Oct 25, 2017 - other parts of the country, which provides plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities and tropical na
UN VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT FJIR000034--Senior Communications Officer The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers.In most cultures volunteerism is deeply embedded in longestablished, ancient traditions of sharing and support within the communities. In this context, UN Volunteers take part in various forms of volunteerism and play a role in development and peace together with co-workers, host agencies and local communities.In all assignments, UN Volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct. Engaging in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, as well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make the time they spend as UN Volunteers even more rewarding and productive.
General Information Country of Assignment
Fiji
Host Institute
World Health Organization
Volunteer Category
International Specialist
Number of Volunteer
1
Duration
12 months
Expected Starting Date
Immediate
Duty Station
Suva [FJI]
Assignment Place
Family Duty Station
Assignment Place Remark Assignment with family Living Conditions Fiji, one of the larger countries of the South Pacific region, has a relatively high level of human development and is one of the most developed economics in the region. After nearly a century as British colony, Fiji became independent in 1970. Its multi-ethnic population, which numbers approximately 900,000, is growing slowly due to a moderately low level of fertility and a high level of emigration. The economy rests primarily on sugar production and tourism, but is becoming more diverse, with manufacturing now an important sector of employment. The unit of currency is Fiji Dollar. Fiji comprises of approximately 330 islands, approximately third of which are inhabited. Fiji covers about 1.3 million square kilometers of the South Pacific Ocean. The two major islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. The capital city is Suva and is located on the South Eastern side of the main island of Viti Levu. Fiji's population is made up of a mixture of native Melanesian and Polynesian islanders, and a blend of Indian, European, Chinese, Rotuman and Rabi islanders making it a rich and vibrant mix of cultures, sights, sounds and exotic island delicacies. English is spoken widely on the Island and it is the common language of communication although the native indigenous Fijian language is spoken by many as is the Hindi language.
25 Oct 2017
Page 1 of 6
Fiji enjoys a mild and stable climate most of the year, due to the large expanses of open water that surround its islands. The wet season extends from November to April, but rain falls throughout the year. Tropical cyclones can blow up between November and April, although they are rarely dangerous. Fiji enjoys year round tropical temperatures of between 25-29 degrees with generally high humidity, making it a perfect location for sun-lovers. Suva, the capital of Fiji, has a population of approximately 141,000, and it is a multiracial and multicultural city. Suva is the largest city in the whole of the region, but remains easy-going and friendly. It has reasonably modern facilities including two large hospitals, sporting facilities, restaurants and supermarkets. Modest accommodation is readily available in Suva, but availability of small apartments is limited; an open mind and flexibility come in handy when looking for housing in Suva. The public transport is quite good: local busses run every day of the week, and taxis are affordable. Public transport is available also for exploring and visiting other parts of the country, which provides plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities and tropical nature. Fiji along with many other Pacific islands is known for being one of the friendliest nations in the world. However, security precautions should be taken at all times. Suva is a safe city, where common sense takes a long way in avoiding risks such as pick pockets and house burglaries. International UN Volunter will work in the WHO Representative Office in the South Pacific/Division of Pacific Technical Support based at 4/F Provident Plaza One, Ellery St., Downtown Boulevard, Suva, Fiji.
Assignment Details Assignment Title
Senior Communications Officer
Organizational Context & Project Description The World Health Organization (WHO or the Organization) works through over 150 offices worldwide to build better, healthier futures for all people. WHO works with the ministries of health, government institutions, the United Nations system, health and development agencies and other partners to contribute towards the attainment of the highest possible levels of health by all people. WHO is the specialized agency for global health within the United Nations system. WHO acts as the directing and coordinating authority on international health work. Specifically, the main categories of work of the Organization include: communicable diseases, noncommunicable diseases, promoting health through the life-course, health systems, preparedness, surveillance and response and the corporate services/enabling functions. Further, the new WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) has been established to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks through addressing the full risk management cycle, including working before emergencies occur to prevent and prepare, support national response to emergencies, and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. Pacific Island Countries and territories are considered Priority 2 in the WHE Programme considering its high vulnerability from infectious disease outbreaks and environmental hazards, including extreme weather events, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes, making it essential to have a Senior Communications Officer who can communicate in a professional, timely and reliable manner to be able to make an effective reach of the public health related information. In 2010, in addition to the existing WHO Representative Office for the South Pacific, the WHO Western Pacific Region established the Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) based in Suva, Fiji to provide tailored technical support to the 21 Pacific Island Countries and Territories. In the Pacific WHO technical assistance is provided through 7 WHO country offices located in Fiji, Kiribati, Northern Micronesia, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. DPS coordinates a holistic and Pacific island-specific approaches to health issues and has improved responsiveness to Pacific island issues, having a clear communication channel through the WHO focal points by country/area. On this note, strengthening WHO’s efforts in the communication arena is essential in order to proactively provide timely, reliable and efficient public health related information to Pacific Island Countries, partners, communities and individuals and to promote WHO’s work. Therefore, having a Senior Communications Officer is needed to lead DPS’ communications efforts to provide timely, accurate and reliable information to Pacific governments, partners, communities and individuals, to enhance the profile and corporate image of WHO in the Pacific, to assert WHO as the leader in public health for policy, guidance, and standards in the Pacific, to raise the visibility and awareness of WHO's work in the Pacific; and to identify and publicize WHO’s best practices and success stories.
25 Oct 2017
Page 2 of 6
Sustainable Development Goals
3. Good Health and Well-being
UNV Focus Area
Securing access to basic social services
Task description Under the direct supervision of the WHO Representative for the South Pacific/Director, Pacific Technical Support, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: Provide advices to WRSP/DPS and coordinate the communication team in the area of communications and strategic advocacy activities, in line with the WHO’s vision and strategy for the Pacific (new MCCS), and with the objective of proactively providing timely, reliable and efficient public health related information to Pacific Islands Member States, partners and communities; using WHO’s voice in the media to influence outcomes of policy and legislative processes; and generating appropriate public visibility of the WHO’s role and work. As part of this area of work, the incumbent will develop and oversee the execution of a WRSP/DPS communication strategy, with a particular focus on expanding the media through which WHO engages with the public in the Pacific including through social media; Revitalise and lead the WHO Pacific communication network; Support WRSP/DPS in the management of WHO’s relationship with the Governments in the Pacific, as well as management and oversight of WHO’s relationships with other externalpartners and stakeholders, including UN agencies, international and national NGOs, and academic institutions; and Perform other duties as required. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:- Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerismby reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNVactivities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day)- Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms ofvolunteerism in the host country- Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they areundertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities- Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNVpublications/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, orencourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV OnlineVolunteering service whenever technically possible. Results/Expected Outputs An efficient and Pacific-tailored DPS communication strategy has been developed; An implementation plan for the DPS communications strategy has been developed; The DPS communication Strategy is implemented and monitored/evaluated regularly; A strong communication team is in place and works efficiently through its network of focal points in the WHO country Offices based in the Pacific; Quality reports, background papers, situation reports, briefing notes and public information materials are produced in a timely manner; Contents for multimedia is regularly produced and the website is regularly updated; • The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counter-parts, including Implementing Partners (IPs); • 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 dur-ing the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed
Qualifications/Requirements Required Degree Level
Master degree or equivalent
Education - Additional Comments
25 Oct 2017
Page 3 of 6
Post graduate degree in communications or in other relevant fields Years of Required Work Experience
120 months
Experience Description Minimum of 10 years work experience in communications both in national and international levels with at least 4 years’ experience operating in a managerial capacity in a public health setting. Experience in successfully managing health communications activities and programmes, including social media. Language Skills ENG (Mandatory) , Level - Fluent DoA Expertise Public information and reporting Mandatory Additional Requirements for Area of Expertise Working experience in WHO and working experience in the Pacific are an advantage. Need Driving Licence
No
Competencies & Values Adaptability and Flexibility Client Orientation Commitment and Motivation Communication Ethics and Values Integrity Planning and Organizing Respect for Diversity Working in Teams
Conditions of Service and other information Condition of Service
Click here to view Conditions of Service
Conditions of Service for International Specialist:
The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.
A UN Volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) which is composed of the Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) and a Family Allowance (FA) for those with dependents (maximum three).
25 Oct 2017
Page 4 of 6
The Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications and other basic needs. The VLA can be computed by applying the Post-Adjustment Multiplier (PAM) to the VLA base rate of US$ 1,587. The VLA base rate is a global rate across the world, while the PAM is duty station/country-specific and fluctuates on a monthly basis according to the cost of living. This method ensures that international UN Volunteers have comparable purchasing power at all duty stations irrespective of varying costs of living. The PAM is established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and is published at the beginning of every month on the ICSC website http://icsc.un.org.
For example, kindly enter the link Calculator
In non-family duty stations that belong to hardship categories D or E, as classified by the ICSC, international UN Volunteers receive a Well-Being Differential (WBD) on a monthly basis. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are provided a settling-in-grant (SIG) at the start of the assignment (if the volunteer did not reside in the duty station for at least 6 months prior to taking up the assignment) and in the event of a permanent reassignment to another duty station.
UNV provides life, health, permanent disability insurances as well as assignment travel, annual leave, full integration in the UN security framework (including residential security reimbursements).
UN Volunteers are paid Daily Subsistence Allowance at the UN rate for official travels, flight tickets for periodic home visit and for the final repatriation travel (if applicable). Resettlement allowance is paid for satisfactory service at the end of the assignment.
UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Service, including Code of conduct, to the successful candidate.
Application Code
FJIR000034-2160
Application procedure * Not yet registered in the UNV Talent Pool? Please first register your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/signup. Important: After creating your account, complete all sections of your profile and submit it. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink. Lastly, select the special call to which you would like to apply. * Already registered in the UNV Talent Pool? Please first update your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/profile. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink to select the special call to which you would like to apply. Application deadline: 8rd November 2017. Disclaimer United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme which welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are
25 Oct 2017
Page 5 of 6
committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture.
25 Oct 2017
Page 6 of 6
