Description of assignment (DoA) details

General

Description of assignment title

PFM Communications and Storytelling Associate

Assignment country

Palau

Duty stations

Koror

Work location

Remote

Expected start date

10/05/2026

Duration

1 months

Sustainable Development Goal

Partnerships for the goals

Host entity

UNDP

Modality

Onsite

Type

National

Volunteer category

Associate UCoS from Apr2026

Work schedule

Part-time

Number of Assignments

Details

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. The Fiji multi-country office covers ten countries including Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu as well as provides support to regional initiatives. This position is located at the UNDP Pacific sub-office in Pohnpei State in the Federated States of Micronesia which was established in October 2021. This office is set up to serve the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The office will work closely with the UNDP Pacific office in Fiji to deliver the UNDP multi-country programme document (MCPD, 2023-2027) in these five countries. UNDP in the Pacific has developed its multi-country programme document (MCPD, 2023-2027) to guide its interventions in the next five years in full alignment and directly to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF, 2023–27). The Office covers 10 countries in the Pacific with an extensive portfolio which has grown over time. The UNSDCF and UNDP MCPD are designed in full alignment with the 2030 agenda, Samoa Pathway, and 2050 Blue Content Strategy, which is endorsed by the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) among others. The UNDP Pacific Office next five-year plan strategic priorities are encapsulated under three outcome areas: (i) Planet, (ii) Prosperity, and (iii) Peace. Following a strategic review process which was completed in June 2022, UNDP Pacific office structure is aligned to the emerging priorities of the office. In this regard, the programme portfolio will include mutually reinforcing work streams crafted around two clusters (i) Resilience and Climate Change; and ii) Inclusive growth and Effective governance, supported by a policy and innovation team, Operations team, Management and Oversight team that provides strategic guidance on results Management and compliance entrusted with the corporate alignment, programme finance management and quality assurance, and strategic communications team that provides knowledge management and communication support to all programme interventions. In Palau, UNDP’s support contributes to planet, prosperity and peace outcomes through efforts focused at enhancing policy, institutional and local/community levels.

Context

The Vaka Pasifika project supports Pacific Island countries in strengthening public financial management (PFM), accountability, transparency and the effective use of public resources to contribute to more inclusive and sustainable development outcomes. As part of its engagement with Pacific stakeholders, the project seeks to strengthen awareness and understanding of PFM issues by documenting practical experiences, lessons and examples from across the region. Effective communication and storytelling can help translate complex PFM concepts into accessible and relatable narratives, demonstrating how public finance decisions, accountability mechanisms and the management of public resources can affect communities, public services and people’s everyday lives. Human-interest stories can also help bring Pacific perspectives and experiences into wider regional discussions on PFM and development. Against this background, the PFM Communications and Storytelling Associate will support the Vaka Pasifika project team in researching, identifying and developing a collection of PFM-related human-interest stories for publication. The assignment will involve desk research, stakeholder engagement, interviews, information gathering, fact-checking and drafting of accessible stories that connect technical PFM issues with practical experiences and development outcomes. Working under the guidance of the Vaka Pasifika project team, the UN Volunteer will contribute to the identification of relevant story themes and sources, support the coordination of interviews and research, and assist in developing and refining stories for the intended audience. The assignment will provide an opportunity to strengthen communication around PFM issues while highlighting Pacific experiences, perspectives and practical examples.

Task description

Under the overall guidance of the Vaka Pasifika project team, the Associate will support communication and storytelling activities aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of public financial management (PFM) issues and their relevance to people, communities and public service delivery in the Pacific. The Associate will:

Support research and identification of relevant PFM themes, issues, initiatives and country experiences that can be developed into accessible human-interest stories.
Review existing Vaka Pasifika communication materials and previous journalist engagements to identify relevant lessons, story opportunities and potential sources.
Support the development and implementation of a workplan for researching and producing PFM-related stories.
Conduct desk research and gather relevant background information, data, evidence and other materials to inform story development.
Identify and support engagement with relevant stakeholders, including government representatives, oversight institutions, civil society organisations, communities, development partners and other appropriate sources.
Support the planning and coordination of interviews and consultations with identified stakeholders and document relevant perspectives, experiences and examples.
Assist in translating technical PFM concepts and information into clear, engaging and accessible narratives for non-technical audiences.
Draft human-interest stories, case studies and related communication content based on research, interviews and verified information.
Support fact-checking and verification of key information, data and quotations used in communication products.
Work closely with the Vaka Pasifika project team to refine story angles, structure, messaging and presentation.
Incorporate feedback from the project team and support revisions through the UNDP review and clearance process.
Contribute to the compilation and preparation of approved stories and supporting content for publication and dissemination.
Support other communication, research and knowledge-sharing activities related to PFM and the objectives of the Vaka Pasifika project, as required.

Eligibility criteria

Age

18 - 80

Required experience

1 month

Nationality

There are no nationality requirements for remote assignments. Successful candidates will need to provide proof of citizenship, residency and/or right to work in their remote work location. In the case of refugees, candidates need to provide proof of their protected status in the country. Proof of address will also be required.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience

5 months

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Desirable

Required education level

Secondary education

Competencies and values

Accountability
Adaptability and flexibility
Creativity
Judgement and decision-making
Planning and organising
Professionalism
Self-management

Skills and experience

Demonstrated ability to research, gather and organise information from multiple sources and translate it into clear and accessible content.
Experience conducting interviews, consultations or stakeholder engagement and capturing relevant perspectives and human-interest stories.
Good writing and editing skills, with the ability to develop clear, concise and engaging stories for non-technical audiences.
Ability to undertake basic fact-checking, information verification and desk research and to present information accurately.
Familiarity with developing communication products such as articles, human-interest stories, case studies, profiles, web content or social media content.
Good interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage respectfully with a diverse range of stakeholders.
Ability to work collaboratively with project teams and incorporate feedback into written products.
Good organisational skills and ability to manage multiple research, interview and writing tasks within agreed timelines.
Basic knowledge of public financial management, governance, accountability, development issues or Pacific regional priorities would be an advantage.
Experience working with Pacific Island communities, government institutions, development partners or regional organisations would be an advantage.
Familiarity with basic digital communication tools and platforms, including Microsoft Office and online research and communication tools.

Area(s) of expertise

Communication, advocacy, public information

Driving license

Other information

Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.

Living conditions and remarks

The duty station is Koror, the capital city of Palau. As a local volunteer, the candidate is expected to be familiar with the city’s environment, culture, and infrastructure. The office is accessible by public and private transport, and utilities such as electricity, water, and internet are generally reliable. Local medical facilities, banking services, and food markets are available within the city. Volunteers are expected to observe local customs, including conservative dress codes in professional settings.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

Scam warning

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