Organization Mission

The UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund, promotes gender equality, reproductive health, youth empowerment. The organization was created in 1969, the same year the UN General Assembly declared “parents have the exclusive right to determine freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children”. Together with partners, UNFPA works in 150 countries, and in Ukraine since 1997. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person”s potential is fulfilled.

UNFPA in Ukraine works for:
• creating conditions in which every young person can fulfil the potential, lead a healthy lifestyle, know their reproductive rights and take an active social life;
• conducting sexual and reproductive health campaigns to improve access to health and care services and improve its quality, especially for young people;
• combating gender stereotypes in society (through the media, compulsory education for civil servants on gender mainstreaming, the improvement of national gender policy and anti-discrimination expertise of school textbooks);
• providing information and services to gender-based violence survivors through the creation of crisis centres, supporting the work of mobile teams of psycho-social and support, providing expert support and raising general awareness in society.

Context

The war in Ukraine has triggered one of the fastest-growing refugee emergencies in history, and the largest since World War II in Europe. The escalation of the conflict has caused civilian casualties, destruction of civilian infrastructures, including health facilities and maternities, disruption of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services and supply chain, and led to an increase in Gender Based Violence (GBV) including Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV). Under the supervision of the Head of Communications and the Emergency Response Coordinator, the Communications and External Relations Associate will work in close collaboration with regional and country office staff, implementing partners, and other agencies to support in the development of communications activities, provide knowledge sharing, coordinate in area inter-agency groups, and support field and IP coordination.

Key Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Head of Communications (Crisis Communications Specialist), and working in close collaboration with, and under the guidance of, the Emergency Response Coordinator, the Communications and External Relations Associate will support the collection of multimedia content from the field, provide recommendations on response gaps, and contribute to advocacy efforts for humanitarian operations in the Southern Oblasts. Specifically, the Communications and External Relations Associate will be responsible for the following key functions:

Assist Crisis Communications Specialist and the Emergency Response Coordinator in:
• Creating compelling content, including articles, social media posts, and multimedia materials, toraise awareness and support for UNFPA”s initiatives.•Rapidly responding to Kyiv office with communications materials during a crisis.
• Contributing original high-quality photo and video assets to UNFPA’s multimedia bank.
• Collaborating with internal teams and external partners to identify storytelling opportunitiesand develop impactful narratives that highlight UNFPA”s work.
• Monitoring local and media coverage and public discourse related to UNFPA’s mandate andprovide timely analysis and recommendations to enhance UNFPA”s communication efforts.
• Liaising with partners and operational organizations on GBV and SRH response in closeconsultation with the GBV Programme Manager and SRH Specialist;
• Liaising with Implementing Partners operating in relevant Oblasts, in consultation with IP FocalPoints;
• Supporting in arranging meetings, roundtables, seminars and other events related to the work ofcommunication and external relations in for the Emergency Response Team in the South, takingnotes, and producing related reports;
• Following-up on the implementation of assigned tasks (including meetings, reporting and others);
• Assisting with written and oral translations and interpretation when needed;
• Performing other tasks as assigned;

Required Skills and Experience

• 3 years of experience in the national and/or international level in communications, media, or social media, or other relevant programmes; Experience working in the UN or other international development organization is an asset;
• Experience with writing for general public audiences, photography and graphic design, with the ability to create designs for digital media purposes in open source graphic design programmes, such as Canva and Adobe CC. Advanced digital content creation skills and experience in short-video production is an asset.
• Experience creating shareable, compelling, visual contents blending video, photo, and effects to increase engagement and growth, including short videos and stories.
• Experience of working in/with the area of social protection, and humanitarian response.
• Experience in GBV and in gender mainstreaming will be a strong asset;
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
• Ability to swiftly create high-quality content and posts under tight deadlines, especially in emergency preparation scenarios.
• Experience working broadcast journalism or similar experience an advantage.
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;
• 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;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word,etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
• Sound security awareness;
• Have affinity with or interest in communications, innovation, partnership volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Core Competencies

• 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 judgement; 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 indecision-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.

Living Conditions

As it is a national UN Volunteer”s assignment, the UN volunteer shall organize his/her accommodation by themselves.

The contract lasts for the period indicated in the vacancy with the possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. This is a full-time contract.

Allowances:
• Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): A Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) USD 1587 (equivalent in UAH) is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities, and normal cost of living expenses. This includes Well-Being Differentials for the period while the ICSC applies hardship classification to duty stations in Ukraine as “E”.
• USD 400 entry lump sum, one-time payment.
• USD 101.78 Exit allowance (paid on successful completion of the assignment) for each month served, paid on completion of contract

Medical and life insurance:
• Medical insurance: The UN Volunteer and eligible PFU dependents will receive UNV provided medical insurance coverage. Coverage for UN Volunteers begins from the Commencement of Service and normally ceases one month after the last day of the UN Volunteer Contract date.
• Life Insurance: UN Volunteers are covered by life insurance for the duration of the UN Volunteer assignment. If a UN Volunteer dies during the UN Volunteer assignment, the eligible designated beneficiaries will be entitled to receive a life insurance lump sum.

Leave entitlements:
• Annual leave:  UN Volunteers accrue an entitlement to 2.5 days of Annual Leave per completed month of the UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave up to a maximum of 30 days is carried over in case of a contract extension within the same UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave may not be carried over in case of reassignment or a new assignment.
• Learning leave: Subject to supervisor approval and exigencies of service, UN Volunteers may request up to ten working days of Learning Leave per consecutive 12 months of the UN Volunteer assignment, starting with the Commencement of Service date, provided the Learning Leave is used within the contract period.
• 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: UN Volunteers receive seven days of uncertified sick leave working days in a calendar year. This amount will be reset at the established interval period.