Mission and objectives

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide.

Context

The UNV Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ROECA) provides oversight and strategic guidance to the UNV Field Units in the region and is accountable for the placement of UN Volunteers mobilized for United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes focused on peace, development and humanitarian needs. The UNV Regional Office represents and strategically positions UNV and brings UNV’s services and solutions closer to its partners from governments, United Nations entities, civil society, and the private sector. Reporting to the IVY 2026 Secretariat’s Team Lead in the External Relations and Communications Section (ERCS) at UNV Headquarters in Bonn, Germany, and matrixed to the Regional Portfolio Manager at the UNV Regional Office in Istanbul, the IVY 2026 Support Officer will assist IVY 2026 initiatives across the Europe and Central Asia region. This role will focus on supporting Member States in implementing their national plans to promote volunteerism and maximize the impact of IVY 2026. The United Nations Volunteers is dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace where diversity is valued and respected. In alignment with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), we are committed to ensuring equal opportunities for persons with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and throughout the assignment. Reasonable accommodation refers to "necessary and appropriate modifications and adjustments, not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure persons with disabilities can enjoy or exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with others" (Article 2, UN CRPD). These accommodations may vary depending on individual needs and circumstances.

Task Description

Outreach, advocacy and partnership support: • Support outreach to promote IVY 2026 with relevant stakeholders in the Europe and Central Asia region, fostering engagement with Governments, United Nations partner entities, civil society organizations (CSOs), volunteer-involving organizations (VIOs), private sector and academia. • Help adapt communication materials developed by the IVY 2026 Secretariat to ensure their relevance and impact within the region. • Provide guidance and practical support to UNV Field Units in promoting IVY 2026 at the national level. Coordination and implementation support: • Assist with the designation of national IVY 2026 Focal Points by Governments in the region and support broad stakeholder engagement in and the effective functioning of the national committees they coordinate at the country-level. • Assist IVY 2026 focal points assigned by Member States in leading the planning of national-level campaigns for IVY 2026. • Help facilitate networking and experience exchange on IVY 2026 among external stakeholders, including governments, United Nations entities, CSOs, VIOs, private sector and academia across the region. Monitoring, reporting and knowledge management support: • Support the tracking and evaluation of the progress and impact of IVY 2026 initiatives implemented by relevant external stakeholders across the region. • Help prepare reports, briefing notes, and factsheets on IVY 2026 based on regional and country experiences and lessons learned. • Support knowledge management efforts by documenting and disseminating success stories and best practices and facilitating input by relevant external stakeholders to UNV’s Knowledge Portal on the International Volunteer Year (https://knowledge.unv.org/international-volunteer-year). Expected Outcomes: • National IVY 2026 Focal Points and Committees established by Governments in the Europe and Central Asia Region are well supported in actively leading volunteerism initiatives. • Increased awareness and engagement in IVY 2026 by external and internal stakeholders. • Comprehensive documentation of best practices, success stories, and lessons learned in relation to IVY 2026 are available to inform reporting and future initiatives.

Competencies and values

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity and innovation • Strategic thinking and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism and integrity

Living conditions and remarks

Accessibility measures in place: YES UNV offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment. The United Nations system wishes to create an inclusive workplace and commits to taking appropriate measures to enable persons with disabilities to access and benefit equally from employment and other engagement opportunities such as volunteering, by providing reasonable accommodation. In this context, “reasonable accommodation” means necessary and appropriate modifications and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms [Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 2]. The UN Volunteer will be based in Astana, Kazakhstan, and will be responsible for arranging her/his own housing and other living essentials. The full entitlements at the duty station: https://app.unv.org/calculator. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service. Contingent on specific eligibility criteria, location of the volunteer assignment, and contractual type and category, the payment of allowances will begin from the date of Commencement of Service. The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. For more information on entitlements please read the Conditions of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos). Summary of National UNV Specialist Entitlements: • Current Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is USD 1,172.66 monthly • Private insurance: Health, dental, life and dismemberment (100%) coverage by CIGNA (including for the eligible dependents when residing together in Astana) • Entry lump sum (one-time payment): USD 400 • Exit allowance: USD 97.72 per month served and solely paid upon the satisfactory completion of the assignment • Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month • Free access to different learning platforms and UN & UNV network Accessibility measures in place: The United Nations system wishes to create an inclusive workplace and commits to taking appropriate measures to enable persons with disabilities to access and benefit equally from employment and other engagement opportunities such as volunteering, by providing reasonable accommodation. In this context, “reasonable accommodation” means necessary and appropriate modifications and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms [Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 2]. 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.