Mission and objectives

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP's Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The Caribbean Regional Co-ordinating Unit (CAR/RCU) was established in 1986 in Kingston, Jamaica and is the Secretariat for the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena Convention) and the Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) which is administered by the UNEP

Context

The Prevention of Marine Litter in the Caribbean Sea (PROMAR) – Promoting Circular Economy Solutions project is implemented by UNEP’s Cartagena Convention Secretariat and Caribbean Environment Program. It aims to reduce flows of plastic waste (mainly packaging) from terrestrial sources in the Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Guyana, British Virgin Island and Saint Kitts and Nevis. The secondary aim of the project is to strengthen awareness on the issue of marine litter by establishing and disseminating the learning and best practices from selected demonstration sites to stakeholders in the Caribbean countries. Within the context of the PROMAR project, UNEP works in collaboration with adelphi (German think tank) and five local implementing partners, one in each project country. The current implementation partners are The University of Guyana, Green VI in the British Virgin Islands, Green Heritage Fund Suriname, the Institute of Marine Affairs of Trinidad & Tobago, and the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College in St. Kitts & Nevis. The project objective consists of four outputs that the project aims to achieve: • Output I: Anchoring monitoring systems in local public authorities at selected demonstration sites. • Output II: Implementing circular economy solutions at selected demonstration sites and achieving measurable reductions of plastic waste entering aquatic environments. • Output III: Strengthening capacities of political partners to implement Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems, replicating measures for marine litter prevention beyond the selected demonstration sites and engaging in transnational policy dialogue. • Output IV: Enhancing stakeholders’ awareness on marine litter prevention and contributing to behavioral change. In this context, the project seeks to hire a University Volunteer in Guyana to lead social media and communications activities for the regional project across the five project countries.

Task Description

Under the direct supervision of Regional Project Manager, the University Volunteer will: 1. Maintain established social media channels • Maintain all social media channels (Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn) in English by creating, at a minimum, the following: - 2-3 posts per week for each platform - Stories according to the posts + mentions to the profile - Reels generated on an ad-hoc basis to promote specific events - One short article per month, produced by the partners • Curating images and short videos (developed in cooperation with local PROMAR project partners) • Monitor social media channels daily (Monday - Friday) to create an engaged community by: - Liking and replying to all the comments made on our posts on all social media channels, upon confirmation of the project lead for sensitive topics - Liking and commenting on social media publications of our partners and related social media accounts - Responding to private messages from followers upon previous consultation with the PROMAR focal point(s) - Actively looking for accounts and events related to the PROMAR agenda to integrate into our social media networks (for reposting or collaborations) - Posting stories with situational content 2. Ad hoc support for the PROMAR website and events • Identifying and supporting content updates on the PROMAR website with images and suggestions regarding the layout • Attending (local) events and reporting on them, as needed • Note-taking, editing and other communications-related activities, as needed (e.g., virtual meetings) 3. Administrative tasks • Quarterly reports with achieved objectives and targets for the upcoming months submitted to the project lead (UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat) • Attending monthly PROMAR meetings and provide any relevant updates

Competencies and values

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

Living conditions and remarks

Despite being geographically situated in South America, Guyana has a stronger cultural and historical connection with the English-speaking Caribbean and is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Guyana's per capita GDP is experiencing rapid growth since commencing oil production, from being one of the lowest in Latin America and the Caribbean in the early nineties to tripling in size between 2019 and 2023. The poverty rate in Guyana has declined significantly over the past decade, from 60.9 percent in 2006 to 48.4 percent in 2019. Standard of living in the capital is moderate, with access to banking services, shopping malls, supermarkets, and other amenities. Health outcomes in Guyana remain below the average for Latin America and the Caribbean. Guyana also remains at high risk from climate-related hazards, including increases in rainfall and flooding, sealevel rise, and storm surges, especially in the coastal areas. There are two distinct rainy seasons each year, between May to July and November to January, although these have become less predictable in the past four years. Despite a noteworthy reduction in the reported incidences of serious crime over the past two years, armed robberies continue to occur frequently, especially in the main business and shopping districts. Further, pick pocketing, purse snatching, assault, and robbery can occur in all areas of Georgetown. Specific UN Volunteer entitlements, including insurance coverage, Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA), Expertise Differential and Deployment / Repatriation lump sums, among others, are available at https://app.unv.org/calculator The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos