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Youth Outreach and Engagement Assistant

Youth Outreach and Engagement Assistant

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Service Contract Holders

2024-04-05

Job Description:

UNFPA CO Country Programme Document (CPD) comprises work in four key components: sexual and reproductive health (SRH), gender equality and violence prevention (GBV), youth and peacebuilding (Youth), and population dynamics (PD). These components reflect the need for supporting the governments at various levels in BiH to deliver on their ICPD commitments. Under the Youth portfolio, UNFPA is implementing two concurrent and complementary initiatives - Youth 4 Inclusion, Equality and Trust project, funded by UN Peacebuilding fund; and Moving us closer project, funded by the Italian government that involves direct engagement with 15 municipalities across BiH and the region. This partnership will be the most intensive one that UNFPA had in terms of local engagement and requires dedicated support. Additionally, Youth component will implement an additional project with Slovenian government, focused on the cross-section between gender equality and environmental preservation. With that in mind, UNFPA CO is looking for a Youth Engagement and Outreach Assistant to support this growing portfolio.

The incumbent we are looking for will need to be knowledgeable about youth sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina and skilled in youth-focused networking, communications project implementation to support UNFPA Country Office in empowering young people with skills to bring about positive change in their lives and communities.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Summary of key functions:

  • Support coordination of logistical aspects of event planning, execution, and technical support for both physical and virtual events, engaging closely with program analysts.
  • Facilitate smooth operation of program activities through effective communication and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, managing scheduling, contracts, and timely delivery.
  • Support the expansion of youth partnerships and policy dialogue, coordinating with youth networks to ensure meaningful participation in platforms like the Youth Empowerment Group.
  • Assist in preparing presentation materials that are visually appealing and rich in content, ensuring materials are accessible to a wider audience through translations.
  • Support the planning and promotion of youth-related events, maintaining a detailed events calendar.
  • Provide editing and proofreading support for youth portfolio materials, ensuring clarity and consistency while incorporating feedback to refine content.

You would be responsible for:

Under supervision Youth and Peace Programme Analyst, you will be responsible for:

  • Directly supporting technical and operational aspects of implementation: Engage with Youth and Peace program analyst to assist in coordinating all logistical elements of event planning and execution, from venue selection and setup to scheduling and on-the-day management. This also includes virtual events, where managing access, technology checks, and participant interaction are key.
  • Directly supporting programmatic aspects of implementation: Support facilitating communication and collaboration with internal teams, external partners, and vendors to ensure smooth operation of activities. This may involve scheduling meetings, providing inputs for contracts, and ensuring timely delivery of services and materials.
  • Enhancing youth partnerships and policy dialogue: Facilitate the expansion of youth partnerships by providing logistical and technical support to policy dialogue platforms and advocacy opportunities, including internal UN mechanisms for youth such as Youth Empowerment Group and Youth Advisory Board. This involves coordinating with a network of youth advocates to ensure meaningful participation and discourse.
  • Preparing of presentation materials: Prepare presentation materials for a variety of audiences, both internal and external to UNFPA, ensuring that they are both visually appealing and content-rich. This includes assistance with translations of key texts for broader reach.
  • Event planning and promotion: Oversee the maintenance of a youth media events calendar, ensuring meticulous planning and promotion of all youth-related events. 
  • Editing and proofreading: Provide comprehensive editing and proofreading support for all youth portfolio materials, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment with key messages. This task includes meticulous review of concept notes, press releases, and other advocacy materials, incorporating feedback from colleagues to refine content.

 
Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

University degree in political sciences, journalism, communications, marketing or other social sciences.

Knowledge and Experience: 

Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in implementing projects in international organizations or large civil society organizations. Experience in producing visibility and communications in relation to youth leadership and engagement is highly desirable;
Proficiency in current office software applications and digital platforms. Usage of software applications (Photoshop, PaintNet, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat, Premier Pro, Scribus, Word, PowerPoint and other graphics applications) distinct advantage;
Good understanding of new and evolving technologies.

Languages: 

Proficiency in English and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian languages is required.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

  • Exemplifying integrity, 
  • Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
  • Embracing cultural diversity, 
  • Embracing change

 
Core Competencies: 

  • Achieving results,
  • Being accountable,
  • Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
  • Thinking analytically and strategically,
  • Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

 
Functional Competencies:

  • Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda;
  • Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilisation;
  • Logistical support,
  • Managing data,
  • Managing documents, correspondence and reports, 
  • Managing information and workflow,
  • Job knowledge/technical expertise,
  • Planning, organizing and multi-tasking.
     

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

 
UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.

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