Mission and objectives

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN agency that promotes volunteerism as a vehicle for peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism is an effective way to engage communities in tackling development challenges, transforming the pace and nature of development.

Context

UNV Field Units (FUs) are primarily responsible for the mobilization and placement of UN Volunteers in UN agencies, funds, and programs engaged in peace, development, and humanitarian needs. They represent and position UNVs in their respective countries and facilitate access to UNV services for their partners (governments, UN entities, civil society, and the private sector).

Task Description

The Communications Assistant will play a key role in supporting UNV’s communications efforts in the Sahel, acting as the focal point to coordinate activities in Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Mali, and Mauritania. Under the daily supervision of the UNV Country Coordinator in Burkina Faso and the overall coordination of the Regional Communications Analyst based in Dakar, the UNV Communications Assistant will perform the following tasks: Communications Coordination: • Serve as the communications focal point for the countries concerned to support the regional communications plan, in line with UNV’s communications strategy. • In consultation with UNV Field Units, coordinate and implement the regional communications plan and activities across the portfolio. • Facilitate information sharing and collaboration between UNV field units (Program Managers/UNV Support Staff, Country Coordinators/Program Assistants) and the regional communications team. • Ensure that communications activities are co-branded with UN partners, in accordance with their mandates and with UNV support. • Support, monitor, and report on the celebration of international days within the portfolio, including International Volunteer Day (IVD). • Conduct targeted communications monitoring missions in relevant countries, in consultation with the Country Coordinator and the Regional Office Communications Analyst. • Support targeted talent development activities through communications/advocacy, in consultation with the Regional Talent Acquisition Analyst. • Content Creation and Storytelling: • In close collaboration with the Regional Communications Analyst, support the development and dissemination of engaging narrative content, including articles, success stories, and case studies, for UNV stakeholders (UN partners, UNV field units, and UN Volunteers) in portfolio countries. • Collect and document testimonials from targeted UN Volunteers and UN partners, highlighting their experiences and the impact of UNV’s contributions. • Produce compelling narrative content to showcase the contributions and achievements of UN Volunteers and the communities they support (country newsletters, web pages, etc.). • Ensure all content complies with UNV guidelines and effectively reflects the organization’s mission and values. • Social Media Management: • Manage and update active social media accounts related to the portfolio. • In close collaboration with the regional communications team, create engaging content (posts, stories, short videos, reels, etc.) to increase the visibility of the UNV program and public engagement.• Analyze social media trends and formulate recommendations to improve online presence. • Gather field stories and visuals to produce creative content for various platforms. • Conduct a monthly analysis of social media performance and propose recommendations to strengthen reach and impact. • Prepare visuals for social media and tailored emails for calls for applications.  Reporting and Analysis: • On a quarterly basis, provide a report on portfolio communication activities. • Provide input and recommendations for regional communication reports and analyses. Expected Results: • 25% improvement in the visibility of the UNV program in portfolio countries. • Production of narrative content per country per month + 30% increase in engagement. • 20% increase in social media engagement. • Implementation of communication plans with a 15% improvement in audience interaction. • Strengthened collaboration with the Field Units and the Regional Office (+20% efficiency). • Monthly documentation of testimonials, aiming for a 25% increase in positive feedback and media coverage. • 30% increase in inclusivity and diversity in communication content.

Essential skills: • Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills • Strong coordination skills • Fluency in French and English • Excellent written and oral communication skills • Excellent organizational and prioritization skills • Analytical ability to interpret social media metrics • Good understanding of the socio-political context of the Sahel Additional requirements for UN Volunteers: • Enhance their understanding of volunteering through UNV publications and participation in program activities • Learn about and build upon traditional/local forms of volunteering • Reflect on the quality and type of volunteer work undertaken • Contribute to articles/lessons learned for UNV platforms • Promote or advise local groups on using online volunteering and encourage the use of the UNV Online Volunteering platform where possible

Living conditions and remarks