Young Innovator Fellow

Contract

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

Enabling young people to realise their full social, economic and human potential is a key aspect of UNFPA’s mandate. Our Fellows are innovative young people from around the world who have demonstrated commitment to development issues within their communities. The Young Innovators Fellowship programme brings young people into UNFPA with a dedicated focus on both providing a youth perspective and driving innovation. This exciting opportunity sees fellows undergo leadership training and support innovation efforts in UNFPA Regional or Country Offices in a capacity relevant to their experience. Our goal is to provide fellows with the tools, skill sets, international experience and exposure to innovation to empower them to realise their career goals, thus building national capacity. Fellows in turn provide innovative insights and ideas that will enable us to be better aligned with development issues in their community.

The UNFPA Young Innovator Fellow will contribute to UNFPA’s innovation priorities in a number of ways, including strengthening the innovation architecture; supporting the scale-up of innovations; forming partnerships; strengthening financing for innovation; and expanding the communities and culture for innovation.

UNFPA Laos is implementing the Essential Service Package (ESP), a tool and guideline to provide essential services by the health, social, and justice sectors for the survivors of violence, through expanding the protection shelter in several provinces; strengthening the capacity of the social and health sectors; establishing the national and sub-national coordination mechanism to provide quality and timely manner services for the survivors of violence as well as establishing of monitoring and reporting framework and system for Gender-Based Violence.

Under the direct supervision of Gender Programme Analyst, the Fellow will undertake the following tasks:

● Support the UNFPA Lao CO Gender team to identify and establish partnerships with potential stakeholders, including private sector, women-led organizations, disability organizations, INGOs, CSOs, media agencies etc.
● Consult with UNFPA Lao Innovation focal points for innovation initiatives that are initiated by HQs and in further consultation with UNFPA Lao Transformer team to launch and follow up relevant ones in Laos.
● Document innovatively for a variety of internal and external communication platforms the implementation of the ESP, with a view to showcasing the impact and engaging new partners. ● Research and identify innovative low cost solutions for collecting and analysing GBV data from hotlines/call center and for indicators of National Plan on Ending Violence Against Women (EVAW).

The assignment will include mission travel to New York, once for a capstone to conclude the fellowship.

☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Building Trust ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Communication ☒ Creativity ☒ Empowering Others ☒ Ethics and Values ☒ Integrity ☒ Professionalism ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Self-Management ☒ Technological Awareness ☒ Working in Teams

or demonstrated interest working with digital technologies or online platforms for programmatic areas (e.g., education, health, social development), and dedication to development issues in areas of UNFPA’s mandate through either volunteer experience, work experience, or youth network affiliations. ● Secondary education completion and/or some tertiary education with qualifications in gender or women’s studies, law and human rights, social justice, media and communication, social innovation, or a related field ● Demonstrated, or clear idea of, delivery of UNFPA’s mandate in an innovative way ● Ability to identify and propose innovative solutions to problems ● Prior experience engaging with different stakeholders or entities, such as with the private sector, social enterprises, academia, the media, a plus ● Special consideration will be given to indigenous people, persons with disabilities and LGBTQI candidates

The position will be based in the capital, Vientiane. Living conditions in Vientiane are comfortable, but residents must make concessions due to the tropical climate and under-developed infrastructure, including health facilities. Vientiane is a relatively safe place to live in, with violent crime incidents infrequent. However, single females should exert vigilance if moving alone during the dark and it is best advised to move in groups. The most significant hazards relate to traffic accidents. Hence utmost care should be exerted when in traffic, especially when riding a motorbike. Volunteers must have a motorbike licence to ride a motorbike in Lao PDR. The Vientiane entertainment scene is still quiet, and 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. There is a wide range of housing options in Vientiane located within easy reach of the UNFPA office and the UN House. Houses or apartments are usually of good standards. All essential commodities can be bought in Vientiane and its immediate vicinity. House shares with 3-4 people are most common, but single apartments are also available.