Join the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme Call for Online Volunteer Writers

Ednah Carrick 26 seconds ago

0 1 3 minutes read

Closing Date: 20 March 2025

Join the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme Call for Online Volunteer Writers

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. UNV works with partners to integrate qualified, highly motivated and well supported UN Volunteers into development programming and promote the value and global recognition of volunteerism. UNV has five Regional Offices in Amman (Arab States, Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States), Bangkok (Asia and the Pacific), Dakar (West and Central Africa), Nairobi (East and Southern Africa) and Panama City (Latin America and the Caribbean).

The regional offices are the first entry point for partners wishing to engage with UNV. They offer UNV services and solutions to government partners, UN entities, civil society and the private sector, and takes the lead in scoping and delivering UNV advisory services on volunteer infrastructure.

Context

The #54FacesofAfrica campaign, launched in December 2023 at the 6th YouthConnekt Africa Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, is a collaborative initiative by UNV, UNDP Kenya, and the YouthConnekt Africa Secretariat (YCAS). The campaign empowers African youth by offering them a platform to share their stories, solutions, and innovations, and engage in a broader dialogue about Africa’s development. The campaign has already collected over 1,000 stories from across the continent, but is missing stories from Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Djibouti. To ensure full representation of all 54 African countries, UNV is seeking 3 Online Volunteer Writers from each of these countries to source, write, and submit stories that answer the question: “What does it mean to be African?”

UNV Regional Office for East and Southern Africa is on a mission to collect authentic, powerful stories from every African country. If you are you from one of these countries or deeply familiar with its culture, history, and youth perspectives? This is your chance to amplify the voices of young Africans on a global platform!

What’s the task?

Write and submit first-person narratives from young Africans (ages 18-35) answering: “What does it mean to be African?”
Capture challenges, opportunities, and innovations shaping Africa’s future.
Engage local youth and encourage more voices to be heard.
Ensure stories are authentic, personal, and impactful.

Why volunteer?

▪️ Get published in the globally recognized #54FacesofAfrica magazine.
▪️ Build connections with UNV, UNDP, and global changemakers.
▪️ Develop storytelling, writing, and community engagement skills.
▪️ Be part of a movement showcasing Africa’s youth on the world stage!

Task description

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is looking for 3 Online Volunteer Writers per country (Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Djibouti) to:

Write Stories: Write personal stories from young Africans (ages 18-35) in their respective countries. The stories should answer the question: “What does it mean to be African?” and highlight challenges and opportunities for youth in Africa.
Submit Stories: Submit the stories through the provided Google Form or via audio/video submissions using the attached script. Ensure that the stories are personal, first-person narratives, and reflect the unique perspectives of African youth.
Engage with the Community: Reach out to young people in their communities to encourage participation in the campaign. This may involve sharing the campaign on social media, organizing local storytelling events, or collaborating with youth organizations.
Ensure Quality and Authenticity: Review and edit stories to ensure they meet the campaign’s standards for quality, authenticity, and relevance.

Assignment requirements

Required experience

– Writing Skills: Strong writing skills with the ability to craft compelling, first-person narratives. – Cultural Awareness: Deep understanding of the cultural, social, and political context of the respective country. – Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, French, Arabic, or other local languages. – Experience in Storytelling: Previous experience in storytelling, journalism, or content creation is an asset. – Youth Engagement: Experience working with or engaging youth communities is desirable.