Communications, Youth and Digital Inclusion Analyst

Contract

This is a IPSA-9 contract. This kind of contract is known as International Personnel Services Agreement. It is normally internationally recruited only. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education. More about IPSA-9 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.

Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

Travel:

1. 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.
2. Any travels related to official performance of duties will be covered by UNDP.

Office/Unit/Project Description:

UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH) is UNDP’s main knowledge and advisory hub for the countries serviced by UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Europe and CIS (RBEC). Through its regional programme, the IRH provides advisory support and knowledge management services to UNDP Country Offices in Europe and Central Asia.

UNDP’s Strategic Plan (2018-2021) prioritizes governance and peacebuilding as the key to strengthening the social contract between the people and the state in realizing resilient and sustainable development. Sustainable Development Goal 16 frames the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provision of access to justice for all, and the building of effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels as a priority for the 2030 development agenda. To contribute to this overall goal, the Governance and Peacebuilding Cluster in UNDP IRH works regionally and at country level on, among other things, advancing democratic governance, strengthening rule of law and human rights, and conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

Civic engagement and inclusive processes are critical to good governance and building sustainable peace. In addition, the contribution and empowerment of young men and women as agents of change and next generation decision-makers are vital to understanding emerging needs and demands, towards enhancing long term national capacities and shifting the narratives towards the future dimensions of development. Related to this, the role of digitalization and technology in accelerating development progress is an imperative that needs to be fully explored particularly in advancing governance and peacebuilding goals.

In 2020, as COVID-19 spread globally, governments grappled with the dual challenge of containing the virus while attempting to meet millions of people's needs. Beyond the immediate ramifications for public health and the economy, one of the rising challenges that COVID-19 continues to present is in the realm of good governance, peacebuilding, and social cohesion. The pandemic has generated unprecedented tension and anxiety as it spread throughout the world and has inevitably brought to question authorities' ability to respond to this unprecedented crisis. The level of government response effectiveness, coupled with inclusivity, transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights, has put the already precarious social contract and trust in many contexts to test further.

In this context, UNDP IRH is making conscious efforts to provide enhanced support to youth empowerment and development particularly in the areas of peace and security, digital inclusion and civic engagement, and communications and advocacy around governance and peacebuilding. Under the guidance of the Governance and Peacebuilding Team Leader, the Communications, Youth and Digital Inclusion Analyst will support COs and the IRH GPB Team in advancing and scaling up research, analytics, knowledge and programming on these issues.

Institutional Arrangement:

The Communications, Youth and Digital Inclusion Analyst will be part of the Governance and Peacebuilding (GPB) Team in the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub. S/he will be reporting directly to the GPB Team Leader.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

1) Formulation and implementation of innovative communications strategy around governance and peacebuilding issues, trends, and developments in the ECIS region.

• Coordinate with GPB team members and the IRH Communications Team in the preparation, content development, coordination of production and dissemination of substantive online and offline knowledge products, and communications and advocacy materials.
• Lead the conception and application of innovative communications and advocacy approaches and tools, including the use of social media, podcasts, and other online methodologies to ensure strategic outreach and engagement on governance and peacebuilding issues.
• Ensure alignment of GPB communications strategy with relevant UNDP regional and global communications strategies and engagement plans.
• Contribute to ensuring strategic, high quality, and impactful communications and advocacy materials around key issues on governance and peacebuilding, including through the Future of Governance Dialogues series, and the management of GPB Team’s online spaces, among others.
• Lead GPB team’s substantive communications and engagement in UN/international days celebrating relevant issues such as human rights, anti-corruption, peace, among others.

2) Substantively contribute to the design and conceptualization of knowledge, analysis and programming to address misinformation/disinformation and fake news and their intersection with social cohesion, public trust, and electoral processes.

• Participate in substantive discussions with UNDP Oslo Governance Center, Crisis Bureau and other UNDP units in developing innovative solutions around these issues.
• Support the coordination and organization of knowledge events, foras, and conferences related to this theme.

3) Coordinate and substantively support the formulation of regional and country-level youth initiatives, particularly in the areas of youth, peace and security (YPS), youth empowerment and leadership development, and innovative youth engagement processes as part of governance and peacebuilding processes.

• Contribute to and support substantive exploration of youth development and empowerment initiatives including as emerging from relevant youth projects in the region (e.g., UN RYCO), in coordination with UNDP COs, HQ, and relevant units, as well as relevant UN agencies and external partners.
• Identify and initiate youth engagement initiatives towards building and/or strengthening youth networks and cooperation around governance and peacebuilding in the region.

4) Provide substantive support to governance innovations particularly on advancing digital inclusion, civic engagement and digital activism.

• Support the organization of research, analysis and substantive dialogues to advance policy solutions on these areas of work.
• Help establish, maintain, promote and manage relations with organizations and individuals working on cutting-edge solutions on these areas of works.

5) Substantive support to accelerating the achievement of SDG16 in the region.

• Participate in substantive discussions around SDG16+, including representing GPB Team in relevant UNDP task teams.
• Work closely with COs and relevant UNDP teams in providing regular SDG16 updates to support communications, advocacy and information sharing on SDGs and SDG16 more specifically.

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 social sciences, political sciences, international relations, international development, economics or other related field.

Min. years of relevant Work experience

• At least two years’ work experience related to working with civic engagement, communication and advocacy, youth and digital platforms in addition to work experience in governance and peacebuilding issues is required;
• At least one year’s work experience on knowledge management is required.

Required skills

• Experience in organizing events both online and offline, including planning, logistics and reporting required.

Desired additional skills

• Working experience and proficiency in the use of innovative platforms (e.g., Microsoft Package, Canva, Visme, Mural, Miro and similar) an asset;
• Experience working with UNDP in the ECIS region in the area of governance and peacebuilding is considered an asset.

Required Language(s) (at working level)

• Excellent oral and written proficiency in English.