General
Description of assignment title: Community Engagement andInclusion Officer
Assignment country: Iraq
Duty stations: Baghdad
Work location: On UN premises
Expected start date: 09/01/2026
Duration: 6 monthsLong-term benefits and allowances
Sustainable Development Goal: 3. Good health andwell-being
Host entity: WHO
Modality: Onsite
Type: International
Volunteer category: Specialist UCoS from Apr2026
Work schedule: Full-time
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Number of Assignments: 1
Details
Mission and objectives:
- The overall mandate of the WHO Iraq- UHC/Health Systems &Life Course team is to strengthen health systems in Iraq in orderto make progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and healthrelated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).The Essential Drugsand Other Medicines (EDM) technical officer within the country teamof UHC/Health Systems & Life Course contributes to two flagshippriority areas of work in Iraq 1) improved access to essentialmedicines for UHC and 2) building national capacities forprevention and control of antimicrobial resistance. The mainobjective of the programme is to promote policies, build healthsystem capacities and provide evidence-based guidance to IraqiMinistry of Health, partners, and in the WHO Eastern MediterraneanRegion to improve access and promote rational use of safe,efficacious, quality, and affordable essential drugs and othermedicines.
Context:
- This United Nations Volunteer (UNV) assignment, implemented incollaboration with WHO Iraq focuses on strengthening community andyouth engagement through inclusive, participatory, andpeople-centred approaches. The initiative aims to support themeaningful engagement of youth, civil society organizations, andcommunity networks in public health and development activities,while promoting social inclusion and empowerment of vulnerablegroups, including persons with disabilities. The assignment willcontribute to coordination, awareness raising, communitymobilization, and implementation of initiatives that enhancecommunity participation, resilience, and equitable access toopportunities and services. The UNV will work closely with WHO,relevant ministries, youth groups, and community stakeholders tosupport youth-led actions, inclusive engagement strategies,disability inclusion initiatives, and multisectoral collaborationaligned with national health and development priorities.
- This assignment is part of a UNV-funded initiative designed tobring fresh, diverse talent into UN programmes from countries thatare currently unrepresented among UN Volunteers. It offers a uniqueopportunity to help ensure that global volunteering truly reflectsthe world we serve, while giving participating UN Volunteersmeaningful, hands on experience with leading UN partners. As such,the initiative targets candidates from the following nationalities:Andorra, Croatia, Estonia, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, SanMarino, Slovenia"
Task description:
- Within the delegated authority and under the supervision ofhealth promotion and determinants officer or his/her designatedmandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer will:
- The UN Volunteer will support the planning, coordination, andimplementation of community and youth engagement activities incollaboration with WHO Iraq relevant ministries, civil societyorganizations, and community stakeholders. The role focuses onstrengthening inclusive community participation and promotingequitable engagement of vulnerable and marginalized groups,including persons with disabilities, women, and youth, in healthand development initiatives.
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- The UN Volunteer will support coordination and engagement withcommittees and platforms working on vulnerable populations anddisability inclusion, facilitating participation, dialogue, andcollaboration among stakeholders. The volunteer will contribute tostrengthening community-based approaches that promote inclusion,accessibility, social participation, and community resilience.
- Key responsibilities include supporting the development anddissemination of health awareness and risk communication materials;assisting in the implementation of health promotion and communityengagement campaigns; supporting outreach and engagement activitieswith youth groups, schools, universities, civil societyorganizations, and local communities; and promoting communityparticipation in public health initiatives and awarenessprogrammes.
- The volunteer will also support organization of meetings,workshops, trainings, and community events; contribute tocoordination, documentation, reporting, and data collectionactivities; and assist in identifying innovative and youth-ledapproaches to strengthen public health awareness and communityengagement. In addition, the UN Volunteer will support advocacy andawareness efforts related to inclusion, healthy behaviors,environmental and public health issues, and community empowerment,while contributing to multisectoral collaboration andpeople-centred approaches aligned with WHO priorities and nationalhealth strategies.
Eligibility criteria
Age: 18 - 80
Required experience: 3 years
Nationality: Candidate must be a national of a countryother than the country of assignment.
Assignment requirements
Relevant experience:
- 2 years
Languages:
- English, Level: Fluent, Required
- Arabic, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable
Required education level:
- Bachelor's degree in in public health, social sciences,community development, education, communications, disabilitystudies, psychology, international development, or other relevantfields. Additional training or experience in community engagement,youth empowerment, health promotion, disability inclusion,volunteer coordination, or public health programmes is consideredan asset. Candidates with demonstrated experience working withvulnerable populations, youth groups, civil society organizations,and community-based initiatives are highly encouraged toapply.
Competencies and values:
- Accountability
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Creativity
- Judgement and decision-making
- Planning and organizing
- Professionalism
- Self-management
Skills and experience:
- 2 years of relevant experience in community engagement, youthempowerment, health promotion, volunteer coordination, socialmobilization, public health, disability inclusion, orcommunity-based programmes is desirable. Experience working withvulnerable and marginalized populations, including persons withdisabilities, is considered an asset.
- Previous experience working with national or internationalorganizations, civil society organizations, youth networks, orcommunity initiatives is desirable. Experience supporting awarenesscampaigns, community outreach activities, trainings, workshops,stakeholder coordination, and development of communication orawareness materials is an advantage.
- Strong communication, coordination, interpersonal, andorganizational skills are required. Ability to work effectivelywith diverse communities, youth groups, volunteers, andmultisectoral stakeholders in a culturally sensitive and inclusivemanner is essential.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel,PowerPoint, and Outlook) and social media or digital communicationtools is desirable. Knowledge of public health, communityengagement, inclusion, and health promotion approaches is an asset.Fluency in English is required.
*Note**:
- This Description of Assignment is part of a targeted UNVinitiative and is open exclusively to candidates with the followingnationalities: Andorra, Croatia, Estonia, Liechtenstein, Malta,Monaco, San Marino, Slovenia.
- Applicants who do not fully meet the minimum professionalexperience requirements for a UN Volunteer 'Specialist' assignmentare still encouraged to apply; if selected, they may be recruitedunder the Conditions of Service applicable to UN Volunteer'Associate' assignments.
Area(s) of expertise:
- Communication, advocacy, public information, Communitydevelopment, Project management, programme development,strategy
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