Communications for Development Specialist

Contract

This is a IPSA-11 contract. This kind of contract is known as International Personnel Services Agreement. It is normally internationally recruited only. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education. More about IPSA-11 contracts.

Background

Instructions to Applicants: Click on the "Apply now" button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Travel:

Pending pandemic resolution, UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.

The Project will provide full support concerning logistics, IT, and required services (including travel, workshops, etc.) to ensure the Project's successful implementation. Office space will be provided.

Office/Unit/Project Description:

The Pacific region is facing considerable economic and social development challenges due to the increasing impact of climate change and geo-hazards. At the same time, development in these countries is potentially increasing this vulnerability to climate change and disasters. The Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific (FRDP), endorsed in 2016 by Pacific leaders, demonstrates a clear recognition that managing climate change and disaster related risk must be undertaken in the context of economic development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Governance for Resilience Project works with Pacific governments to ensure that countries adapt their decision making and governance systems towards more resilient development. The projects theory of change rests on a core assumption that Pacific Island people will be more resilient to the impacts of climate change and disasters if countries manage all development through a risk informed approach. This is consistent with the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific which calls for the ‘mainstreaming’ of climate and disaster risk treating risk management as fundamental to all development decisions.

The Gov4Res Project three outcomes areas to work with countries across the region to address these risks by development: 1) government planning and financing systems enable gender and socially inclusive risk-informed development; 2) country oversight and accountability systems require gender and socially inclusive risk-informed development; and 3) regional organisations, policies and practices are actively supporting gender and socially inclusive risk-informed development.

UNDP is partnering with a range of partners to deliver this project across the Pacific including Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Governance for Resilience Project Manager based in UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, the Communications for Development Specialist would lead the management and implementation of the project communications and advocacy strategy. The role would have a strong emphasis on communicating and supporting learning and behaviour change in line with the project objectives.

Institutional Arrangement:

The incumbent will report directly to the Project Manager for the UNDP Governance for Resilience Project under the overall guidance of the Resilience and Sustainable Development Team Leader and will work in collaboration with other members of the Resilience and Sustainable Development team including Gov4Res team and key partners.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

Working under the direction of the Governance for Resilience Project Manager, the Communications for Development Specialist will be responsible for the following:

Provide strategic advice and lead communications and advocacy initiatives for the project and partners

• Advise internal and external partners on enhancing engagement and participation of key stakeholders, maximise outreach and impact of project activities;
• In close collaboration with the monitoring and evaluation specialist, communicate project successes and document learning;
• Participate in project planning and reviews, and support design of strategies to enhance impact;
• Conduct and support monitoring and evaluation exercises to measure impact of communications and advocacy on project objectives. Exchange findings, experiences, lessons learned and new methods with partners.

Lead the development and dissemination of communication materials and knowledge products

• Lead the preparation of communications material, including articles, press releases, briefing notes and knowledge products for the project;
• Provide quality assurance on materials and related documentation to ensure optimum impact, scale and sustainability of achievements;
• Institutionalise and share best practices and knowledge learned and products with global, regional and country partners to build capacity of practitioners and disseminate these to key audiences.

Foster networking and partnerships for advocacy and change

• Coordinate and provide technical support to key partners in development and strategic use of communication and advocacy materials;
• Identify, build and maintain partnerships through networking and proactive collaboration with strategic partners to reinforce cooperation and identify opportunities for advocacy to promote risk informed development;
• Collaborate with internal global/regional communications partners to harmonise, link and/or coordinate messaging and use of multiple media and communications platforms to enhance outreach.

Provide training and capacity building for project staff and partners

• Develop training materials and activities to build capacity for participatory and behaviour change communications;
• Organise and implement training and capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of partners;
• Lead the implementation of innovative practices, approaches and the latest technology on multiple media and social and digital platforms and networks that are appropriate and available for the Pacific context and audience.

Others

Provide communications advice to the UNDP office more broadly as required.

Expected results

The overall responsibilities of the assignment are to:

• Provide strategic advice to the project team, government and other partners and lead the project initiatives and activities on communications and advocacy (ongoing);
• Lead the communication of and support learning for enhanced behaviour change in line with the project objectives (ongoing);
• Enhance the profile of the Gov4Res project through development of articles, press releases, briefing notes and knowledge products (ongoing);
• Foster communities of practice and peer-to-peer learning (ongoing);
• Under the guidance of the Project Management team provide training and capacity building for project staff and partners (ongoing).

Competencies

UN CORE VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients " and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Academic Education

Master’s degree in journalism, communications, business, public relations, international relations or social/behavioural sciences or related fields with emphasis on strategic communication planning for behaviour development, social mobilization, participatory communication and/or research.

Min. years of relevant Work experience

At least 7 years of progressively responsible professional work experience in the development, planning and management of communication and public relations and communications for development programs, including at least 3 years in developing countries.

Required skills and competencies

• Extensive experience in communications and advocacy for projects or organizations.
• Experience in generating learning and supporting research.
• Strong interpersonal and written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities skills.
• Solid experience in the usage of computers and office software packages relevant for development of communications products (MS Office incl. Word, PowerPoint, relevant design software) as well as experience in handling of web-based management systems.
• Openness to change and the ability to receive/integrate feedback.
• Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work.
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines.
• Comprehensiveness knowledge of Climate risks in Atoll countries and the Pacific region in general.
• Proficiency in using office IT applications and the internet in conducting research.
• Outstanding communication, project management and organizational skills.
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.

Desired additional skills and competencies

• Positive, constructive attitude to work.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards.

Required Language(s) (at working level)

• Fluency of English language is required, both written and verbal;
• Knowledge of Pacific Island languages and culture would be an asset.