Public Information Associate

Details

Mission and objectives

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country.During times of displacement, we provide critical emergency assistance in the form of clean water, sanitation and healthcare, as well as shelter, blankets, household goods and sometimes food. We also arrange transport and assistance packages for people who return home, and income-generating projects for those who resettle.

Context

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).Conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) in Sudan’s Blue Nile state in September 2011 led to the influx of refugees into South Sudan starting in November 2011. In view of the more recent conflict in Sudan which started in April 2023, additional refugees have been arriving in Maban, with currently a population of 186,000 refugees who have sought protection and assistance from the Government of South Sudan. These refugees have been settled in four camps – Doro, Yusuf Batil, Gendrassa and Kaya - in the Greater Maban County, North Upper Nile state. The Sub-Office in Maban has also been covering the Field Unit in Renk. In view of the continuous underfunding of the operation in South Sudan as well as the ongoing crisis in Sudan, SO Maban plans to increase the visibility of the operations in both locations through the hiring of an experienced Public Information Associate.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Head of Sub-Office or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Public Information Associate will:• Consolidate information on SO Maban’s operation and activities and identify appropriatemessages for campaigns and appeals.• Assist in the coordination of the drafting of, situation reports, briefing notes, background material,talking points, fact sheets, press releases and articles.• Assist in the development of targeted communications strategies and media packages for theMaban and Renk situations and/or activities that require focused attention.• Propose events and initiatives (e.g. commercial, cultural, political and sports) to promote thework of UNHCR SO Maban and take action as appropriate.• Assist in planning and organizing advertisements, exhibitions, training seminars, conferences,meetings, social events and other activities to promote a better understanding of UNHCR’s.activities and accomplishments by the general public and/or organized groups.• Support any donor briefings and visits to SO Maban• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.Furthermore, 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 concept of volunteerism by readingrelevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance inevents that mark International Volunteer Day).• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the hostcountry.• Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results andopportunities.• 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 or encourage relevant localindividuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically.possible.