Organization Mission

The UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) in Sierra Leone aims to bring together different United Nations agencies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operational activities for development at the country level. The UN-RCO supports the role and functions of the Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team (UNCT) through shared vision, norms and standards, capacities and operating protocols to deliver together more coherent, effective and efficient support to global, regional and nationally-agreed goals and priorities. It leads UN coordination, strategic policy, partnerships and investments around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN-RCO also seeks to strengthen accountability for results and provide greater incentives for integrated action and support for the UNCT to deliver and report on in-country results at scale that respond to Sierra Leone’s national needs and priorities.

The UN Resident Coordinator (RC) system encompasses all organizations of the United Na-tions system dealing with operational activities for development, regardless of their formal presence in the country. The RC system aims to bring together the different UN agencies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operational activities at the country level.

Context

The PBF Secretariat is strengthening its multimedia communication efforts to showcase results and impact across its portfolio in Sierra Leone. A large volume of raw video footage, photographs and narrative change stories from completed and ongoing projects are available and require professional layout and editing into engaging, high-quality communication products. These visual and audiovisual materials will be used for digital platforms, advocacy campaigns, donor engagement, public information, and commemoration events. The outputs will emphasize key peacebuilding themes such as prevention approach, youth, peace and security (YPS), women peace and security (WPS), prevention of SGBV, social cohesion, livelihoods for peace, human rights, sports for peace, community-level peacebuilding efforts, and institutional strengthening, etc. The Online Volunteer’s contribution will transform raw content into structured, impactful narratives, improving accessibility and storytelling. This supports the SDGs, mainly SDG 16 by promoting awareness, inclusion, and transparency in peacebuilding processes.

Key Responsibilities

Graphic Design Support for UN PBF@20 in Sierra Leone

Mission and Objective
The United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) is the UN’s leading financial instrument for sustaining peace in conflict-affected and fragile settings. Established in 2006, PBF provides catalytic and flexible funding to address peacebuilding priorities, strengthen national institutions, and prevent the recurrence of conflict.

In Sierra Leone, the PBF has significantly contributed to sustaining peace, especially after the end of the civil war in 2002. Over the years, since 2006, the PBF support has accompanied the different political and peacebuilding contexts and needs of Sierra Leone. Early on and building on the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report, PBF support had focused on strengthening communities and institutions for inclusive democratic governance, reconciliation and social cohesion, access to justice, improved security and protection of human rights, promotion of dialogue, youth inclusion and gender equality. PBF has continued to build on these interventions, further focusing on the current peacebuilding needs informed by the national priorities.

As part of its 20-year global commemoration, the PBF Secretariat in Sierra Leone aims to document and showcase the change stories of the PBF investments through compelling multimedia storytelling that highlights the changes and voices from communities, institutions, partners, and beneficiaries.

We are looking for Online Volunteers who, under the guidance of the PBF Coordinator in Sierra Leone in close collaboration with the UNRCO communications team, will produce a suite of high-quality graphic design products from PBF-supported projects. All products and materials produced under the assignment will be the intellectual property of UN PBF. Each Online Volunteer will:
-Transform complex data, information and change stories into clear and engaging visual formats.
-Conceptualize, design, and layout high-quality publications, knowledge and learning products, storytelling products, visibility materials and data visualization products.
-Embed interactive elements in all products, including QR codes, hyperlinks, and clickable icons (interactive features to include clear, user-friendly instructions – e.g., “Scan or click to access the report”) and all products are optimized for seamless use across print and digital platforms.
-Use strong storytelling techniques to elevate beneficiaries/stakeholders/thematic narratives.
-Produce print-ready files and editable source files for all deliverables.
-Adapt products and content for multiple formats, including print, web, social media, presentations, and large-scale display.
-Ensure high-quality, minimalist, and professional design standards across all outputs.
-Apply conflict-sensitive, inclusive, and gender-responsive visual approaches.
-Ensure all outputs meet UN and PBF branding, quality, and accessibility standards.
-Design and produce publications: Three (15-25 pager) reports; Three (8-12 pager) newsletters.
-Design and produce knowledge and learning products: Four (8-12 pager) thematic briefs; Four (8-12 pager) results summaries; Four (15-20 pager) photo-books (with minor text; for physical and online display).
-Design and produce storytelling products: Twelve (4-8 pager) change stories/human-interest stories features.
-Design and produce visibility materials: Eight animated/motion banners; Four roll-up banners; Four large backdrop banners; Four over the street banners; Eight Posters; Eight peace postcards; Eight (one pager) illustrations on impact/change.
-Design and produce data visualization products: Eight (2-4 pager) infographics; Eight (one-pager) fact sheets; Four (trifold/4-fold) brochures.
-We encourage creativity and use of modern tools to elevate the quality, visual appeal and impact of the communication products. New ideas are also welcomed.
-Participate in 1–2 planning meetings per week (online) to align on priorities and schedules.
-Integrate feedback from team members and ensure consistency across the materials.

Required Skills and Experience

The PBF Secretariat is strengthening its multimedia communication efforts to showcase results and impact across its portfolio in Sierra Leone. A large volume of raw video footage, photographs and narrative change stories from completed and ongoing projects are available and require professional layout and editing into engaging, high-quality communication products. These visual and audiovisual materials will be used for digital platforms, advocacy campaigns, donor engagement, public information, and commemoration events. The outputs will emphasize key peacebuilding themes such as prevention approach, youth, peace and security (YPS), women peace and security (WPS), prevention of SGBV, social cohesion, livelihoods for peace, human rights, sports for peace, community-level peacebuilding efforts, and institutional strengthening, etc. The Online Volunteer’s contribution will transform raw content into structured, impactful narratives, improving accessibility and storytelling. This supports the SDGs, mainly SDG 16 by promoting awareness, inclusion, and transparency in peacebuilding processes.