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.

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

The Medellín subregion is characterized by being a reception area for refugees, asylum seekers and people with other type of documentation or irregular situation. The UNHCR Sub Office Medellín region covers the departments of Antioquia, Chocó, Coffee axis and Córdoba. According to Migracion Colombia approximately 143.000 Venezuelan refugees and migrants, or 11% of the Venezuelan refugees and migrants of Colombia reside in these area. Also Antioquia, Chocó and Córdoba´s Department’ s are affected by internal displacement.

In order to respond the needs of the person of concern four axes of intervention have been established with a strong component of incidence, advocacy to make visible the situation of of the person of concern . These phases have as cross-cutting elements to ensure the legal, sociocultural and economic protection of persons of interest with an approach to human rights, community protection, age, gender and diversity.

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 man-agers, 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 inter-related 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.

• Perform other related duties as required.

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.

· 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 minimum 3 years of experience in a field related to external relations, communications, media relations or reporting.

• Demonstrated skills in oral and written communication.

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.).

Medellín is a Colombian City, is the second-largest city in Colombia, after Bogotá, and the capital of the department of Antioquia. It is located in “El Valle de Aburrá”, a central region of the Andes Mountains in South America. Medellín has a population of 2,508,452 inhabitants.

The city of Medellín is often referred to as the “Ciudad de la Eterna Primavera”. In English, this could be translated as “City of Eternal Spring” and is a reference to the near perfect spring-like weather. Daily temperatures range from a minimum of about 16°C (63°F) to a maximum of 28°C (82°F). On a typical sunny day, the temperature might be a couple of degrees higher and on a cloudy or rainy day the temperature might be a few degrees cooler. As you drive up the valley that surrounds Medellin the weather is noticeably cooler, and a light jacket may be suit-able.