Youth Assistant Coordinator

Volunteering Communications & PR

Overview

Support youth engagement in health advocacy and decision-making processes.

You have:

• Demonstrated interest or experience in youth advocacy, youth participation, human rights, and health awareness.
• Good interpersonal skills, ability to connect with others and solve problems.
• Good networking and verbal/written communication skills.
• Basic understanding of managing budgets.
• Willingness to contribute and work as part of a team.
• Computer skills including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, social media, and others.
• Working knowledge of an additional UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) is considered an advantage.

Contract

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

UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, works to protect the rights of every child, especially the most disadvantaged and those hardest to reach. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive and fulfil their potential.

We provide and advocate for education, health and nutrition services. Protect children from violence and abuse. Bring clean water and sanitation to those in need. And keep them safe from climate change and disease.

The world’s largest provider of vaccines, UNICEF also runs the world’s largest humanitarian warehouse. Before, during and after emergencies, we’re on the ground with life-saving help and hope.

This UNV assignment will be part of the Youth Engagement Section at the Division of Global Communication and Advocacy in UNICEF’s Headquarters. This Section provides UNICEF offices and National Committees for UNICEF worldwide with strategic guidance and technical expertise on engaging with youth in communication, advocacy and campaigning, coupled with global coordination, monitoring, knowledge generation and knowledge management of UNICEF’s youth engagement efforts.

One of the priorities for the Youth Engagement Section over the next three years is to integrate youth engagement into UNICEF’s global advocacy strategy on child survival. This strategy aims to drive a catalytic effect in reducing child deaths by promoting equitable access to vaccines, maternal and child health, nutrition services, and community health work. As a member of this team, this UNV assignment will support the participation of young people in various activities, including trainings and capacity-building workshops, consultations on strategies, global campaigns, and co-creation initiatives. Additionally, the UNV will coordinate young people’s participation in global events and decision-making processes and support the consolidation of a global network of young champions for health rights.

This role will play a crucial part in equipping young people with the tools and skills needed to advocate for child health rights and support their active involvement in decision-making processes. The UNV will collaborate closely with various teams and Regional and Country Offices to achieve these goals.

Under the direct supervision of Digital Communication Specialist at the Youth Engagement Section, the International UN Youth Volunteer will:

• Support the creation and coordination of a global youth health council (5-8 members) • Support the coordination of the existing network of young people for health rights (+50 members) • Support the organization of periodic virtual meetings with members of the council and network for consultations, co-creation initiatives and informative sessions. • Support the participation of young people in high-level events and advocacy opportunities, which includes coordinating logistic aspects, ensuring safeguarding protocols and content.
• Support the production of toolkits and guidelines. • Support the coordination of trainings and capacity building activities. • Support monitoring of results and reporting. • Any other relevant task.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• 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; • Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• 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.

Results/Expected Outputs:

• Supported the establishment of a Global Youth Health Council: Successfully supported the creation and coordination of a council of 5-8 members, which seeks to provide a structured platform for youth leadership in health advocacy. • Supported the strengthening of the network of young health advocates: Assisted in coordinating and expanding the existing network of over 50 young people, enhancing their collective impact on health rights advocacy. • Supported the engagement of young people through virtual meetings: Helped organize regular virtual meetings for council and network members, fostering collaboration, co-creation, and information sharing. • Supported youth participation in high-level events: Facilitated the active involvement of young people in high-level events and advocacy opportunities, ensuring logistical coordination, safeguarding protocols, and relevant content. • Supported the development of comprehensive toolkits and guidelines: Contributed to the creation and dissemination of toolkits and guidelines, equipping young advocates with essential resources. • Supported trainings and capacity building: Assisted in coordinating trainings and capacity-building activities, enhancing the skills and knowledge of young health advocates. • Supported effective monitoring and reporting: Helped monitoring and reporting to track progress and outcomes, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement. • 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 peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

• Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and [UNICEF] 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 [UNICEF]’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

• Demonstrated interest or experience (1 year) in areas such as: youth advocacy, youth participation, community engagement, human rights, child rights, and health awareness initiatives or campaigns. Experience in planning and organizing will be an asset.
• Motivated to contribute towards human rights, health rights and development and to serve others; • Good interpersonal skills, ability to connect with other and solve problems. • Good networking and good verbal and written communication skills; • Good organizational skills, ability to plan and manage activities and meet deadlines. • Basic understanding of managing budgets. • Willingness to contribute and work as part of a team; • Flexible and open to learning and new experiences; • Respect for diversity and adaptability to other cultures, environments and living conditions; • Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded • Computer skills (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, social media, and others). • Working knowledge of an additional UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) is considered an advantage;

a) Geographic situation

Valencia is the 3rd largest city in Spain, after Madrid and Barcelona. And is located on Spain’s eastern coast, at the mouth of the Turia River, right in the centre of the Gulf of Valencia. It is situated on the shores of the Mediterranean, a stretch of water which has gradually forged the city's character over the centuries.

b) Climate, weather and clothing

Valencia enjoys a mild temperate Mediterranean climate. The average annual temperature is 17ºC with warm summers and mild winters. The temperature in Valencia rarely falls below 10ºC and there is only light rainfall mainly in autumn and the beginning of spring.

c) Other Remarks

Please note that the amounts can vary according to fluctuations of the monthly post adjustment. Monthly Living Allowance (Per month): USD 1902.63 Entry lump sum (one-time payment): USD 4000 Family allowance: $250 per month for one dependent. $450 per month for two or more dependents Exit allowance (for each month served, paid on completion of contract): USD 225 Medical and life insurance: Cigna Private Insurance

Leave entitlements: Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month Certified sick leave: UN Volunteers are entitled to up to 30 days of certified sick leave based on a 12-month cycle. This amount is reset every 12-month cycle. Uncertified sick leave: 7 days for 12 months and 4 days for shorter assignments Learning leave: 10 working days per consecutive 12 months (shorter assignments are prorated) Maternity Leave: 16 weeks Paternity Leave: 10 days

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Potential interview questions

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