General
Description of assignment title
Programme Associate
Assignment country
Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
Duty stations
La Paz
Work location
On UN premises
Expected start date
15/08/2026
Duration
9 monthsLong-term benefits and allowances
Sustainable Development Goal
6. Clean water and sanitation
Host entity
UNICEF
Modality
Onsite
Type
International
Volunteer category
Associate UCoS from Apr2026
Work schedule
Full-time
Number of Assignments
1
Details
Mission and objectives
The Plurinational State of Bolivia and UNICEF are currently working on the 2018-2022 Country Programme, which aims to support the reduction of inequality gaps—especially among indigenous communities—and ensure that children and adolescents are a fundamental element for Bolivia’s sustainable development. The country programme’s priorities are based on an analysis of the situation of children and adolescents in Bolivia, the results of the 2016 programmatic review on gender, and several normative frameworks, specifically the Children and Adolescents Code, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The Country Programme contributes to the implementation of the 2025 Patriotic Agenda, the 2016-2022 Economic and Social Development Plan, the Plurinational Plan for Children and Adolescents, the Children and Adolescents Code, and key sectoral plans of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. It also contributes to the five outcomes of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2018–2022 agreed with the Bolivian State. Likewise, it contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals and UNICEF’s 2018–2021 Strategic Plan.
Context
Bolivia recognizes water and sanitation as fundamental rights, yet major inequities persist, especially in rural and Indigenous communities. Census 2024 data show high access to improved water but significantly lower access to sanitation, with nearly half of rural households lacking any sanitation solution—conditions that heighten risks of diarrhea, malnutrition, and developmental delays in children. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Bolivia’s Country Programme works to close these gaps through climate‑resilient, community‑driven Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) solutions, promoting behavior change, alternative sanitation technologies, and menstrual hygiene management in schools. Persistent open defecation and unsafe sanitation disproportionately affect rural women and girls, reinforcing exclusion and absenteeism. To strengthen field coordination and community engagement—particularly within programmes like Rural Sanitation in Potosí—UNICEF seeks a United Nations Volunteer to support local partnerships, communication, and advocacy efforts that advance equitable, sustainable WASH services.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: -Support the coordination and day‑to‑day implementation of WASH and social development activities in Potosí, ensuring smooth communication with field actors. -Assist in collaborating with implementing partners, local authorities, and community groups to promote community participation and strengthen local ownership of programme interventions. -Participate in monitoring field activities, including gathering information, verifying progress, and helping document results for internal reporting and learning. -Contribute to communication and visibility products, such as field stories, human‑interest pieces, social and behaviour change messages, and materials for community outreach. -Support advocacy and stakeholder engagement efforts that advance child rights and social development priorities at the local level. -Assist in improving programmatic coordination, helping maintain efficient information flow and organizational support within the project team and across partner institutions. -Participate in learning opportunities, including field visits, technical sessions, and exchanges with communities and partners to strengthen the volunteer’s understanding of WASH and community‑based development.
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
ELIGIBILITY As this assignment is funded by KOICA, specific eligibility criteria apply: – Applicants must be Korean nationals aged between 18 and 29 years at the time of application. – Applicants must be currently enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s degree, or have graduated within the past 12 months at the time of application. – Applicants must not have more than 12 months of relevant professional experience at the time of application. – Individuals who have previously served under a KOICA-funded UN University Volunteer assignment are not eligible. APPLICATION – If you are currently enrolled in a university and have not yet obtained a university degree, indicate in the section ‘Academic qualifications’ under ‘diploma/degree obtained’ that you are still studying and towards which degree. In the ‘to’ field, enter the current date, as the system does not allow you to enter a future date. Instead of the degree certificate, upload any evidence of your enrollment, for example a transcript. – You may apply to a maximum of three assignments and indicate the order of preference in the ‘Additional remarks’ field when filling in the application form. – Application deadline: 7 June 2026, midnight UTC SELECTION – Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The selection will be done by the UN Host Entity at the level of the country of assignment. Interviews will be conducted by the UN Host Entity in June. +++ UN Volunteer entitlement calculator: https://app.unv.org/calculator +++
Assignment requirements
Relevant experience
No experience required
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required Spanish, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable
Required education level
Bachelor’s degree in (currently enrolled or recently graduated) social sciences, community development, communications, or related fields.
Competencies and values
☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning ☒ Communication ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Working in Teams
Skills and experience
Demonstrated interest or experience (up to 12 months) in: -Water, sanitation and hygiene. -Community Development. -Social and Behaviour Change. Skills: -Basic skills in data collection, documentation, and communication, including support to storytelling and community outreach materials. -Ability to work collaboratively with partners, authorities, and community groups, showing cultural sensitivity. -Good organizational and teamwork abilities, supporting coordination and information flow within the project team.
Area(s) of expertise
Communication, Community development
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
Bolivia offers an exceptional cultural and geographic experience for volunteers. Based in La Paz—the world’s highest administrative capital at ~3,650 m—candidates will enjoy a vibrant Andean city with bustling markets, rich Indigenous heritage, cool mountain weather, and stunning views across the cordillera. The city’s modern Mi Teleférico cable‑car network makes moving between districts scenic and efficient, adding to La Paz’s unique urban charm. The assignment also includes energizing field visits to rural Potosí, offering meaningful community engagement, immersion in local traditions, and hands‑on experience in high‑altitude rural settings. While services are simpler outside major cities, travel provides valuable learning on climate‑resilient development and inclusive public services in mountainous terrain, enriching both professional growth and cultural understanding.
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.
Reasonable accommodation
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
In addition to duty station-specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts.
Scam warning
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