Job Title: Associate Political Affairs/Public Information
Officer
Organization: United Nations Volunteers (UNV)
Host entity: UNRCCA
Assignment country: Turkmenistan
Expected start date: 06/11/2023
Sustainable Development Goal: 16. Peace, justice and strong
institutions
Volunteer category: International UN Volunteer Specialist
Type: Onsite
Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments: 1
Duty stations: Ashkhabad
Details
Mission and objectives
The United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy
for Central Asia (UNRCCA) was established in December 2007 in Ashgabat,
Turkmenistan, at the initiative of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It is a Special Political Mission under the
Department of Peacebuilding and Political Affairs (DPPA) of the United Nations
Secretariat. In addition to its Headquarters in Ashgabat, UNRCCA maintains a
small presence in each of the other four capitals of the region. The Centre is
mandated by an exchange of letters between the Secretary-General and the
President of the Security Council (S/2007/279 and S/2007/280). UNRCCA is active
in promoting preventive diplomacy among the five countries of the region and,
increasingly, Afghanistan. The Centre annually organizes meetings for
high-level officials of the region, events for regional experts and others.
UNRCCA also partners with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism to
support the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism
Strategy in Central Asia. Another key aspect of the Centre’s work is to promote
regional cooperation on trans-boundary water management in Central Asia. UNRCCA
also promotes the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in the
region.
Context
The United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy
for Central Asia (UNRCCA) is a special political mission of the United Nations
Organization established in 2007 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, upon the initiative
of the five Central Asian states. The role of the Centre is to identify and
address existing and potential threats to regional stability. In addition, the
Centre facilitates partnerships between the governments of Central Asia in
cooperation with regional and international organizations. At the UN Security
Council (SC) consultations on Central Asia on 24 January 2019, most Council
members welcomed UNRCCA plans to intensify efforts in reaching out to young
people. Following the Security Council welcome, the UNRCCA Youth Initiative,
the Preventive Diplomacy Academy, was launched in 2019 to work with young
people across Central Asia and Afghanistan to help unlock their enormous
potential to support peace and security and promote the Youth, Peace and
Security (YPS) agenda in the Region. The efforts align with the Strategy's
First priority (Engagement, Participation and Advocacy) and Fifth priority
(Peace and Resilience Building), as well as with the prevention elements of
Security Council resolutions 2250 (2015) and 2419 (2018) on Youth, Peace and
Security. The Preventive Diplomacy Academy (PDA) aims to build linkages between
UNRCCA and young people throughout Central Asia and Afghanistan. It seeks to
spark a culture of prevention among young people, reducing the risk of conflict
and paying peace dividends far into the future. UNRCCA is confident that the
involvement of the Region's youth in such activities will significantly contribute
to implementing the UNRCCA mandate on preventive diplomacy. This United Nations
Volunteers (UNV) assignment is part of the UNRCCA Preventive Diplomacy Academy
project activity.
Task description
Timely, reliable and field-driven cooperation of preventive
diplomacy and communications are critical to UNRCCA’s overall regional
activities. This position is located in the UNRCCA Political Affairs Unit in
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. UNRCCA uses preventive diplomacy and communications to
create awareness among Central Asian state institutions, civil society, mass
media, and international and regional partners (inside and outside the region)
on projects and other activities in accordance with its Mandate Under the
immediate supervision of the designated Political Affairs Officer, the
Associate Political Affairs/Public Information Officer reports to the UNRCCA
Political Affairs Officer and is responsible for the following duties: •
Support the UNRCCA Substantive Programmatic Activity, among other things, by
following up on implementation, coordinating with partners and UN Country Teams
in the region, accessing regional networks, etc.; • Monitor and analyse
political developments in Central Asia and identify regional trends
particularly related to youth and gender issues; • Proactively create editorial
content (stories, photo galleries, advocacy images, campaigns, quote cards,
video, graphics, etc.) and adapt for digital platforms; • Revise the initial
drafts/compiles by Public Information Unit communication products for target
audiences; • In consultation with others, identify and propose information
opportunities, activities and approaches, considering the situation/topic and
target audience; • Identifies key contacts/constituencies and opportunities for
strategic partnerships to facilitate communication efforts and maintain working
relationships with the same; • Organizes or participates in conferences,
seminars, press briefings, interviews, etc.; prepares briefing materials for
officials before they participate in such events; • Responds to a variety of
inquiries and information requests internally and externally; prepares related
correspondence; • Organizes the clearance, production and distribution of
content material; conducts photo and graphic research; implement innovations in
the production and publication of UNRCCA content; • Network and build
relationships with relevant local and regional actors, including government,
civil society, youth leaders, the international community and academia; Develop
and maintain a database of youth agencies, organizations and leaders to
facilitate UNRCCA’s outreach on youth-related issues; • Provide support to the
mainstreaming of programmatic activity issues throughout UNRCCA’s work; •
Participate in conferences, seminars and academic fora as appropriate; •
Support the monitoring of results against strategic outcomes and as per
approved plans; • Contribute to reporting obligations for donors and outreach
to new donors, including the development of resource mobilization strategies; •
Work with the regional office of UN Volunteers to better integrate UNV’s work
and initiatives into UNRCCA’s preventive diplomacy work; • Participate/Support
in social media campaigns undertaken by the Public Information Unit and/or in
liaison with UNHQ, including the production of visuals, animated videos, clips,
photo stories, photo exhibitions or any other multimedia content; • Participate
actively in the preparation of messaging for information and awareness-raising
campaigns; • Work with the regional office of UN Volunteers to better integrate
UNV’s work and initiatives into UNRCCA’s preventive diplomacy work. Perform
other related duties as required. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: •
Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by
reading relevant UNV and external publications and taking 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 reports on UN
Volunteer actions, results and opportunities using UNV’s Volunteer Reporting
Application; • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit
them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; •
Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage
relevant local individuals; • Creates databases that track project progress and
provides other information relevant to assigned area. Results/Expected Outputs:
• Assistance to the development of viable youth-focused preventive diplomacy
initiatives in Central Asia; • Timely, responsive and high-quality delivery of
coordination and support to on-going and new programmes or other initiatives
related to preventive diplomacy; Strengthened engagement with civil society
actors on issues relating to youth and preventive diplomacy; • Mutually
reinforcing partnerships with relevant Government counterparts, UN
organizations, CSOs, and with bilateral and non-traditional donors developed
and maintained; • High-quality written materials and digital content; •
Effective organization of various meetings and workshops; • Compliance with
donor requirements and reporting on results monitored and supported;
Eligibility criteria
Age
27 - 80
Nationality
Candidate must be a national of a country other than the
country of assignment.
Requirements
Required experience
3 years of experience in public information, journalism,
political affairs, international relations, public administration or related
area is required.
Area(s) of expertise
Communication, Development programmes, Translation and
interpretation
Driving license
-
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required Russian, Level: Fluent,
Required
Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in communication, journalism,
political affairs, international relations, public administration, or related
field. Solid computer skills, including full proficiency in various MS Office
applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and other IT applications and office
technology equipment.
Competencies and values
• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity
• Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism •
Self-management
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
Turkmenistan is situated in the very heart of Central Asia,
and an independent state, founded in 1991 after the disintegration of the USSR;
five years later it attained a unique political status, which was recognized by
the United Nations Organization. Ashgabat is the capital city of the Central Asian
country Turkmenistan. The city's name Ashgabat comes from a Persian word “eshg”
and “abad”, translated as ‘the city of love’. Ashgabat is also the largest
industrial, scientific and cultural center of Turkmenistan. Within national
borders, population density drops drastically to an average 29 Turkmen per
square mile (11 per square kilometer) for Turkmenistan overall. Ashgabat is
recognized for having the world’s greatest concentration of white marble
buildings by the Guinness Book of Records. Turkmenistan's cuisine is very
similar to the other Central Asian countries and predominantly comprises rice
and vegetables and various meats. Locals like to drink "gok chai"-
green tea with dried fruit. Herbs may also be added to the tea to give it flavours
such as mint. Ashgabat has a cold desert climate; cool, short winters and hot,
dry summers. Turkmenistan is a unique country and UNRCCA is a unique UN Entity
in the region. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but
also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and
commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme
that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to
achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part
of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to
combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights
and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender
identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability,
pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be
subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2
(Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy
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