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.

BiH's strategic priority is accession to the EU. Therefore, in order to assist the country on its European path, UNDP BIH programme for 2021-2025 is streamlined through the following carefully-planned sectoral issues: • Climate change adaptation and mitigation • Sustainable management and protection of natural resources • Sustainable economic growth and employment • Policy and regulatory frameworks conducive to sustainable growth • Good governance and quality public services • Social policy & social services • Rule of law • Security • Empowerment of civil society • Vibrant and tolerant communities and active citizens.

The Energy and Environment Sector (EE) of the UNDP CO (Country Office) implements projects in the field of Climate Change Mitigation, Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction and Environmental Development geared towards decreasing economic, social and territorial disparities and sustainable management of environmental and energy resources, and green jobs creation through coordinated approach by national and subnational actors. All interventions are realised in close collaboration with relevant government stakeholders, other UN agencies, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, private sector and civil society.

Under the supervision of the Sector Leader, the UN Volunteer will work in close collaboration with all the projects within the EE Sector, as well as with partner institutions and organizations, ensuring successful and effective communication and promotion of key EE Sector concepts and the attained results. The UN Volunteer is expected to conceptualize, design and develop the Communication and Visibility Strategies, Plans and Raising Awareness Campaigns for Energy and Environment Sector’s Projects at UNDP. All this is to be done based on UNDP and Donor visibility guidelines and well-established relationship with key donors and partners. The UN Volunteer is expected to identify and maintain the most effective communication channels to highlight results of Energy and Environment Sector’s Projects.

UN Volunteer will ensure coherent communication is executed in full cooperation and coordination with the UNDP Communications Unit.

The UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: a) Support project managers in design and implementation of the communication strategies and plans for the Sector and Sector projects; In close collaboration with the UN/UNDP CO Communications Unit: • Conducts communications needs assessments for the EE sector as whole and projects; • In coordination with Project Managers, develops communication strategies and plans for the EE sector, if required, and sector projects with clearly defined goals, as well as communication and advocacy instruments; • Proactively develops ideas, proposes actions and provides advice for improved and coherent promotion of EE Sector results using the existing and new communication tools and channels, adequate for targeted audiences; • Ensures alignment of sectoral and project communication strategies, plans and activities with UNDP CO communication strategies, plans and guidelines, in close cooperation with Communications Unit; • Ensures effective implementation of the sectoral and projects’ communication strategies and plans; • Ensures effective and timely information exchange between the EE Sector and Communications Unit on all aspects related to communication plans and activities; • Provides inputs related to sectoral communications plans, actions and results to Communications Unit.

b) Management of public relations activities for the sector and sector projects; • Manages public relations (PR) events and campaigns related to the sector/sector projects; • Ensures all EE Sector communications products are produced in line with UNDP CO standards and guidelines; • Aligns all sector PR activities with the UN/UNDP CO Communications Unit public relations activities; • Administrates EE sector’s section within UNDP CO webpage and produces EE related content for UNDP webpage and social networks; • Develops weekly plans for online communications • Monitors media and informs designated staff on issues relevant to the programme • Produces (writes) various types of promotional materials, including but not limited to media advisories, press releases, op-eds, briefing materials, talking points (for senior UNDP staff), blogposts, web articles, posts for social networks, etc. • Continuously tracks media trends and activities related to energy efficiency, climate adaptation, climate mitigation, disaster risk reduction and environmental development in BiH and in UN system; • Coordinates production of all communications materials related to the EE Sector in general and projects (including but not limited to production of videos, photo essays and design tasks, as per project activities need); • Acts as a sector projects spokesperson, when required; • Provides timely and effective responds to media inquiries, in coordination with the Communications Unit. • Moderates sector and sector projects’ conferences when/if required.

c) Support to gender equality mainstreaming within the Sector. • Ensures gender equality mainstreaming in every communication related to the sector projects’ implementation; • Ensures that all communications material and media relate to sector are gender sensitive and evaluated from the gender point of view.

• Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing • Communication • Flexibility • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement

communications, advocacy, public relations, media content development, journalism, or other related experience;. • Demonstrated experience in gathering and producing multimedia communication content (photos, short stories / articles, videos, and other PI materials). • Excellent knowledge of the media landscape in Bosnia and Herzegovina • General understanding of B&H energy and environment issues and global Climate Change Mitigation, Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster risk Reduction and Environmental Development • Experience in using social media platforms and generating interest (followers) • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development • Ability to write clearly and concisely, driving through complex messages; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines • Previous experience as a volunteer at local, national, or international level is a distinct advantage

The UN designated state of alert for Bosnia and Herzegovina is Security Level 1 which is minimal and lowest security level in the Security Level System for the entire country, including the capital of Sarajevo. The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is generally quiet; all international agencies consider threats to their staff to be low at this time. However, BiH has the same problems as much of Europe, from pickpockets to traffic accidents, so please make sure you exercise appropriate personal security awareness and common sense.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country with the largest mine contamination problem. Over 670.000 mines and 650.000 unexploded ordinances on 10.000 locations estimated. Contaminated area estimated is over 2.000 km2 which is more than 4 % of the total territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Staff is advised to stay on well-travelled routes while in the country. See the http://www.bhmac.org . As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.