Details
Mission and objectives
NIC SEN organization mission TBD
Context
This United Nations Volunteers assignment is based in the United Nations Information Centre Dakar within the Department of Global Communications.
The assignment will support UNIC Dakar’s work on information integrity through a 3R approach: Research, Risk assessment and Response. It is intended to strengthen early warning, structured monitoring, analytical reporting and practical response support related to false narratives and other information risks affecting the operational space, staff safety, partnerships and credibility of the United Nations in West Africa, particularly in higher-risk information environments such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, as well as other contexts as required.
The UN Volunteer will be based in Dakar and will report to the Director of UNIC Dakar. The incumbent will work in close coordination with Resident Coordinator Offices, United Nations Communications Groups, relevant regional and Headquarters focal points, especially the Information Integrity Unit in New York under the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Global Communications.
This assignment will contribute to evidence-based internal decision-making, crisis communications readiness and practical support to the United Nations system in addressing information risks in West Africa.
The assignment will support UNIC Dakar’s work on information integrity through a 3R approach: Research, Risk assessment and Response. It is intended to strengthen early warning, structured monitoring, analytical reporting and practical response support related to false narratives and other information risks affecting the operational space, staff safety, partnerships and credibility of the United Nations in West Africa, particularly in higher-risk information environments such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, as well as other contexts as required.
The UN Volunteer will be based in Dakar and will report to the Director of UNIC Dakar. The incumbent will work in close coordination with Resident Coordinator Offices, United Nations Communications Groups, relevant regional and Headquarters focal points, especially the Information Integrity Unit in New York under the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Global Communications.
This assignment will contribute to evidence-based internal decision-making, crisis communications readiness and practical support to the United Nations system in addressing information risks in West Africa.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of the Director of UNIC Dakar, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
•Conduct systematic monitoring and analytical, solutions-oriented research on relevant information environments in West Africa, particularly in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, and in other contexts as required, in order to identify false narratives, emerging risks and operational implications for the United Nations.
•Support the design, maintenance and refinement of keyword libraries, Boolean search strings, monitoring routines, taxonomies and alerting logic, using available tools and platform-native search functions.
•Apply open-source methods and digital verification techniques to assess publicly available information and support analytical findings, including source triangulation, re-verse image checks, basic video verification, timeline validation and cross-platform comparison.
•Maintain regular coordination with the Information Integrity Unit in New York, including on analytical priorities, methodological consistency, escalation issues and alignment of outputs with broader information integrity objectives.
•Produce concise analytical outputs for internal decision support, including weekly trend snapshots, rapid alerts, incident briefs, background notes and periodic risk assess-ments for leadership and coordination mechanisms.
•Identify observable indicators of coordination, manipulation or deceptive behaviour, in-cluding repeated copy-paste messaging, synchronized posting, recycled creative as-sets, impersonation, misuse of United Nations identity and cross-platform amplifica-tion.
•Maintain structured internal records through incident logs and related datasets, includ-ing coding systems and tagging protocols according to internal guidance and the broader 3R methodology, in order to support consistent analysis and decision-making.
•Support crisis communications readiness and response by contributing rapid analytical briefings, internal background notes, proposed lines and evidence-based inputs for re-view, in line with established clearance protocols.
•Support onboarding and capacity strengthening by adapting and applying existing guidance and training materials, including guidance on data collection, coding and use of the 3R approach, for local and regional operational use as appropriate.
•Review, edit and synthesize multiple analytical inputs or draft reports into coherent, leadership-ready outputs with a clear, factual and non-escalatory tone.
•Ensure high standards of research quality, including accuracy, disciplined documenta-tion and careful handling of sensitive information in compliance with internal guidance.
•Keep abreast of evolving information risks, online behaviours and good practices rele-vant to multilateral communications and information integrity.
•Prepare and submit an end-of-assignment report capturing key trends, risks, findings, lessons learned and practical recommendations.
•Perform other duties as assigned.
During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance.
•Conduct systematic monitoring and analytical, solutions-oriented research on relevant information environments in West Africa, particularly in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, and in other contexts as required, in order to identify false narratives, emerging risks and operational implications for the United Nations.
•Support the design, maintenance and refinement of keyword libraries, Boolean search strings, monitoring routines, taxonomies and alerting logic, using available tools and platform-native search functions.
•Apply open-source methods and digital verification techniques to assess publicly available information and support analytical findings, including source triangulation, re-verse image checks, basic video verification, timeline validation and cross-platform comparison.
•Maintain regular coordination with the Information Integrity Unit in New York, including on analytical priorities, methodological consistency, escalation issues and alignment of outputs with broader information integrity objectives.
•Produce concise analytical outputs for internal decision support, including weekly trend snapshots, rapid alerts, incident briefs, background notes and periodic risk assess-ments for leadership and coordination mechanisms.
•Identify observable indicators of coordination, manipulation or deceptive behaviour, in-cluding repeated copy-paste messaging, synchronized posting, recycled creative as-sets, impersonation, misuse of United Nations identity and cross-platform amplifica-tion.
•Maintain structured internal records through incident logs and related datasets, includ-ing coding systems and tagging protocols according to internal guidance and the broader 3R methodology, in order to support consistent analysis and decision-making.
•Support crisis communications readiness and response by contributing rapid analytical briefings, internal background notes, proposed lines and evidence-based inputs for re-view, in line with established clearance protocols.
•Support onboarding and capacity strengthening by adapting and applying existing guidance and training materials, including guidance on data collection, coding and use of the 3R approach, for local and regional operational use as appropriate.
•Review, edit and synthesize multiple analytical inputs or draft reports into coherent, leadership-ready outputs with a clear, factual and non-escalatory tone.
•Ensure high standards of research quality, including accuracy, disciplined documenta-tion and careful handling of sensitive information in compliance with internal guidance.
•Keep abreast of evolving information risks, online behaviours and good practices rele-vant to multilateral communications and information integrity.
•Prepare and submit an end-of-assignment report capturing key trends, risks, findings, lessons learned and practical recommendations.
•Perform other duties as assigned.
During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance.
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