Regional Coordinator, International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026)

Volunteering Communications & PR

Overview

Support outreach, partnership building, and advocacy for IVY 2026 in LAC region.

You have:

• Minimum 7 years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level in stakeholder engagement, advocacy, programme management, resource mobilization, or partnership building.
• Knowledge of the Latin America and the Caribbean regional context, including volunteerism trends, policy frameworks, and development challenges.
• Working experience with a national government in Latin America and the Caribbean region will be an asset.
• Experience in programme management in developing countries is desirable.
• Strong track record in establishing and maintaining partnerships with government institutions, United Nations entities, and civil society organizations.
• Strong knowledge of and sound experience in working with volunteer programmes, NGOs, CSOs, and VIOs.
• Have affinity with or interest in volunteer mobilization and engagement and volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the United Nations System.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Fluency in English is required; knowledge of a regional language is an asset.
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

Contract

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

The UNV Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC) provides oversight and strategic guidance to the UNV Field Units in the region and is accountable for the placement of UN Volunteers mobilized for United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes focused on peace, development and humanitarian needs. The UNV Regional Office represents and strategically positions UNV and brings UNV’s services and solutions closer to its partners from governments, United Nations entities, civil society, and the private sector.

Reporting to the IVY 2026 Secretariat’s Team Lead in the External Relations and Communications Section (ERCS) at UNV Headquarters in Bonn, Germany, and matrixed to the Regional Portfolio Manager, the IVY 2026 Regional Coordinator will support the planning and implementation of IVY 2026 initiatives across the Latin America and the Caribbean region. This role will focus on outreach, partnership building, and advocacy efforts to promote volunteerism and maximise the impact of IVY 2026.

Outreach, advocacy and partnership building: • Lead a stakeholder mapping exercise for IVY 2026, in collaboration with the Regional Portfolio Manager and the Regional Office. • Conduct regional outreach efforts to promote IVY 2026 with relevant stakeholders in the Latin America and the Caribbean region, fostering engagement with governments, United Nations partner entities, civil society organizations (CSOs), volunteer-involving organizations (VIOs), private sector and academia. • Strengthen regional partnerships and knowledge-sharing on IVY 2026 through networking events, webinars, and thematic discussions for an external audience. • Represent UNV in relevant regional forums, events, and consultations with external stakeholders to advocate for the implementation of IVY 2026. • Adapt communication materials developed by the IVY Secretariat to ensure their relevance and impact within the region, and identify opportunities for special communications initiatives that help to increase the visibility of IVY 2026, in collaboration with the regional communications team. • Provide guidance and practical support to UNV Field Units in promoting IVY 2026 at the national level.

Coordination and implementation: • Contribute to the designation of national IVY 2026 Focal Points by Governments in the region, and support broader stakeholder engagement in and the effective functioning of the national committees they coordinate at the country-level. • Facilitate networking and experience exchange on IVY 2026 among external stakeholders, including governments, United Nations entities, CSOs, VIOs, private sector and academia across the region. • Support UNV ROLAC and UNV Field Units in integrating and promoting IVY 2026 within their ongoing initiatives and network. • Engage in peer exchange with other Regional Coordinators to align strategies, share insights, and strengthen cross-regional collaboration on IVY 2026 implementation.

Monitoring, reporting and knowledge management: • Track and evaluate the progress and impact of IVY 2026 initiatives implemented by relevant external stakeholders across the region. • Collect and analyze data on volunteer engagement and partnership building as a result of IVY 2026. • Prepare reports, briefing notes, and factsheets on IVY 2026 based on regional and country experiences, and lessons learned. • Support knowledge management efforts by documenting and disseminating successful stories and best practices and facilitating input by relevant external stakeholders to UNV’s Knowledge Portal on the International Volunteer Year.

Expected Outcomes: • National IVY 2026 Focal Points and Committees established by Governments in the ROLAC region and actively leading volunteerism initiatives. • Successful execution of regional advocacy campaigns, driving increased awareness and engagement in IVY 2026 by external and internal stakeholders. • Strengthened regional partnerships as a result of strong collaboration for IVY 2026. • Comprehensive documentation of best practices, success stories, and lessons learned in relation to IVY 2026 to inform future initiatives. • Enhanced capacity of national and regional stakeholders to sustain volunteerism promotion efforts beyond IVY 2026.

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity and innovation • Strategic thinking and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism and integrity

• Minimum 7 years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level in stakeholder engagement, advocacy, programme management, resource mobilization, or partnership building. • Knowledge of the Latin America and the Caribbean regional context, including volunteerism trends, policy frameworks, and development challenges. • Working experience with a national government in Latin America and the Caribbean region will be an asset. • Experience in programme management in developing countries is desirable. • Strong track record in establishing and maintaining partnerships with government institutions, United Nations entities, and civil society organizations. • Strong knowledge of and sound experience in working with volunteer programmes, NGOs, CSOs, and VIOs. • Have affinity with or interest in volunteer mobilization and engagement and volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the United Nations System. • Excellent oral and written communication skills. • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) • Fluency in English is required; knowledge of a regional language is an asset • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

Reasonable Accommodation: ☒Yes

Accessibility measures in place: The United Nations system wishes to create an inclusive workplace and commits to taking appropriate measures to enable persons with disabilities to access and benefit equally from employment and other engagement opportunities such as volunteering, by providing reasonable accommodation. In this context, “reasonable accommodation” means necessary and appropriate modifications and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms [Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 2].

Panama City is a family duty station and considered to be a safe place to live. However, like in any city around the world, it is always good to be aware of your surroundings and to be alert. There is a wide range of goods available in Panama and many modern shopping complexes and department stores and designer stores. There are suitable residential areas, accommodation options, good hospitals, schools, universities, banks, and a wide selection of restaurants. There are beaches, mountains and national parks in the rainforest that are said to have the broadest range of flora and fauna in the world. Panama does not have any serious health concerns to worry about, however, it is important to note that in some areas such as the Darien province, it is recommended to take precautions for malaria. The Centers for Disease Control website also recommends yellow fever vaccination for travel to Darien province and the San Blas islands.

Weather: Panama has two seasons, the dry season, which is from January until late April or early May, and the rainy season which is the rest of the year. The daytime temperature ranges between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit with the evenings being cooler by 5 to 10 degrees. The average humidity is 70%. Average cost of living: USD1,120. Currency: Panama Balboa; pegged 1:1 with the US dollar.

As this is an International UN Volunteer Expert assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

Benefits and Entitlements: The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service. Contingent on specific eligibility criteria, location of the volunteer assignment and contractual type and category, the payment of allowances will begin from the date of Commencement of Service.

Monthly living Allowance (per month) is around USD 2624.59 Expertise differential (per month) is around USD 1049.83 Lump Sum (one-time payment) USD 4000 Exit Allowance (for each month served paid on completion of assignment) $225 for each month served Medical and Life Insurance Coverage

Leave entitlements: Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month Certified sick leave: 30 days Uncertified sick leave/family leave: 7 days Learning leave: 10 working days per consecutive 12 months Maternity Leave: 16 weeks Paternity Leave: 10 days

You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator . The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org