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 UNHCR Sub Office Caribbean region covers the departments of La Guajira, Cesar, Magdalena, Atlantico and Bolivar. The region has approximately 8 millon inhabitants (approx. 17% of the national population). According to Migracion Colombia approximately 430.000 Venezuelan refugees and migrants, or 25% of the Venezuelan refugees and migrants of Colombia reside in these 5 departments. Furthermore, a growing number of returnees, with a high percentage of ethnic populations, especially Wayuu.

The Caribbean region has a multidimensional poverty average of just over 30 percent, whereas the national average is 18.1 percent. However, the region is characterized by its diversity, where La Guajira has an average multidimensional poverty of 51,7 percent of its population, and the city of Barranquilla slightly below the national average with 17,4 percent.

There is 403 km of border between la Guajira and Cesar, and Venezuela, with only one formal border crossing (paraguachon). Due to the geographical conditions, crossing the border at other points is easy, and there is a lot of movement both ways through the over 200 informal crossing points. According to Migracion Colombia, there are approximately 1500 Venezuelans entering Colombia through Paraguachon on a daily basis.

UNHCR sub office is based in Riohacha, with a field office in Barranquillla. Beginning of 2022 a field unit will be opened in Maicao, the border town with Venezuela.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Sub Office, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Keep abreast all developments in operations to prepare appropriate briefings and reports.

• Prepare periodic reports, i.e. donor updates, internal sitreps, 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, NGOs, and UN agencies to ensure cooperation in interrelated activities.

• Support the UNHCR-led Cluster activities by preparing and distributing minutes, assisting in the organization of meetings; occasionally chairing meetings, and serving as the general secretariat for the relevant Cluster.

• 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.

• If there is no Public Information (PI) focal point in country, serve as PI focal point, contributing to and coordinating press events, interviews, PI missions and other activities related to information dissemination to the general public to promote UNHCR activities.

• Act as the primary liaison with the External Relations Unit at the national level, including coordination, drafting and quality control of inputs from the Sub-Office and Field Offices under its supervision for proposals and reports;

• Support in the drafting of project proposals as well as interim and final reports both in English and in Spanish for public and private UNHCR Colombia donors in close collaboration with the External Relations Unit and programme colleagues;

• Support in the detailed organization and participate in UNHCR donor missions and briefings, including donor visits, related to the Sub-Office and Field Offices under its supervision;

• Draft and/or support in the drafting UNHCR external and internal communication mate-rials, including the Sub Office and Field Offices Factsheets, project factsheets, weekly reports, situation reports, briefing notes, background material, talking points, press re-leases and other communication materials (both in English and in Spanish) in close collaboration with the External Relations Unit at the national level as well as Public Information and Information Management colleagues;

• Contribute to the consolidation and maintaining of Excel databases that include the different budgets of UNHCR donors.

• Work closely with Information Management, Public Information to ensure accurate and attractive data presentation, including maps in external and internal communication materials

• Stay abreast of the challenges posed by the political context, the UN and humanitarian reform, and institutional developments in the area of forced displacement and humanitarian operations;

• Provide technical supervision to the PI and information management team, to assist in providing visibility for donors’ contributions to UNHCR.

• Any other duties as assigned by supervisor.

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 counter-parts, 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.

• The Associate External Relations & Reporting Officer contributes to the production, editing and quality control of donor proposals and reports for his/her Area of Responsibility (AOR).

• S/he establishes and maintains open communication with the External Relations Unit at the national level as well as the Programme Unit, including meeting all reporting deadlines, communicating changes or challenges in project implementation and informing colleagues in the Sub and Field Offices of donor compliance issues such as visibility requirements.

• S/he maintains effective professional relationships with a wide variety of public and private donors, operational and implementing partners, UN agencies, and other stakeholders to gather, analyse and disseminate information about activities of UNHCR and its partners.

• By drafting external and internal communication materials in English and in Spanish, and by systematizing and sharing of accurate and timely information, the incumbent promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNHCR.

• S/he establishes close contacts with all UNHCR sections in the AOR to gather and analyse information.

• 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 relations, communications, media relations or reporting.

Riohacha, is located alongside a desert and at the gateway to the Caribbean Sea, it is the port of entry to La Guajira peninsula, in the northernmost department of Colombia. This city, situated on the Ranchería River, was founded on August 6, 1545. Those who visit are also witness to the legacy of the indigenous Wayúu people, evident in their colorful blankets and knapsacks, among other handcrafted items.).

Riohacha, la Guajira is a B, family-duty station. The security level is 3, moderate. In Riohacha one can find most items and foods, if not locally many online shops are available to have things delivered from elsewhere. The city has a small city center, on the sea front, the

location where most of UNHCR staff live, and where the UNHCR office is located. In the center everything is at walking distance, though due to high temperatures during the day, and security in the evening, few people walk a lot. There are stand alone houses, as well as in gated communities. There are variety of restaurants, with great seafood options available.

Schools and essential services are widely available, though limited in options. For specialised medical experts and procedures, local and international colleagues tend to go to Barranquilla or Valledupar.