Public Information and Communication Specialist

Contract

This is a IPSA-10 contract. This kind of contract is known as International Personnel Services Agreement. It is normally internationally recruited only. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about IPSA-10 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.

1. 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.
2. A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
3. Three writing samples.

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.
2. The Specialist will cover the cost of visa and work permit that UNDP will facilitate

Office/Unit/Project Description

Strengthening accountability and tackling corruption are essential pre-requisites for Iraq's long-term stability, economic recovery, and development. Both Iraqi and regional Kurdish governments have recently initiated steps to drive an ambitious anticorruption agenda. However, significant gaps remain in legislative and strategic framework, investigation and adjudication, enforcement and recovery of stolen assets. Iraq adopted in March 2021 the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, but implementation measures are needed. UNDP in Iraq launched a project in May 2021 to support public partners at federal and the Kurdistan Regional Government to improve their capacity and legal framework to combat corruption and conduct commercial litigation.

The project titled “support to justice initiatives curbing corruption and promoting commercial dispute resolution” (hereinafter, Anti-Corruption & Arbitration Initiatives, ACAI) is funded by the European Union for a period of four years. The project works closely with the Prime Minister Office in Baghdad and supports directly the Commission of Integrity, the Higher Judicial Council and the Legal and Integrity Committees of the Council of Representatives. In Erbil, the project follows a similar mechanism of collaboration. Further, the project works with key civil society and investigative media organizations.

The project has the following specific outcomes: (1) Improved Legislative and Strategic Framework for Anti- Corruption Reforms; (2) The justice sector, lawyers and CoI are better equipped to process corruption offences due to (2.1) improved technical skills relevant for corruption investigation, prosecution, adjudication and (2.2) improved integrity rules of the justice sector; (3) Improved capacity and legal framework to conduct commercial litigation through (3.1) better legal framework and capacity building for arbitration and (3.2) further development of the commercial court; (4) Create a climate of support in Parliament for anti-corruption reforms; (5) Increased transparency and public accountability.

Institutional Arrangement:

The Specialist shall report directly to the Project Manager, Anti-Corruption & Arbitration Initiatives (ACAI), to whom all tasks should be provided within agreed timelines. The Specialist will closely work with a team of Specialists and management support.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, the Public Information and Communication Specialist will provide advisory and technical support to assess and review the public outreach and communication strategies of key public partners, support them to implement the access to information legislation and enable their improved engagement with civil society and media. Specifically, the Specialist will undertake the following:

• Design, plan and implement an assessment of gaps in public outreach and strategic communication of federal and regional Commissions of Integrity and Higher Judicial Councils on integrity and anticorruption efforts notably on investigation and adjucation of corruption cases;
• Develop long term public outreach and communication strategies for federal and regional Commissions of Integrity and Higher Judicial Councils for their integrity and anticorruption efforts
• Ensure ownership and buy-in from supported public institutions on key findings of the assessment and the adoption of the strategies;
• Support federal and regional Commissions of Integrity in their communication with the Parliaments notably with regards to passing of anti-corruption legislation and leveraging both Parliaments’ oversight role to enhance anticorruption efforts;
• Conduct information campaigns within both Parliaments in collaboration with the Commissions of Integrity and the Integrity Committees of the Parliaments to sensitize MPs about the key anti-corruption international legal instruments, international obligations of Iraq, standards of conduct for MPs and legislative reform to ensure the recognition of international arbitration;
• Undertake surveys of MPs and Parliament staffers to determine their understanding of integrity standards, anticorruption and arbitration legislation and policy;
• Create and run an anti-corruption forum comprised of representatives of the legislative and integrity committees, civil society, CoI and the Board of Supreme Audit to meet quarterly to discuss corruption and integrity challenges;
• Map civil society and media organization undertaking anti-corruption efforts to identity thereputable entities for future constructive engagement with public institutions and development partners;
• Enable civil society and the media to conduct responsible reporting on corruption cases, effectively advocate on legislation and policy and present their research & monitoring work to public officials and development partners notably by facilitating their access through forum, working group, access to information desks & hotlines, and other mechanisms established by the project;
• Ensure training of reputable civil society and media organizations on investigative journalism and the use of anticorruption legislation including access to information and policies;
• Support federal and regional Commissions of Integrity, Higher Judicial Councils, Parliament and other relevant public entities to implement the access to information legislation by establishing access to info desks, training of public officials, communication to citizens, establishing channels for citizen to access information including the use of online systems to file requests, and dissemination website for practive disclosure of information to citizens;
• Lead on lessons learned work and communications of the project including the revisions and implementation of the visibility & communication plan, publication of a monthly newsletter on anti- corruption efforts and other UNDP communication events & material in close collaboration with the head of UNDP Communication Unit.
• Actively seek opportunities for project communication and work with UNDP Communication Unit to ensure visibility for the project, the donor, UNDP and public partners engaged in anti-corruption reform;
• Support the management team on donor and internal UNDP reporting.

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

• A master’s degree in journalism, communications, public relations, social sciences, or a related field

Min. years of relevant Work experience

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in communications at the national or international level, including experience in media relations

• Experience in drafting communication and public outreach strategies for national public institutions

• Track record of working with civil society on governance, rule of law, justice or similar fields.

Required skills and competencies

• High analytical skills oriented towards problem-solving
• Ability to engage in substantive technical discussion with public officials
• Sensitivity and adaptability to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age.

Desired additional skills and competencies

• Experience in teaching and training
• Skilled writer with track record of communication for public dissemination
• Good knowledge or experience of UN agencies
• Experience and knowledge of the Middle-East and preferably of Iraq

Required Language(s) (at working level)

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Arabic is preferred.