UNV Partnership and Mobilization support Officer

Cabo Verde became the first pilot Joint Office (JO) of the Ex-Com agencies (UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA and WFP) on 1 January 2006. This was a major step in the UN reform towards the harmonization and simplification of UN activities in small countries. The Joint Office model consists of a single UN office of the participating agencies, led by one representative who equally represents all the participating agencies. The JO has one organizational structure and a single program/common country program encompassing the activities and mandates of all participating agencies, and uses one set of business processes, rules, and regulations under a “support agency”. Since 2010, with the discontinuation of WFP Office in Cabo Verde, following the graduation to a Middle-Income Country in 2008 , the Joint Office is now comprised of three agencies - UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF.

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. We work with UN partners to integrate qualified, highly motivated and well supported UN Volunteers into their programmes p and promote the value and global recognition of volunteerism.

UNV is active in around 160 countries every year. With a Field Presences in over 60 countries, UNV is represented worldwide. UNV is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and reports to the UNDP Executive Board.

Since the launching of the UNV programme in Cabo Verde, many UNV volunteers have served in the programme and they have mainly served in government and in other UN agencies in the country. Currently 5 UNV volunteers are serving in Cabo Verde with 2 UN Agencies.

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Portfolio Specialist based in Dakar, the regular guidance of the UNDP Resident Representative and the and UNV Focal Point/UNDP HR Associate, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for:
Support UNV’s partnership initiatives in Cabo Verde
• Position the UNV Programme as a common UN Service provider. To this effect, map and maintain business intelligence of UN Agencies projects through the review of the UNSDCF, Country Programme Documents (CPDs), joint UN / cross border programmes under the Peacebuilding Fund, etc.
• Identify specific entry points for UNV with the key objective to support the identification of volunteer placement opportunities, increase international and national UN Volunteers presence, including through collaboration with partner agencies in the preparation of descriptions of assignment (DOAs),;
• Liaise on a regular basis with UN agencies to ensure an understanding of UNV’s mandate, key offers and the added value that UN Volunteer assignments bring in support to the achievement of their respective mandates;


Support volunteering outreach and promotion initiatives
• In close coordination with the Regional Office and the Communications Section at the Regional Office, prepare, disseminate and present country-specific promotional information on the mandate and work of UNV in Cabo Verde with relevant development partners and the media;
• In close coordination with VSC at UNV Regional Talent Acquisition Specialist, organize outreach initiatives to scale up UNV’s talent pool in The Cabo Verde. Focus is on gender and people living with disabilities.
• Coordinate activities and plan events, in collaboration with other agencies, for annual, national and UN-recognized international celebrations, including the International Volunteer Day (IVD);
• Coordinate activities aimed at improving the volunteer experience of serving UN Volunteers in the country (buddy system, CDLF, volunteer outreach initiatives etc).
• As part of the Joint Office of UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF in Cabo Verde, contribute to the communications and advocacy work.


Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in 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 reading relevant UNV and external publications and take an active part in UNV activities (for instance, in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• 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.
• Contribute to the development of an advocacy strategy for the Joint Office, under the supervision of the Communications Analyst.

• Contribute to the communications work in the Joint Office, particularly related to communication in Portuguese at national level, under the supervision of the Communications Analyst.