Historique

Preamble:
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 long-established, 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.

Organizational Context: 

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
Despite experiencing high economic growth rates above 6% over the last three years, Senegal continues to face the challenges of high poverty and insufficient investment in social sectors (Health, Education and others). On the background of a falling GNP per capita and stagnant social indicators in some sectors, the Human Development index has been reducing recently.
In Senegal, the main programmatic priorities for UNICEF are:

• In the area of Child Survival: reduction of maternal, neonatal and child mortality and morbidity; prevention of stunting of and malnutrition of children; improvement of sanitation and access to water and adolescents health.
• In the area of Child Protection: elimination of forced child begging, of violence against children, child marriage and FGM.
• In education, access to schools, especially quality education for all, with an accent on girls completing their studies and on life skills education, are the most important tasks.
• Among other interventions, Social Policy and advocacy programme has developed local participatory budgeting model, involving young people in local governance.

Office is very involved in promoting technological innovations, with 6 Rapid-pro based projects on-going in different programmes, including Youth engagement U-Report platform. 
U-Report (https://senegal.ureport.in), user-centered youth engagement and social monitoring SMS-based platform, enables direct and fast data collection for analysis and further exploitation in programming for the benefit of young people by Government, UNICEF, other development partners and civil society. Up to January 2018, there were 27,881 U-Reporters in Senegal, relatively young (35% are 15-19 years old; 41% 20-24 years old), with a good representation of girls (44%) and good participation rate in polls (around 40%). In addition to data collection, when used appropriately U-Report can provide access to critical, sometimes lifesaving, information to U-Reporters and provide one-on-one counselling or advice services facilitated by UNICEF partners. The use of social media is accelerating and evolving rapidly and the millennials of Senegal, one of UNICEF's key public engagement targets.
 

Devoirs et responsabilités

Description of duties:

UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the impact of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take 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;
• Build relationships with a wide range of Youth Organizations, Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to support and/or participate in community-driven voluntary activities; reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking; raise awareness in communities that will increase knowledge of issues pertaining to the UNV programme’s mandate and tis role in supporting the Mission mandate;
• Encourage, mobilize and support co-workers and fellow UN Volunteers to better understand the connections between the UNV programme’s engagement within the Mission and voluntary action;
• Contribute articles/write-ups/stories 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 and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Under the direct the supervision of the Communication for Development Specialist (P4), the UN Youth Volunteer will:

• Support programming for youth and use of technology for engaging young people, make recommendations on new features, programmatic development, and maintaining the  UNICEF programme’s relevance to Senegalese youth;
• Support the activities around U-Report Senegal (SMS-based platform for youth engagement and social monitoring), so as to: 1/ empower young people, engage them in social activities and help their voice to be heard in order to make a difference in the society, and 2/ support office to better engage government, civil society and social services to address critical issues faced by young people by use of U-Report data for advocacy and for quality programs and pertinent actions. 
• Infuse new thinking in youth engagement via UNICEF Senegal social media activities. Develop original content for social media and suggest creative ways to reach larger audiences and engage more young people by all social media.
• Assist in mapping & identifying, developing technology platforms enabling youth participation in governance at all levels and in strategic partnerships with UNICEF;
• Infuse new thinking on facilitating cross-country knowledge-sharing and networking of  youth and assist in identifying opportunities and solutions of direct interest to young people, where ICT and innovation as well the skills young women and men possess could have the biggest impact from a youth and inclusion perspective level;
• Identify ways to include most excluded and stigmatized young people via connectivity of people, processes and data;
• Sustain the cooperation with youth associations federated around the U-Report platform and the engagement of U-Reporters, to extend the reach of the platform;
• Document and consolidate lessons learned, best practices, case studies, case stories, testimonials in written, picture and video form of the learning journey together with other un Volunteers.

Results/Expected Output:

• Strategic report and recommendations on best strategies to engage young people via exploitation of latest trends in technology & innovations;
• Partnership and collaboration mapping report & engagement plan for key youth organisations and technology partners;
• Report and recommendations on U-Report upscaling and use, its connection to youth landscape  and the strategies used to connect the marginalized and stigmatized young people;
• Distribution and publication strategy developed and quality data and analysis resulting from U-Report polls being provided to UNICEF programmes, governmental counterparts and other counterparts;
• Report on strategies used and numbers of young persons reached and engaged via UNICEF Senegal social media;
• New and innovative ways to use social media and technology to include marginalized and stigmatized youth in development challenges are designed and tested;
• Lessons learned and best practices shared with other UN Volunteers in the regional project.
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment.
• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

Compétences

Competencies and values:

• Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented.
• Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations.
• Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.
• Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities.
• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working.
• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;
• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Qualifications, skills, experience:

Education

• UN Youth Advocates must be between 18 and 24 years for the whole duration of their assignment.

Experience

• Up to 2 years of experience in the area of information technology and social media is an advantage;
• Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded;
• Computer skills (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, social media, and others); 
• Demonstrated interest in and knowledge in the field of youth, ICT, development, social media;
• Motivated to contribute towards peace and development and to serve others;
• Good interpersonal, networking and communication skills;
• Willingness to contribute and work as part of a team;
• Flexible and open to learning and new experiences;
• Respect for diversity and adaptability to other cultures, environments and living conditions.

Language Requirements
• Fluency in spoken and written French and basic knowledge of English language is required.

Living Conditions:
The assignment will take place in Dakar, main city and capital of Senegal a family duty station (Hardship classification A) with some missions to the region. The living conditions in Dakar are good and the social climate is calm. Senegal is an open country that enjoys social stability resulting from the smooth functioning of state institutions. Senegal is also provided with an appropriate level of infrastructure (e.g. roads) but the distribution of water is electricity can be volatile in Dakar and other cities and towns of the country, requiring many civil servants to use generators.
Senegal is also a popular tourist destination. The reception and spontaneous hospitality of Senegalese are among the characteristic features of this West African country. The country is at the level of Security 2, which corresponds to "Low", except for the Casamance natural region (administrative regions of Kolda, Sédhiou and Ziguinchor) where acts of banditry are often reported but also the presence of Elements of the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) and unexploded ordnance (UXO). All United Nations personnel must scrupulously comply with UNDSS procedures and recommendations during their assignment to Senegal. Thefts and burglary are the main incidents against UN personnel.
There is no R&R entitlement in Senegal. The access to health services in Dakar is good. The yellow fever vaccine is compulsory and vaccination cards should be presented at the entrance. Vaccinations against Meningococcal Meningitis and Hepatitis A and B are also recommended. The basic drugs are available in pharmacies but it is recommended to bring specific prescription drugs.
Per ANSD/RGPHAE 2013 official estimates, the population of Dakar metropolitan area reaches over 3.1 million people. The total population of Senegal is 13.508.715 inhabitants (ANSD 2013). Senegal is located on UTC/ GMT. Senegal has warm climate and sunny days throughout the year that make it a comfortable duty station. Daytime temperatures are on average around 30°C. Rainy season is in the northern hemisphere’s summer/fall. The currency used in Senegal is called Franc CFA (XOF). In Jan 2018, the average exchange rate is 1 USD = 556.084 XOF. Many hotels, restaurants and large businesses in Senegal accept the main international credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, etc.). It is also possible to withdraw cash from automatic telling machines found in all the major cities.
The accommodation facilities are in general good and the choice is wide. It is possible to rent unfurnished and furnished accommodations from 450 to 2000 USD. UN Volunteers can also co-rent and share private accommodations, which must comply with Minimum Operating Residential Security Standards (MORSS). Transportation in town can be easily arranged through local taxis.
To enter Senegal, a valid passport is required. ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) nationals are not required an entry visa. Nationals of other countries may be required an entry visa or long-stay visa. They should contact the closest Senegalese representation. Senegalese Embassies and consulates in various West African countries and in other parts of the world issue visas prior to travel.
The UNV Field Unit can provide assistance in booking temporary accommodation for the first nights at UN Volunteer expenses, which can be extended or not at UN Volunteer discretion until getting a permanent accommodation.
Note: For all international travel to Senegal, security clearance must be requested a minimum of 7 days prior to travel.

Conditions of Service
The duration of your assignment is 12 months and the type of assignement is National.

A volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) which is composed of the Monthly Living Allowance (MLA).

The Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications and other basic needs.

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.