Communications and External Relations Associate

The Position:

The Communications and External Relations Associate will be based in Kyiv, will support high-profile donor-focused communications activities for UNFPA Ukraine.    

You will report to the Communications Specialist.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff who embody these international norms and standards and will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results

Job Purpose:

The Communications and External Relations Associate will support UNFPA Ukraine's donor communications, visibility, and external relations efforts by ensuring high-quality communication of donor-funded programmes and compliance with donor visibility requirements. The incumbent will contribute to strengthening partnerships, advocacy, and resource mobilization through strategic communications, while ensuring alignment with UNFPA branding standards and donor agreements.

You would be responsible for:

• Supporting the planning and implementation of donor-focused communications and visibility activities in coordination with programme, communications, and external relations teams.
• Coordinating the production of donor-facing communications products, including stories, press releases, newsletters, factsheets, multimedia content, and visibility materials.
• Monitoring and ensuring compliance with donor branding, visibility, and communications requirements across programme implementation.
• Maintaining donor communications tracking systems, dashboards, and databases, and contributing to donor reporting and external relations products.
• Coordinating with programme teams, implementing partners, consultants, and service providers to ensure timely delivery of communications products.
• Supporting quality assurance of communications materials and contributing to media monitoring, knowledge management, and communications planning.
• Performing other communications and external relations duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, International Relations, Social Sciences, Political Science, Development Studies, Linguistics, or another relevant field.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Minimum three years of progressively responsible experience in communications, donor communications, external relations, public relations, journalism, partnerships, advocacy, or related fields.
• Experience producing communications products such as human-interest stories, press releases, newsletters, web stories, social media content, and donor visibility materials.
• Experience with donor visibility, branding requirements, and communications for international organizations, UN agencies, NGOs, or humanitarian/development partners is an asset.
• Experience coordinating photo, video, design, editorial or other communications production processes.
• Excellent writing, editing, coordination, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Good understanding of humanitarian and development communications, ethical storytelling, protection principles and working with affected populations.
• Knowledge of UNFPA’s mandate areas, including sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, youth, population and data, is an asset.
• Good knowledge of social media platforms, digital communications and visual content formats.
• Strong writing, editing and quality assurance skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly for different audiences.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to track multiple deliverables, deadlines and requirements across teams.
• Strong interpersonal and coordination skills, with the ability to work effectively with colleagues across technical, operational and field teams.
  
   

Languages: 

• Fluency in English and Ukrainian.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

Functional Competencies:

• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization
• Building strategic partnerships and alliances
• Results-based communications and reporting
• Managing donor visibility, branding, and communications requirements
• Producing high-quality communications products
• Planning, monitoring, and coordinating communications deliverables
• Supporting resource mobilization and external relations through communications

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including leave days, health insurance and additional remuneration for pensions and social security obligations.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

UNFPA does not tolerate sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and abuse of authority. Thus, all selected candidates undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Selection and engagement of LSC personnel may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or selection process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.