitarian actors through GIFMM* in the response to vulnerable groups and persons with specific protection needs. The Interagency Group on Mixed Migration Flows (GIFMM) was created in late 2016. Its main objective is to coordinate the response to the needs of refugees, migrants, returnees and host populations, in a complementary way with the Government. It works as a coordination space for the response to the situation of refugees and migrants in Colombia. It is co-led by IOM and UNHCR.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Sub Office), the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: - Lead the creation of a sub-national external relations strategy, including systematic outreach to donors, organizing frequent donor visits to the region and identifying opportunities for further donor engagement. - Keep abreast of all developments in the area of operation to prepare appropriate briefings and reports. - Prepare periodic reports, i.e. donor updates, internal weekly and monthly, briefing notes for senior managers, and activity-specific reports as required. - Prepare funding submissions for donors, and draft any required after-action reports. - Develop and maintain working relationships with the government, donors, NGOs, and UN agencies to ensure cooperation in inter-related activities. - Support UNHCR external activities, including supporting with preparing and distributing minutes, assisting in the organization of meetings; occasionally chairing meetings, - Support the supervisor in preparation for meetings and missions drafting of talking points. - Organize and accompany missions for VIP visitors, delegates to visit refugee sites or the activities of UNHCR implementing partners.

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.

Results/Expected Outputs

• The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs);
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment;

• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

• Integrity and professionalism:

• Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations.

• Commitment to continuous learning:

• Planning and organizing

• Teamwork and respect for diversity

· Communication

· Flexibility and adaptability

• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

a field related to external rela-tions, communications, media relations or reporting.

Santiago de Cali is a Colombian city located in a valley in the Southwest of the country. It is the capital of the Valle del Cauca department. It is the third most populous city in the country and approximately 1000 meters above sea level. The UNHCR Sub office in Cali is located in the North of the city with plenty of medical facilities, schooling options, restaurants, entertainment and sporting centers, as well as affordable housing options. Cali has a dry-summer climate with average temperatures around 25°C.

Cali has an international airport, Alfonso Bonilla Aragon, located in the nearby city of Palmira connected to Cali by a highway. Cali offers numerous means of urban transportation, ranging from the official bus system (MIO) to wide availability of taxis. There is also a large bus terminal with plenty of connections to municipalities and cities across the country.