Organization: UNV – United Nations Volunteers
Location: Addis Ababa
Grade: Level not specified – Level not specified
Occupational Groups:
Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
Communication and Public Information
Closing Date: 2024-06-21
Details
Mission and objectives
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System. It serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a continuous spectrum of in-depth local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan. The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UN Guiding Principles) is widely recognized as the most authoritative, normative framework guiding efforts to reduce or eliminate the adverse impact of business operations on human rights. Experts have described it as the single most important innovation in promoting sustainable business practices in the last 25 years – a role that is reinforced by its inclusion as one of the Means of Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda).
Context
With the extensive network of Country Offices, expertise in key development areas such as Poverty Eradication and Inclusive Growth, Good Governance, Environment and Climate Change, Crisis Prevention and Recovery, and Gender, as well as the integrator role for UN development assistance, UNDP has been partnering with the Government of Japan to support and enhance the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), initiated in 1993, as one of the key forum for the advancement of dialogue and collaboration on African development. UNDP, as one of the co-organizers of TICAD along with Japan, UN-Office of Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA), the World Bank and African Union Commission (AUC), has hosted a Special Unit for TICAD, which has been progressively integrated into the UNDP Regional Bureau of Africa (RBA) with a view to enhancing integrated UNDP support for the TICAD process. Through the Special Unit for TICAD, UNDP has consistently supported the successful expansion and evolution of the TICAD process and provided critical support in all relevant areas, including strategic, substantive, programmatic, technical and operational. UNDP has provided networking and development expertise and experience in Africa throughout the TICAD process and committed to its smooth and effective operationalization. UNDP promotes understanding and building partnerships through constant communications and outreach and public relations activities on TICAD and African development. In order to strategically develop these activities and further evolve the TICAD process, UNDP, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and JICA hold an annual strategic dialogue to strengthen collaboration on the ground, as well as co-host advocacy activities. At UNDP, the TICAD Unit in the Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) at Headquarters plays a central role in promoting TICAD as well as strengthening the partnership with JICA through the TICAD process. UNDP is a lead development agency of the United Nations system, and the Regional Service Center for Africa supervises program implementation and provides technical advisory services in 46 country offices under the auspices of the Africa Bureau, as well as developing regional program implementation and public information operations. In addition, the UNDP TICAD unit is located at UNDP headquarters, which operates in approximately 170 countries and territories, and has access to a diverse staff in the Africa Bureau, which encompasses the largest number of personnel in headquarters, especially in the 46 country offices under the Africa Bureau and direct connections to other units and Director and Deputy Director level management at headquarters Thus, the UNV will lead to the development of an extensive human network within UNDP, with support from the African Regional Service Center and the TICAD Unit. In addition, since practical experience in public information outreach advocacy and partnerships is valued by any development agency or UN organization, regardless of UNDP, gaining skills and experience that can be deployed laterally can give you a significant advantage in your future career in the development industry. Thus, this will help in obtaining a post as JPOs, UN officials, and JICA expert in the future, especially in the areas of communications and partnerships.
Task description
The UN Volunteer will be outposted to the Regional Service Center (Ethiopia) of the UNDP Africa Bureau under the direction and supervision of both the TICAD Unit and the Regional Service Center. Through the dispatch of the UN Volunteer to the UNDP Regional Service Center for Africa, the partnerships among UNDP, Japan, and African stakeholders including the AUC, which is indispensable for the sustainable operationalization of the TICAD process, is expected to be strengthened. The UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: * Contribute to planning and implementation of TICAD advocacy with TICAD partners from Japan and other countries, mainly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and JICA as well as the African Union Commission (AUC). * Perform as a liaison with the AUC and strengthen communication and coordination with partners in Africa in the context of TICAD * Perform as a liaison with the Permanent Mission of Japan to AUC and strengthen communication and coordination for enhanced visibility and partnership * Contribute to translation of relevant documents from English to Japanese i.e. newsletters, social networking sites, and publications from the TICAD Unit. * Disseminate information and knowledge management products on TICAD to stakeholders in Africa, obtain their feedback and reflect them into the planning stage of publications by UNDP * Collect, analyze and report periodically news and articles related to TICAD in African media * Assist in preparation of speaking summaries, presentation materials, minutes, etc. for related meetings and events organized at TICAD unit and RSCA in connection with the TICAD process