UNV Communications Assistant

UNV Communications Assistant

Assignment country: Nepal
Expected start date: 25/09/2025
Sustainable Development Goal: 2. Zero hunger
Volunteer category: International UN University Volunteer
Host entity: FAO Nepal
Type: Onsite
Duration: 5 months
Number of assignments: 1
Duty stations: Kathmandu

Details

Mission and objectives

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With over 194 member states, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide. We believe that everyone can play a part in ending hunger.

Join us in creating a #ZeroHunger world.

Context

FAO Nepal is looking for a dynamic candidate to contribute in communications section through content development in sustainable agricultural development, food security, and rural transformation across Nepal. The candidate is essential to ensure the visibility, outreach, and impact of its programmes, projects, and activities. The Communication Intern will work closely with the FAO Nepal Communication Team to amplify FAO’s mission, for better engagement with diverse stakeholders, and create compelling narratives that showcase the organization’s contributions. This internship offers an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in strategic communication, social media management, content creation, and advocacy, supporting FAO Nepal’s efforts to address critical challenges and drive positive change in agri food system transformation.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the FAO Representative in Nepal the UNV Communications Assistant will:

• Support the development and implementation of a comprehensive communication strategy and action plan for FAO Nepal.
• Identify key messages and content to promote FAO Nepal’s programmes, projects, and activities effectively.
•  Collaborate with the FAO Nepal Communication Team to manage social media accounts with timely, relevant, and engaging content.
•  Develop social media campaigns that align with FAO’s goals and objectives.
• Monitor public perception of FAO Nepal and recommend actions to maintain a positive image.
• Build and maintain partnerships with groups and organizations to advance FAO’s communication and advocacy objectives.
•  Manage TikTok accounts by creating, curating, and publishing engaging content aligned with FAO’s communication goals.
• Coordinate media relations, including disseminating information, responding to inquiries, and supporting media events.
•  Gather and disseminate stories and testimonials from beneficiaries to highlight the impact of FAO’s work.
•  Support in the overseeing of the production of communication materials, such as videos, audio-visuals, and promotional content, ensuring quality and consistency.
•  Monitor the dissemination and impact of communication activities and report on key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Assist in supporting media and special events, including planning, logistics, and administrative arrangements.
•  Maintain a library of media coverage, including videos, articles, and other mate-rials.
• Prepare background materials such as programme summaries, fact sheets, and other communication resources for media, partners, and special guests.
•  Perform other related duties as assigned by the Media and Communication Specialist.
•  Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for in-stance in events that mark International Volunteer Day)
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/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 local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 18 – 80

Required experience: 1 month

Donor priorities

This assignment is donor funded and therefore specific eligibility criteria apply:
Candidates must be enrolled in one of the participating universities (Rikkyo University, Meiji University, Kwansei Gakuin, Meiji Gakuin) and should have received a recommendation from their university.

Nationality: Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Additional eligibility criteria
.

Assignment requirements
Relevant experience

No experience required

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Desirable

Required education level

Secondary education

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 organization-al 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
relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender.

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; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;
Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary.

Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance, and commitment towards the UN core values.

Skills and experience

• Design and visual editing
• Content Writing for website/social media

Area(s) of expertise
Arts and design, Communication, Social work

Driving license
–

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

A volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) per month and 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$979.The VLA base rate is a global rate, while the PAM is country-specific and fluctuates monthly basis according to the cost of living. This method ensures that inter-national 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). Furthermore, UN University 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 also 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 the repatriation travel (if applicable). UNV will provide, together with the offer assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Service, including Code of conduct, to the successful candidate.

https://www.unv.org/

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

Advertisement end date:01/05/2025