Regional Coordinator, International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026)

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges, and it can transform the pace and nature of development. Volunteerism benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity and reciprocity among citizens, and by purposefully creating opportunities for participation.

The UNV Regional Office for West and Central Africa (ROWCA) 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, the IVY 2026 Regional Coordinator will support the planning and implementation of IVY 2026 initiatives across the West and Central Africa region. This role will focus on outreach, partnership building, and advocacy efforts to promote volunteerism and maximise the impact of IVY 2026.
 
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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.

The following accessibility are already in place [delete what is not applicable!]:
• Main entrance: The main entrance (or an alternative entrance) of the building is wheelchair accessible (e.g. ramps, handrails, elevators, etc. are available)
• Office spaces: At least one office/work station, one conference room and one bathroom are wheelchair accessible
• Office equipment: Tables, printers and other office equipment are accessible by a person using a wheelchair.
• Facilities signposted: All accessible facilities are marked with symbols or signs
• Assistive technology: Assistive technology can be provided upon request (e.g. braille note-taker, printers, screen-reader software, etc.)
• IT accessibility: IT systems and tools are accessible (e.g. website, intranet, etc.)
• Hearing cues: The emergency warning system has hearing cues
• Sign language: Sign language interpretation can be provided upon request (e.g. English, American, and/or other languages)
• Captioning: Captioning services can be provided upon request (e.g. on-site or remote CART services, close-captioning for video
• Visual cues: The emergency warning system has visual cues

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.

Outreach, advocacy and partnership building:
• Lead a stakeholder mapping exercise for IVY 2026, in collaboration with the Regional Portfolio Manager and the Regional Office.
• Conduct regional outreach efforts to promote IVY 2026 with relevant stakeholders in the West and Central Africa region, fostering engagement with governments, United Nations partner entities, civil society organizations (CSOs), volunteer-involving organizations (VIOs), private sector and academia.
• Strengthen regional partnerships and knowledge-sharing on IVY 2026 through networking events, webinars, and thematic discussions for an external audience.
• Represent UNV in relevant regional forums, events, and consultations with external stakeholders to advocate for the implementation of IVY 2026.
• Adapt communication materials developed by the IVY Secretariat to ensure their relevance and impact within the region and identify opportunities for special communications initiatives that help to increase the visibility of IVY 2026, in collaboration with the regional communications team.
• Provide guidance and practical support to UNV Field Units in promoting IVY 2026 at the national level.

Coordination and implementation
• Contribute to 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.
• 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.
• Support UNV ROWCA and UNV Field Units in integrating and promoting IVY 2026 within their ongoing initiatives and network.
• Engage in peer exchange with other Regional Coordinators to align strategies, share insights, and strengthen cross-regional collaboration on IVY 2026 implementation.

Monitoring, reporting and knowledge management
• Track and evaluate the progress and impact of IVY 2026 initiatives implemented by relevant external stakeholders across the region.
• Collect and analyze data on volunteer engagement and partnership building as a result of IVY 2026.
• 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.

Expected Outcomes:
• National IVY 2026 Focal Points and Committees established by Governments in the ROWCA region and actively leading volunteerism initiatives.
• Successful execution of regional advocacy campaigns, driving increased awareness and engagement in IVY 2026 by external and internal stakeholders.
• Strengthened regional partnerships as a result of strong collaboration for IVY 2026.
• Comprehensive documentation of best practices, success stories, and lessons learned in relation to IVY 2026 to inform future initiatives.
• Enhanced capacity of national and regional stakeholders to sustain volunteerism promotion IVY 2026.