Knowledge Management and Communications Asistant, Vientiane

Description of assignment title

Knowledge Management and Communications Asistant

General

Assignment country

Lao People's Democratic Republic

Duty stations

Vientiane

Work location

On UN premises

Expected start date

12/15/2026

Duration

6 months

Sustainable Development Goal

11. Sustainable cities and communities

Host entity

UN-HABITAT LAO

Modality

Onsite

Type

International

Volunteer category

Associate UCoS from Apr2026

Work schedule

Full-time

Number of Assignments

1

Details

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the agency for human settlements mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. UN-HABITAT helps governments and the urban poor by transforming cities into safer, healthier, greener places with better opportunities where everyone can live in with dignity. It works with organizations at every level, including all spheres of government, civil society and the private sector to help build, manage, plan and finance sustainable urban development. In Lao PDR, the UN-Habitat country office was opened in 2005, and now operates as a regional hub for water and sanitation programmes in the Mekong sub-region in South-East Asia. The office works in close collaboration with several different Ministries on various urban topics and community-based initiatives in urban and peri-urban areas throughout Lao PDR.

Context

The UNV is going to play an important role in activating UN-Habitat’s knowledge, with the ambition of further growing its portfolio in urban development and climate change. UN-Habitat Lao PDR will provide the successful volunteer with an opportunity to gain practical experience in knowledge management, data management, communication and advocacy.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Office, UN-Habitat Lao PDR, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Assist in organizing, creating, using and sharing the knowledge to achieve the projects’ objectives as well as to support data-driven decision making of the team.
• Assist in fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and collaborative workflow among the team members.
• Assist in introducing the new technology and/or methodology for the team to improve its knowledge management system and to increase productivity.
• Assist with communication and data management, establishing connections between county-level and regional partners and internal colleagues, etc.
• Assist with the management of outreach activities by maintaining and updating the communication materials such as the contents of the websites, SNS, and presentations.
• Undertake other assignments required by the supervisor.

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 feedback.

Eligibility criteria

Age

18 - 80

Required experience

1 month

Donor priorities

Nationality

Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Additional eligibility criteria

As this assignment is funded by CYVA, specific eligibility criteria apply. Candidates must be Chinese nationals affiliated with a university participating in CYVA’s programme.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience

No experience required

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Bachelor's degree in Economics; Management; Media; International Relations; Surveying and Mapping Science and Technology; Social Work; Journalism and Communication.

Competencies and values

Adaptability and Flexibility Commitment to Continuous Learning Creativity Integrity Planning and Organizing Professionalism Self-Management Working in Teams

Skills and experience

Demonstrated interest and/or experience (up to two years) in:

• Managing information and knowledge.
• Activating knowledge by developing knowledge products and/or communication materials such as PowerPoint presentation, web articles, social media contents, promotion videos, etc.
• Supporting events preparation including meetings and workshops.
• Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded.

Skills in:

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, SharePoint)
• Digital communication platforms (e.g. WordPress, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram)
• Graphic design tools (e.g. Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Canva)
• Video editing tools.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools

Area(s) of expertise

Communication, advocacy, public information, Community development, Engineering, construction

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 position will be based in the capital, Vientiane. Living conditions in Vientiane are comfortable but residents must make concessions due to the tropical climate and under-developed infrastructure, including health facilities. Vientiane is a relatively safe place to live in, with violent crime incidents rare. However, single females should exert vigilance if moving alone during the dark and it is best advised to move in groups. The biggest hazards relate to traffic accidents, hence utmost care should be exerted when in traffic, especially when riding a motorbike. The Vientiane entertainment scene is still quiet and in order to avoid feeling lonely the person should be proactive in forming friendships, and hence should be ready to make the best of e.g. the UNV Buddy Programme. Houses or apartments are usually of good standards. All basic commodities can be bought in Vientiane and its immediate vicinity. Conditions of Service, available here: https://explore.unv.org/cos, outline the policies and rules governing UN Volunteer assignments. Full information on entitlements at the duty station can be accessed here: https://app.unv.org/calculator.

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

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.