Programme Associate, Women’s Resilience to Disasters and Climate Change

In Europe and Central Asia, UN Women RO aims to support the localization and replication of UN Women’s global Gender Equality Accelerator “Women’s Resilience to Disasters (WRD)”. The WRD leverages the voice, capacities, leadership, and agency of women and women’s organizations, and works hand in hand with governments, multilateral and bilateral organizations, and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and resilience practitioners to integrate gender dimensions into prevention, preparedness, and recovery processes and systems.

More specifically the UN Volunteer is expected to provide support in the WRD areas by engaging in planning, advocacy, communication and partnership development to increase knowledge, capacity, and support for gender-responsive and conflict sensitive disaster risk reduction and climate resilience.

Under the direct supervision of UN Women’s Women, Peace and Security Policy Advisor for Europe and Central Asia (covering Disaster Risk Reduction-DRR), the UN University Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Support UN Women ECA RO to prepare briefs and concept notes on gender responsive conflict prevention, climate change and DRR nexus, based on UN Women knowledge resources. • Contributes to knowledge management and sharing on gender responsive DRR and climate to inform policy dialogues and processes. • Assist ECARO in preparation for partners’ contributions to 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP29) by compiling necessary information, evidences and data to sue for briefs and resource materials on linkages between climate change and gender equality, conflicts and disasters. • Assist to design the communication/advocacy materials, including briefings, fact sheets, and stories on gender responsive conflict prevention, climate change and DRR nexus to inform media and general public at the regional level. • Assist to identify information opportunities, activities, approaches and platforms and 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.

Area(s) of expertise: Currently studying towards a degree in Gender/Women’s Studies, Gender and International Law, International Development, Climate Change, Sustainable Development or other relevant field.

Skills and experience description • Demonstrated interest and/or experience in Gender/Women’s Studies, Climate Change, Sustainable Development or related political or social sciences with gender/women's studies; • Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded; • Good analytical and communication skills.

☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning ☒ Communication ☒ Creativity ☒ Ethics and Values ☒ Knowledge Sharing ☒ Managing Performance ☒ Planning and Organizing ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Technological Awareness ☒ Working in Teams

• Demonstrated interest and/or experience in Gender/Women’s Studies, Climate Change, Sustainable Development or related political or social sciences with gender/women's studies; • Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded; • Good analytical and communication skills.

The UN Volunteer will be based in Istanbul. The UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging her/his own housing and other living essentials. Türkiye is an upper middle-income country, with highly urbanized cities and well-developed infrastructure systems. Most of Türkiye is assessed to be at security level 1-Minimal. Security level 2 Low applies to Ankara and Istanbul. Seismic activity remains one of the primary hazards in Türkiye. Türkiye’s population of nearly 81 million. Turkish is the official language. English predominates as the second language. This assignment will be in Istanbul, which has a population of around 15M people, and straddles the European and Asian continents. There is a lively and large group of international community. Istanbul is a UN Hub for the Europe and Central Asia Regional Offices of several UN agencies, including UNDP, UNFPA, UN Women among others. Istanbul International Airport and Sabiha Gokcen Airport have direct connections with all European, Central Asian, and global cities. Istanbul provides modern services and entertainment opportunities and an elaborate medical services system. Healthcare is exceptionally good with various public and private hospitals with experienced doctors and medical staff, some of whom speak English. No specific vaccination is required to enter Turkey. Considering the rapidly changing pandemic situation in Istanbul, travelers should consult the receiving entity or the partner UN Agency, or UNDSS about the latest travel requirements/restrictions.

Please see the summary of UN Volunteer entitlements below. For further information, kindly review “UN Volunteers Unified Conditions of Service” document.

UNV entitlements for International UN University Volunteer: • Volunteer Living Allowance-VLA (per month): approximately USD 1555 • Accommodation supplement: At the rate of 20% of VLA • Entry lump sum (one-time payment): USD 4000 • Exit allowance (per month): USD 225 (when successful completion of the assignment) • Health, dental, life and disability insurance: Cigna Private Insurance • Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month • Uncertified sick leave: 7 days for 12 months and 4 days for shorter assignments • Free access to the different learning platforms and UNV network