Communications Officer

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

The UNAIDS Country Office in India provides leadership and coordinates the expanded UN system response in India towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Using an equity and equality lens as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UCO India scales up HIV services focused on key and vulnerable populations and locations most at risk.

The UCO India promotes effective use of strategic information to better understand and track the epidemic and its trends, and to measure progress and sustainable impact of the response in India. It supports efforts to strengthen the capacities of communities and their meaningful engagement in health, social protection, and human rights mechanisms, and provides intellectual support and technical guidance as necessary to national partners and policymakers. The Policy, Advocacy and Knowledge Branch has the overarching goal of enabling policy, law and fiscal environments to support the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. It focuses on influencing, partnerships, advocacy and communications centered on human rights, gender, communities, legal and policy reform and equitable financing.

UNAIDS' Cosponsors include UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank. Visit the UNAIDS Web site at www.unaids.org for more information.

The Communications Officer is responsible for assisting in the planning and implementation of the Office communications and advocacy strategies to increase the standing and awareness of UNAIDS with partners, the media and the public.

The Communications Officer will work in close collaboration with the Programme, Operations and technical teams in the Country Office, Global Centre/Regional communications teams, staff of other UN Agencies, Government officials, media, multilateral and bilateral donors and civil society.

In addition, the consultant will assist /guide in the production of knowledge and advocacy products, support media engagement, social media and web outreach, and assist with organizing outreach events, linked to the advocacy and communications strategy developed.

A. Communication Strategy Ensure that the UNAIDS India Country Office has a clear communication strategy and associated work plan to support the country programme objectives and get HIV related issues into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNAIDS mission and objectives, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand. • In consultation with the UNAIDS India Team, develop, maintain and update the country ad-vocacy and communication strategy and associated work plan. Strategy and work plan in-clude: an environmental and stakeholder assessment; objectives; target audiences; mes-sages and media mix; resources; specific actions, activities and products; monitoring and evaluation of impact; success and opportunity for improvement; ongoing refinement of the strategy. • Maintain close collaboration with Regional Communication Advisers and HQ Communication Officers for effective overall coordination.

B. Media relations and content Ensure that the Country Office has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of journalists and media outlets covering all media – print, TV, radio, web etc. – and a successful process of communicating and maintaining regular contact and close collaboration with the media to communicate the story of UNAIDS partnership to a wider audience. • Promote a better understanding of, key elements of the HIV response in India by carrying out media, information and education activities in support of UNAIDS efforts in the coun-try. • Develop, maintain and update media relations contact list/database. • Establish, document, review and refine process of communicating with media contacts, in-cluding press events, issuing of media materials etc. • Identify, develop, distribute and evaluate variety of media materials in multiple, appropri-ate formats. Ensure or enhance the quality, appropriateness of country specific communi-cation materials, activities, processes and messages transmitted to the press, partners and public. • Collaborate with mass media through activities such as organizing project site visits, facilitat-ing photo coverage and utilizing both web-based and traditional media as appropriate. • Maintain close collaboration with UNAIDS Regional Support Team Communication Adviser and HQ Communication Officers for effective overall coordination.

C. Networking and partnerships Ensure that the Country Office has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of individuals, groups, organizations and fora (including Government, UN, and bilateral counterparts), whose support is essential to/can assist in the advocacy and communication objectives of the communication strategy. • Develop, maintain and update partners contact list/database. • Help establish, document, review and refine process of working collaboratively with part-ners, including meetings, joint projects, information sharing etc. • Ensure or enhance the quality, consistency and appropriateness of country-specific com-munication materials, activities, processes and messages shared with partners. • Monitor, evaluate and share results and findings with partners.

D. Global priorities and campaigns In addition to national campaigns, ensure that the Country Office has an effective process in place for integrating and taking action on UNAIDS global communications priorities and campaigns, both disseminating these elements in a locally- appropriate way, as well as providing/enabling coverage of the work in the country for global use. • Support the UNAIDS global communications objectives and strategies through develop-ment of complementary country specific and local community materials and activities. Work plan should anticipate the inclusion of work on global priorities and campaigns. • Develop and deploy country office communication capacity to gather/facilitate the content and coverage of relevant country efforts. Use the opportunity to identify/highlight effec-tive programme activities and results. • Ensure regular communication and coordination with relevant communication focal points in country and regional offices/divisions.

E. Monitoring and evaluation Ensure that communication objectives of the communication strategy are regularly evaluated; analysis is undertaken to continuously improve the effectiveness of communication strategy, approach and activities; results and reports are prepared and shared on a timely basis. • Provide technical support to ensure that a set of communication performance indicators is identified and adjusted as necessary, and these communication indicators are incorporated or fed forwarded in the Annual Work Plan, etc. • Conduct timely and accurate monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure the communica-tions objectives are met and the strategy is effective. • Undertake lessons learned review of successful and unsuccessful communication experi-ences and share observations/findings internally.

• Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented. • Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations. • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities. • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

working with media, civil society organizations, governments, the United Nations system or others in the development and implementation of advocacy and communication strategies is essential.

o Experience in relevant areas such communications, outreach, branding, social media man-agement, publishing/ dissemination/ airing of communication products using various me-dia, etc. o Experience of work/ assignments/ projects with UN, its specialized agencies, or other mul-ti-lateral organizations is highly desirable. o Ability to convey complex ideas in a creative, clear, direct and lively style. o Proven knowledge of visual communications principles and fluency with design software.

New Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region is a large and bustling metropolis of some 14 million people undergoing rapid changes. The capital city is an administrative, cultural and commercial center with modern amenities and well connected by air. It is a safe place with large expatriate community drawn from embassies, UN agencies, MNCs and foreign businesses. It has short moderate winter and long hot summer.

UN Volunteer entitlements and allowances: The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to the UN Volunteer is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. For more information on entitlements please read the Conditions of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos ).

For information specific to this assignment, please see below: Voluntary Living Allowance (VLA): INR 50604.24 per month Entry lump sum (one-time payment): USD 400 (equivalent in INR) Exit allowance (paid on successful completion of the assignment): 1 VLA / 12 Months Medical and life insurance Cigna Private Insurance Leave entitlements: Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month Certified sick leave: 30 days Uncertified sick leave: 7 days Learning leave: 10 working days per consecutive 12 months Maternity leave: 16 weeks Paternity leaves: 10 days Access to UNV Learning Portal for Online Courses