Communications Specialist

Volunteering Communications & PR

Overview

Support UNDP-DHL project communications, outreach, and advocacy efforts in Pakistan.

You have:

• Work experience at the national and/or international level in communications, preferably with human rights, law, or governance.
• Demonstrated track record in supporting organizations in development sector, or public or private sector, preferably in the areas of communications, human rights, or corporate social responsibility.
• Previous proven experience in managing communication or advocacy efforts campaign in the development sector context, preferable in the areas of governance, human rights, or social programs.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; and the ability to convey complex issues in a clear and engaging manner.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development.
• Proven ability to build and manage stakeholder relationships.
• Experience working with the UN or other international development organization is an asset.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.
• Have affinity with or interest in human rights volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Contract

This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.

UNDP works to improve the lives of vulnerable communities, with the overarching objective of preventing loss of development gains, promoting human rights, and finding sustainable pathways to development. UNDP projects under the democratic governance portfolio aims to strengthen state institutions, support democratic development and the rule of law, ensure crisis prevention, support policy development, and integrate gender equality into all areas of work. UNDP works to support the human rights ecosystem by strengthening human rights institutions to promote and protect human rights for all.

This UNV assignment is part of UNDP Pakistan’s Decentralization, Human Rights and Local Governance (DHL) project. The DHL Project works to strengthen rights-based governance in Pakistan at national and sub-national levels. For this objective, the DHL project engages government entities, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), private sector, civil society, academia, and other key stakeholders to protect, respect, and promote human rights. Furthermore, UNDP-DHL aims to empower local communities, human rights defenders, and vulnerable & marginalized populations to ensure an inclusive and participatory approach to the implementation of human rights laws, policies, and frameworks.

UNDP-DHL has commenced a multi-year project supported by the European Union (EU) which will engage a diverse set of public and private institutions, along with civil society stakeholders, to advance human rights across Pakistan. The project will focus on four pillars, including governmental human rights structures, national human rights institutions, human rights education and business and human rights.

Under the programme, UNDP-DHL continues its support to the Ministry of Human Rights and relevant government departments to strengthen their capacities, develop human rights policies, and national action plans and facilitated effective human rights data collection and reporting. UNDP-DHL’s approach towards strengthening governmental human rights structures for human rights implementation, reporting and follow up is integrated into activities and consultative processes across the programme, ensuring a holistic approach. The overall goal is to enhance the fulfilment of human rights in Pakistan. The main objectives of the programme with regards to strengthening human rights structures are:

• To improve the effectiveness of institutions and systems promoting, protecting, and fulfilling human rights. • To strengthen reporting and digitization capacities of national and sub-national governments to provide people centered, and inclusive services.

The incumbent UNV will be stationed at the Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR) in Islamabad and will be responsible for supporting the Ministry with its communications, outreach and advocacy efforts under the Huqooq–e–Pakistan II project.

Under the day-to-day direct supervision of Director (HR Wing) at MoHR, the Communications Specialist will support the MoHR with communications, outreach and advocacy of HeP II activities. The key responsibilities include:

• Communication Strategy Development: • Assess the context and undertake stakeholder mapping, audience segmentation, and identification of communication gaps and opportunities. • Develop a comprehensive communication strategy for the project, ensuring alignment with overall objectives, human rights principles, and key stakeholders’ needs. • Design targeted messaging strategies for different stakeholder groups (government, CSOs, private sector, media, and the general public) to promote the project's impact, milestones, and achievements. • Collaborate with the Project Coordination Expert to ensure the communication strategy reflects the project’s goals, timelines, and evolving contexts at both federal and provincial levels. • Conduct media and stakeholder landscape analysis to identify strategic opportunities for outreach and to enhance the project’s visibility in key national and provincial forums. • Establish metrics and tools to evaluate the effectiveness of the communication strategy, adjusting approaches as needed based on audience feedback, media engagement, and project needs. • Once the communication strategy is finalized, develop a Plan of Action for the implementation of the communication strategy.

• Communication Strategy Implementation: • Implement the communication strategy across various platforms (digital, print, media, events) to ensure consistent messaging and visibility for the project’s objectives and achievements. • Develop and oversee the production of key communication materials (press releases, newsletters, reports, presentations, and social media content) to ensure they align with the project’s strategic goals and human rights focus. • Coordinate with relevant federal ministries and provincial human rights departments for joint communications initiatives. • Manage the day-to-day execution of media outreach, including drafting press materials, engaging with journalists, and monitoring media coverage to enhance project visibility and public engagement. • Support the organization of public events, conferences, and workshops, ensuring effective promotion, media presence, and follow-up communication to maximize impact and stakeholder participation. • Collaborate with the Project Coordination Expert and provincial teams to ensure that communications are tailored to regional contexts, including language, cultural considerations, and local priorities. • Track, measure, and report on the performance of communication efforts, adjusting tactics as needed to improve engagement and meet project objectives. • Collaborate with the Project Coordination Expert and Program Implementation Specialist to identify key impact metrics and stories for communicating the project’s outcomes to internal and external stakeholders. • Liaise with UNDP Pakistan and the EU to ensure all communication and visibility materials on the project are in line with the their guidelines.

• Programmatic Learning Support and Stakeholder Coordination • Monitor the effectiveness of communication activities and contribute to documentation of best practices and lessons learned. • Work with the M&E team to integrate learning from monitoring data and field observations into communication materials, ensuring that successes and lessons learned are effectively shared. • Develop case studies, success stories, and testimonials from beneficiaries and stakeholders to showcase the human impact of the project’s interventions. • Facilitate internal reflection sessions for project teams can share insights and challenges, using those insights to enhance communication materials and future programming. • Support the development and dissemination of annual or semi-annual reports that highlight key achievements, lessons learned, and recommendations for scaling or adapting project activities.

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

• Work experience at the national and/or international level in communications, preferably with human rights, law, or governance. • Demonstrated track record in supporting organizations in development sector, or public or private sector, preferably in the areas of communications, human rights, or corporate social responsibility. • Previous proven experience in managing communication or advocacy efforts campaign in the development sector context, preferable in the areas of governance, human rights, or social programs. • Excellent oral and written communication skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; and the ability to convey complex issues in a clear and engaging manner • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development. • Proven ability to build and manage stakeholder relationships. • Experience working with the UN or other international development organization is an asset. • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel. • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment. • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines. • Have affinity with or interest in human rights volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

As this is a national UNV assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. UNV Field Unit will help you open a Pak rupee bank account with Standard Chartered Bank or any other local bank at your duty station.

Assignment remarks: This is a national UNV assignment, and a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) of PKR 183,920 is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents), as well as final repatriation (if applicable) and resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 1 month ago - Updated 28 days ago - Source: unv.org