Mission and objectives

UNFPA Malawi's mission, like UNFPA globally, is to ensure every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is realized. They work in Malawi to improve reproductive health, prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, and promote gender equality and the empowerment of women, collaborating with the government and other partners.

Context

The UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund, promotes gender equality, reproductive health, youth empowerment. The organization was created in 1969, the same year the UN General Assembly declared “parents have the exclusive right to determine freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children”. Together with partners, UNFPA works in 150 countries. The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. Every year, the UNITE Campaign focuses on a specific theme. The campaign calls on citizens to show how much they care about ending violence against women and girls by sharing the actions they are taking to create a world free from violence towards women. UNFPA in cooperation with UNV has established a Special programme Initiative , aiming at engaging UN Volunteers to support UNFPA and in particular the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign in Malawi. The selected UN Community Volunteers will assist UNFPA team in Malawi in: • Workshops & Trainings: Support UNFPA with organizations of events and workshops to raise awareness on gender-based violence, targeting youth and community leaders, empowering them to become agents of change against gender-based violence.

Task Description

Under the direct supervision of UNFPA, the UN Community Volunteer will: • Undergo training on processes and activities undertaken by UNFPA under the 16 Days of Activism against GBV campaign • Assist or UNFPA in planning and organizing workshops that target youth, men, and community leaders to educate them on recognizing and preventing gender-based violence. • Assist UNFPA to deliver empowerment sessions, raising awareness about their rights and the services available to them. • Coordinate with trainers and facilitators to ensure smooth execution of workshops, including preparation of materials, logistical arrangements, and participant outreach. • Assist UNFPA to identify community leaders, youth groups, and local organizations to participate in GBV prevention workshops. • Engage with community to promote awareness of gender-based violence issues and encourage community involvement in trainings. • Maintain records of participants, attendance, and workshop materials. • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Competencies and values

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

Living conditions and remarks

This is an unpaid volunteer assignment. UN Volunteer for events supporting UNFPA in Malawi will not receive any financial compensation for this assignment. The support provided by the UN Volunteer for events supporting UNFPA for the 16 days of Activism campaign in Malawi is a Special Programme Initiative (SPI) by UNV. SPIs respond to volunteer-specific needs of the United Nations system and donor entities. They are established by specific policy documents that address the desired programmatic aims and broader SDG outcomes in line with UNV guiding principles. UN Volunteers for Events are governed by the particular conditions set out in their offers and contracts. In addition to the specific requirements set out above, candidates for these volunteer assignments will be subject to background checks, confirmation and clearance provided by the United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS). Candidates who do not pass this security clearance are prohibited from serving as a UN Volunteer for UNFPA in Malawi. UN Community Volunteers are expected to be recruited locally and work within their communities. For this specific assignment, if the selected UN Community Volunteer is required to travel or attend specific events, travel and daily meal expenses will be covered by the host entity. Upon successful completion of the assignment, UN Community Volunteers will receive a UNV Certificate of Service.