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United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

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Position: Regional Communications Advisor
Job Time: Full-Time
Job Type: Contract
Place of Work: Addis Ababa - Ethiopia
Posted date: 3 years ago
Deadline: Submition date is over

Background

The Regional Communications Adviser based in Addis Ababa reports primarily to the HQ-based Communications Group’s Director in the Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy (BERA) with a secondary reporting line to the
Director of the Addis Ababa Regional Service Centre.
 
The Regional Communications Adviser is responsible for developing and managing UNDP’s regional communications strategy aligned to the Organization’s corporate goals and external engagement priorities. The Regional Communications Adviser is responsible for ensuring a consistent approach to communications in the region and alignment with corporate and regional priorities, advocacy campaigns and messaging.
 
He/she supports the Director of the Regional Service Centre, the RBA Regional Director and the country, project and programme offices in the region to promote, market and position UNDP and its thought leadership in the Africa region. 
 
He/she provides communication advice to the Director of the Regional Service Centre, the UNDP Regional Director and Resident Representatives across the region, including on risk management, contributing to and leading content and campaign development, developing media relations, managing digital communications, and ensuring a high performing communications team is in place.
 
He/she provides Communications Officers in Country Offices with guidance, direct technical support, coaching and training as required, as well as ensuring quality control. In addition, he/she works in close collaboration with UNDP Regional and HQ staff of other UN Agencies, donors, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders to ensure successful implementation of corporate and regional communications goals.
 
He/she supervises the Programme Analyst for Partnerships & Resource Mobilization (P2 JPO position) based in Addis Ababa.
 
Duties and Responsibilities
 
1. Develop, implement and monitor a regional external communications strategy for Africa:
  • Develop and implement a regional communications strategy which integrates corporate and regional communications and advocacy goals and priorities including the Strategic Offer for Africa and African Influencers for Development Initiative;
  • Support country offices in the region in designing and implementing effective national external communications strategies aligned to corporate and regional advocacy priorities; 
  • Integrate issue-based advocacy and campaigns into the communications strategy in support of key priority areas relevant to the region in line with the corporate advocacy priorities and positioning;
  • Ensure that key results and relevant success stories are incorporated into strategic communications outreach;
  • Integrate regional communications strategy implementation results in BERA strategic monitoring;
  • Monitor and measure the impact of the communication strategy and make adjustments accordingly; 
2.  Market UNDP in the Africa region:
  • Project UNDP as a substantive thought leader within the Africa region promoting its mandate, mission and purpose via effective multimedia communications;
  • Promote UNDP’s principles and unique selling points as a tangible value proposition with regional audiences;
  • Attract and nurture key relationships with a variety of institutional partners in the region through targeted outreach and advocacy;
  • In collaboration with BERA HQ and RBA HQ Partnership and Communication Team and the BERA Regional Partnership Advisor, increase coverage and understanding of UNDP’s work in the region through strategic media and/or donor outreach using innovative communication tools and various types of media;
  • In collaboration with BERA HQ and the Director of the Regional Service Centre for Africa guide the production of results-based communications materials for distribution to donors and other key constituents; and
  • Organize regional public campaigns that promote UNDP and influence the development agenda based on the current program and new initiatives.
  • Provide strategic communications advice to UNDP management across the region.
3. Lead multi-channel thought leadership campaigns and media outreach in the Africa region, working closely with international and regional media:
  • In line with agreed strategies, support BERA HQ, the Director of the Regional Service Centre for Africa, the RBA Regional Director and the Resident Representatives to promote UNDP’s work, vision and perspectives globally and in the region with special attention on results and impact through media outreach, using new types of media and communication tools as appropriate;
  • Act as the lead communications focal point on operational visits and country and regional level engagements by the Director of the Regional Service Centre and the Regional Director, including drafting communications plans, overseeing country office communications colleagues’ preparations, and preparing, editing, fact-checking and quality controlling high-quality talking points, speeches, press statements, and other written materials;
  • Promote, advocate and raise awareness around UNDP activities, results, flagship initiatives through a variety of communication vehicles, such as roundtable discussions, press conferences, briefing sessions, interviews, report launches, etc.;
  • Identify and negotiate event partnerships, and prepare the Director of the Regional Service Centre for Africa  for speaking engagements and other public relations functions;
  • Enhance understanding and knowledge of journalists and key interlocutors on development issues through substantive regional workshops and training sessions using UNDP reports, data and experts.
  • Proactively market UNDP’s work by regularly pitching UNDP success stories and placing UNDP experts for interviews and commentaries in print and multimedia outlets and by strategically managing all of RBA’s multimedia outlets;
  • Draft and/or edit a range of content across all formats, including media relations materials (press releases & advisories, news briefs, fact sheets for inclusion in media kits and further public outreach); emails; long-form articles; speeches; key messages; social; video and photography;
  • Assist and guide country offices on timely responses to reputational management inquiries raised by media and donors, in close consultation with the Communications Group at HQ;
  • Monitor and analyze media coverage in the region and share information with the Regional Bureau and the BERA HQ Communications Group;
  • Develop, recommend and issue responses to negative press about UNDP mitigating risk to institutional reputation;
  • Foster partnerships that help UNDP achieve its global and regional objectives.
4. Facilitate capacity-building, knowledge-sharing and quality control in the Africa region:
  • Work closely with country offices to support their agreed strategic communications objectives, offering mentoring and advice when needed;
  • Provide guidance, coaching and mentoring to Country Office Communications staff, especially in the design and implementation of national communications strategies and the Partnerships and Communications Strategy/Action Plans (PCAPs);
  • Provide or facilitate communications training to programme staff and managers based in Country Offices as needed;
  • Provide training to CO communications staff and introduce new, cost-effective digital technologies for the more rapid collection and dissemination of multimedia materials;
  • Work with the Strategy, Analysis and Research Team in HQ to ensure quality control and brand management for regional publications, including compliance with UNDP Communication toolkit and corporate branding toolkits;
  • Continuously review work produced by CO communications staff and ensure it is of the highest standards of UNDP.

Competencies

Core
Innovation
Ability to make new and useful ideas work
 
Leadership
Ability to persuade others to follow
 
People Management
Ability to improve performance and satisfaction
 
Communication
Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
 
Delivery
Ability to get things done
 
Technical/Functional
Primary
Marketing
Ability to communicate the value of a product or service
 
Media Relations
Ability to form and maintain meaningful working relationships with various members of the media
 
Brand and Quality Management
Ability to position a UNDP brand and uphold it to a high level of quality
 
Multimedia writing/editing 
Ability to originate or edit written content for media and the general public to be disseminated through press or other online outlets
 
Strategic Planning
Ability to make decisions that align with strategy, vision, and mission
 
Partnerships
Ability to engage with other agencies and forge productive working relationships
 
Secondary
Learning and Development
Knowledge of enterprise learning and development issues, concepts, and principles, and the ability to apply them to enhance the fulfillment and performance of employees
 
UN System
Knowledge of the UN System and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations
 
Training
Ability to ascertain need, plan, design, and execute training
 
 
Required Skills and Experience
 
Education:
  • Master's degree in communications, PR, marketing, media relations, journalism, international relations or a development field, or Bachelor’s degree with twelve (12) years of relevant work experience in lieu of an advanced degree. 
Experience:
  • A minimum of ten (10) years with a Master’s degree and twelve (12) years with a Bachelor’s degree, of relevant experience in one or more of the following areas: public relations, communications, campaigns, journalism or advocacy, including 3-5 years at the international level
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience in media relations and/or advocacy campaigns at the international level, using traditional and social media
  • Previous experience with a multilateral or UN organization is a strong asset
Language Requirements:
  • Fluency in English both oral and written, is required.  Working knowledge of French language is an asset