Communications Specialist

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

Eligibility criteria

Minimum age: 25 years old. Nationals of the country of assignment are not eligible, except the assignments in Headquarters duty stations.

Description of task

Under the guidance and the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Adviser (CTA), and in close cooperation with the NEC Deputy Executive Director and the NEC Communication Unit, the incumbent will provide technical advice to the NEC in the following areas:

Support the NEC to implement, manage and monitor its Communication strategy:

• Support the NEC Communication team in its day-to-day activities, including but not limited to, contributing to outreach through organizing events and setting up activities;
• Ensure quality, consistency, accuracy and ethics of all communication tools and materials (press releases, videos, social media posts, reports, etc.);
• Ensure language quality in English of all communication tools and materials;
• Provide technical assistance and advice to the NEC, including but not limited to (i) internal communication between NEC Departments, and between NEC HQ and Magisterial Offices; and (ii) external communication with particular focus on two-way-communication with electoral stakeholders;
• Support capacity-building of the NEC to develop a regular and transparent communication mechanism with key electoral stakeholder, focusing on two-way dialogue and engagement;
• Advise on communication plans, as requested by each stage of the electoral process, with the view of enhancing confidence of electoral stakeholders in the process;
• Where applicable, support electoral reform communication plan to ensure maximum publicity of the reform steps undertaken by the NEC;
• Support the design of the Communication plan for national elections;
• Advice on effective planning of the voter education activities, if needed support NEC in development of civic and voter education material;
• Ensure that cross-cutting themes such as gender and human rights are incorporated into all NEC communications;
• Develop guidelines and advise NEC on how to engage the media or public relations, facilitating the implementation of the NEC Communication Strategy.

Build the capacity of the NEC to develop a regular and transparent communication mechanism with key stakeholder groups and strategic partners:

• Promote incorporation of electoral best practices and suggest innovative and effective ways to conduct media and communications activities for electoral processes;
• Enhance capacity of the NEC in electronic media communication;
• Work closely with the NEC Communication staff to ensure on-the-job learning and improvement drafting internal and external communications and press releases and electoral information;
• Advice on strategic communication aimed at female voters, youth, minority groups, persons with disabilities;
• Support the NEC media and communications strategy to further develop effective election-related information and targeted messages.

Online strategy and support:

• Support NEC in developing online communication strategy;
• Regularly update NEC’s Website; regularly update social media channels (Twitter/Facebook); assist in maintaining NEC’s web photo database by processing and uploading photos and captions;
• Organize training on web management, social media, and new communication tools, and photo database for the NEC staff;
• Support NEC digital communication and web content development, support NEC online strategy to generate national and international support;
• Support the development and reinforcement of already existing web tools in order to enhance the visibility of NEC, UNDP, and its partners;
• Assist in positioning NEC as a knowledge leader and pioneer in the area of online communication and social media in the area of electoral democracy;
• Contribute to start and scale-up of an interactive communication model that gives young people a voice in electoral governance;
• Ensure systematic information updates and propose content for social media platforms (photos, videos, posts and articles).

Support NEC as an electoral institution to identify communication goals that underscore effective electoral governance:

• Support NEC in developing key performance indicators and monitor effectively the implementation of the communication strategy;
• Support record-keeping with a view of enhancing NEC’s transparency;
• Support NEC in fully updating its website, ensuring that all election-related documents are timely published at the NEC website;
• Promote, through effective communication and information sharing, transparency in NEC’s proceedings.

Report on delivery of outputs and support the Electoral Support Project to communicate effectively:

• Provide regular briefing to the Deputy Executive Director for Programs and Director of Communication and to the Project’s CTA on activities and progress toward target;
• Regularly analyze communication challenges and provide solutions;
• Provide regular reports on activities conduct, evaluating progress towards target;
• Provide internal office support to programme staff on the production of quality information and communication materials to strengthen Project’s visibility;
• In consultation with CTA, take responsibility where required to adapt and disseminate Project’s material to the UNDP Country Office, Joint Task Force for Electoral Assistance, Government, development partners, and others;
• Develop partnerships with individuals, groups and organizations whose support is essential to the achievement of communication objectives (i.e. media), and strengthen their capacity through appropriate communication training, access to updated information, supplies and equipment and through experience-sharing;
• Support the Project in collating and keeping the record of its communication products.

Carry out other tasks as requested by the CTA in relation to the communication portfolio.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Qualifications/Requirements

Required degree level:

Master degree or equivalent

Education - Additional Comments:

Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, political science, international relations or related field

Required experience:

36 Months

Experience remark:

• A minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience – media / communication / spokesperson / public or external relations, preferably in the election context;
• Comparative experience in election administration, knowledge of electoral processes and the interests of electoral stakeholders in supporting the processes;
• Experience in providing direct technical assistance to the Electoral Management Bodies is an asset;
• Experience in capacity-building and institutional strengthening, mentoring or coaching experience is an asset;
• Experience in working in post-conflict or transitional countries is an asset;
• Experience working with the UN, its agency, or an international organization supporting election is an asset
• Experience working in Liberia or region of Western Africa would be an advantage.

Language skills:

• English(Mandatory), Level - Fluent

Area of expertise:

Journalism, mass media and broadcasting, Arts, music, photography and film, Public information and reporting

Area of expertise details:

• Communication;
• Press advisory;
• Graphic design;
• Social Media management

Driving license:

No

Competencies values:

Commitment and Motivation, Communication, Integrity, Planning and Organizing, Working in Teams

Application procedure:

* Not yet registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

Please first register your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/signup. Important: After creating your account, complete all sections of your profile and submit it. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink. Lastly, select the special call to which you would like to apply.

* Already registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

Please first update your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/profile. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink to select the special call to which you would like to apply.y.

Application deadline: 01-11-2020