National Adolescents and Youth Development Associate

Contract

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

The UNFPA country office in Lao PDR was established in 1976. Since then, UNFPA has been implementing different programmes in Lao PDR and supporting the Government of Lao PDR and other partners in the areas of improving reproductive health and rights, empowerment of adolescents and young people and strengthening population and development strategies in the country. The UNFPA country office in Lao PDR has strong collaboration with various ministries of the Government of Lao PDR and mass organizations in Lao PDR. The Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education and Sports and Mass Organizations Lao Youth Union and Lao Women’s Union are UNFPA’s implementing partners.

Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is a landlocked, mountainous country with a highly dispersed and thinly spread population having over 50% of the population below the age of 25 years. UNFPA’s youth programmes in Lao PDR are guided by the Noi approach aiming at empowering all adolescent girls and boys in the country so that they are able to delay their first pregnancies, can fulfil their full potential and contribute to a sustainable future and achieving demographic dividend in Lao PDR. They become educated, empowered, live healthy lives and get decent employment when they complete their education. The Noi approach also envisions reducing early marriages, adolescent pregnancies and maternal mortality. The Noi approach realizes its objectives through creating and implementing an ecosystem which includes components of advocacy, policy advise, reproductive health, ending violence against women and girls, in-and-out- of school comprehensive sexuality education programmes with community engagement, prevention of HIV/AIDS among young key populations, strengthening evidence and data, expanding partnerships and engaging young people to take action. UNFPA is also working on youth focused preventions and response to COVID-19. The volunteer will support the implementation of these adolescents and youth empowerment programmes as part of creating and strengthening the Noi ecosystem as per the below-mentioned expected tasks.

Under the direct supervision of Programme Specialist ASRH (Adolescent, Sexual and Reproductive Health) and Team Lead, Youth Team, the UN Volunteer Adolescents and Youth Development Associate will undertake the following tasks:

• Assist the youth team in coordinating with the Ministry of Education and Sports and National University of Laos for integration and implementation of comprehensive sexuality education in-and-out of school with young key populations as well as support capacity building for youth volunteers on content creation to promote key message on CSE Comprehensive Sexuality Education), SRH (Sexual and Reproductive Health) and GBV (Gender-Based Violence) through face to face or online modes; • Support the youth team in coordinating with the Lao Youth Union for promoting youth engagement as part of the Noi-Ecosystem approach, establishing youth advisory panel, providing facilitation in implementation of the Lao Youth and adolescent development strategy and implementation of mental health and psychosocial support for young people; • Support youth team in integrating and implementing sexual and reproductive health and gender equality into the rural employment and entrepreneurship promotion in collaboration with ILO, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), USAID and other donors/partners; • Support the youth team in planning, implementation and monitoring of annual work plans of youth programmes for empowering adolescents and young people and implementing youth innovation challenge; • Provide support to the youth team in developing key messages, IEC (Information, Education and Communication) materials and implementing youth awareness campaigns, in liaison with the Communication team, under Noi ecosystem, ‘Me’ My Body, My Planet, My Future Campaign’, trainings, promotion of Noi Yakhoo mobile App and MHPSS (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support) telephone helplines and COVID-19 response to reach out to young people through Facebook, website, radio and online campaigns; • Support the youth team in conducting situation analysis, research, data analysis and documenting knowledge about current and emerging trends on adolescents and youth, in particular ASRH for use in knowledge sharing and planning future strategies; • Support in organizing meetings and advocacy events with different stakeholders including International Day of the Girl Child, Adolescent Research Day, International Youth Day and preparing meeting minutes and reports; • Assist youth team in resource mobilization and expanding partnerships for youth programmes by preparing relevant documents; • Help in translating documents and support in interpreting during meetings particularly related to communications work of youth unit; • Preparation of press releases and social media messages, IEC materials and campaigns for the youth unit, in liaison with the office communication team; • Provide support in reporting and documenting good practices in implementation of youth development programmes under Noi ecosystem for empowering adolescent girls and boys towards achieving gender equality; • Support for any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the UNFPA Lao PDR.

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNFPA; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNFPA procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgment; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNFPA in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment; • 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 UNFPA’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

the thematic areas of education, sexual and reproductive health, gender and youth empowerment.

• Ability to work independently, think and work logically and work precisely with attention to detail; • Initiative, sound judgment and demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with staff members of different national and cultural backgrounds; • Previous exposure of report writing, coordinating and organising meetings, conferences, workshops and field missions and/or administrative and logistical experience is highly valued; • Computer Skills: Fully conversant with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly powerpoint and ability to quickly learn to navigate a computer system; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded;

This position will be based in the Vientiane capital. Living conditions in Vientiane Capital are comfortable but residents are expected to live in a tropical climate. Vientiane is a safe place to live in, however, single females should exert vigilance if moving alone during the dark and it is best advised to move in groups. The biggest hazards relate to traffic accidents, hence utmost care should be exerted when in traffic, especially when riding a motorbike. The Vientiane entertainment scene is still quiet and in order to avoid feeling lonely the person should be proactive in forming friendships, and hence should be ready to make the best of e.g. the UNV Buddy Programme. Houses or apartments are usually of good standards. All basic commodities can be bought in Vientiane and its immediate vicinity. COVID-19 precautions and protocols will need to be followed. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.