Graphic Design Specialist (UNESP)

UNDP Afghanistan Mission Statement:

UNDP supports stabilization, state-building, governance and development priorities in Afghanistan. UNDP support, in partnership with the Government, the United Nations system, the donor community and other development stakeholders, has contributed to institutional development efforts leading to positive impact on the lives of Afghan citizens. Over the years, UNDP support has spanned such milestone efforts as the adoption of the Constitution; Presidential, Parliamentary and Provincial Council elections; institutional development through capacity-building to the legislative, the judicial and executive arms of the state, and key ministries, Government agencies and commissions at the national and subnational levels. UNDP has played a key role in the management of the Law and Order Trust Fund, which supports the Government in developing and maintaining the national police force and in efforts to stabilize the internal security environment. Major demobilization, disarmament and rehabilitation and area-based livelihoods and reconstruction programmes have taken place nationwide. UNDP Programmes in Afghanistan have benefited from the very active support of donors. UNDP Afghanistan is committed to the highest standards of transparency and accountability and works in close coordination with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the UN system as a whole to maximize the impact of its development efforts on the ground.

Organizational context:

The UN Electoral Support Project (UNESP) is the international community’s programming vehicle to support the next elections in Afghanistan, including the parliamentary and district council elections announced by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) for 7 July 2018. The project has two overall objectives – 1) to build the capacity of the Afghan electoral institutions (the Independent Elections Commission and the Electoral Complaints Commission) to implement elections in line with the national electoral legal framework and Afghanistan’s international commitments; 2) to allow a programming mechanism for the international community to partially finance the elections as per the request of the Government of Afghanistan. The project follows previous UN projects in support of the Afghan electoral process, most notably the Enhancing Legal and Electoral Capacity for Tomorrow (ELECT) projects, from 2006-2011 (ELECT I) and 2012-2015 (ELECT II), and the UNDP Project Initiation Plan that is in place since July 2015 – October 2017. The UNESP places the UN’s electoral support to Afghanistan directly under the political and supervisory oversight of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), and reflects the growing sustainability of the Afghan electoral process, as evidenced by the Government of Afghanistan’s financial commitment to both electoral institutions, and the provision of significant in-kind support to the implementation of elections. The Project Board, under the overall political guidance of the UNAMA Deputy Special Representative for Political, will be co-chaired by UNAMA Deputy Special Representative for Political and the Chairpersons of the IEC and ECC or their delegates depending on the agenda item under discussion. It will be comprised of all key stakeholders to oversee and approve UNESP’s budget, annual working plans and policy in support of the Afghan electoral institutions. Project implementation support will be provided by UNDP Country Office, reporting, on fiduciary and operational matters, to the UNAMA Deputy Special Representative for Development/ UN Resident Coordinator/ UNDP Resident Representative through the UNDP Country Director.

Along with support to both electoral institutions, UNESP will also support Afghan civil society’s civic and voter education and observation efforts to enhance the quality and quantity of participation in the electoral process. Overall, the project will have three outputs: (i) administration of credible elections is facilitated by the meeting of key IEC structural and planning milestones; (ii) Credible electoral dispute resolution is provided by the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) (iii) public outreach (along with support to civil society) to encourage citizen engagement in the electoral process. Mainstreaming of gender throughout the project is evident in key output indicators related to women’s participation in all three project outputs, reflecting the importance that UNESP places on increasing the position of women in Afghan electoral and political life. The project also aims at supporting the EMBs in strengthening integrity of the electoral process by enhancing accountability of responsible actors and supporting the implementation of electoral fraud mitigation mechanisms. Assisting the EMBs to implement measures to increase public confidence in election and democracy will be mainstreamed through the electoral assistance provided.

The UNESP will be implemented under Direct Implementation Modality (DIM). UNDP rules and regulations will govern the project implementation including, but not limited to; resource management, procurement, recruitment, audit and evaluation. IEC and ECC are the main partners of the project. The Project will be managed by a Deputy Chief Electoral Advisor/Project Manager (PM), reporting, on fiduciary and operational matters, to the UNDP Country Director, and substantively to the UN Chief Electoral Advisor. The Country Office will ensure that the project’s monitoring, reporting, procurement and recruitment functions are carried out fully in line with UNDP’s programming requirements, and, in this respect, the Project will develop a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework to track project progress and results. The Deputy CEA/Project Manager through the project structure will ensure adherence to project implementation requirements, stakeholder coordination and timely project reporting, while the CEA will ensure effective donor coordination.

Organizational Context of the Post

Under the overall guidance of the of the Chief Electoral Advisor/UNESP Director and the supervision of Senior Electoral Operations Policy Advisor to IEC and the Election Information Management Specialist, in close coordination with the IEC, the Graphic Design Specialist will work closely with the IEC DCEO Operations to advise the IEC on the design and security features of printed materials in support of electoral process conducted in Afghanistan (Voter Registration, Candidate Nomination, Presidential, Parliamentary, Provincial Council and District Council elections) and associated Public Outreach campaigns and Voter education requests.

The consultant will also review and report on the present status of the IEC Graphics Unit, the report to include capacities in staffing, equipment and the local commercial / publication print industry. 

The Graphic Design Specialist will be responsible for the following key functions to achieve desired results:

Summary of key functions:

1.Provide technical support to IEC on all aspects of the ballot paper production process, including, designing, printing, packaging, storage and security for all electoral processes;

2.Support the IEC in production of non-sensitive printed materials;

3.Capacity Development: Office Best Practices – Supported Office Set-up and Training Programs;

4.Support the IEC in their cooperation with publishing agencies, art production companies, and printing houses

In this section list the five primary responsibilities of the position.  As needed add additional context below the responsibilities.  Tip: Focus on what the job entails now how to do the job.

1.Provide technical support to IEC on all aspects of the ballot paper production process, including, designing, printing, packaging, storage and security for all electoral processes.

• Advise IEC in the development of multiple options for design and process for generation of the following ballot papers, Presidential, Parliamentary, Provincial Council and District Council Elections;
• Develop multiple options for optimized ballot design and production;
• Assist with the development of ballot artwork and security features as well as transfer of data into final ballot designs;
• Optimization of the ballot design and their production that will minimize time for generating large amounts of ballots for future electoral events;
• Establishing proper quality assurance mechanism for print production;
• Assist in the specifications of ballot paper design and security features in support of the procurement processes.

2.Support the IEC / ECC in production of non-sensitive printed materials.

• Advise and assist the IEC in production of voter education/information and training materials;
• Support the Public Outreach Department of the IEC through recommending innovative and effective methods of production of voter education and training materials;
• Aid the IEC Graphic Design Unit in the designing and layout of all advertising, training, and printed materials for IEC POD;
• Encourage the implementation of new and/or improved designs for all public outreach materials for the upcoming elections, by the means of (1) re-development and design of artwork, (2) implementing a creative approach to graphics, images and/or illustrations, photos, and charts, (3) provide guidance and technical solutions for voter education and/or information and promotional materials using the latest creative graphic and technical approach;
• Deliver creative and innovative ideas for print and visual materials, and advise on template design for voter information and education materials;
• Support the IEC through guidance on creative graphic and technical solutions and production of special materials for effective targeting of traditionally marginalized groups such as those in rural areas, minority groups, youth, women, persons with disabilities and the elderly;
• Support the IEC with the design and development of artwork, creative graphics images/ illustrations, photos, charts, and technical solutions for voter education/information and promotional materials;
• Assist the Public Awareness Section in determining and designing illustrative material, images, typesetting, layout, font style, size, format of materials and timescales;
• Improve and edit existing art-works, photos, charts and other graphic elements.

3.Capacity Development: Office Best Practices – Supported Office Set-up and Training Programs

• Model good planning and monitoring processes for all work outputs;
• Support the Public Outreach Advisor in the establishment of an institutional memory and materials archive and the transference of archive;
• Develop and consolidate the capacity of counterparts through knowledge and experience transfer in a sustainable manner and provision of advice, support and feedback when appropriate;
• Develop the capacity and knowledge of the IEC's staff responsible for design, production and quality control of voter education materials;
• Assist in installation new graphic design equipment, hardware and software;
• Design, prepare, and conduct a comprehensive training program to enhance the graphics design skills of the IEC GU on the correct use of the software and hardware available in order to autonomously design professional standard material needed by the IEC activities;
• Design, prepare, and conduct:
• 2 software training sessions (Basic and Advanced) at Certified Adobe training centre for Adobe Creative Suite/Cloud designing package (Photoshop, Illustrator, In Design)
• Design and prepare 2 software trainings (Basic and Advance) at Certified Adobe training centre for video animations and cartoons (Adobe After Effects, Adobe Flash)
• Print technologies training
• Technical processes training
• Design processes training
• Organization of field trips to international printing companies as part of Print technologies training (design, prepress, printing and production) in basic graphic design skills and in developing capacity building activities for designated staff members.

4.Support the IEC in their cooperation with publishing agencies, art production companies, and printing houses

• Advice the IEC on project management techniques for work performed by outside agencies, art services, printers, etc.;
• Ensure that voter information and education materials design and production processes are done according to agreed production timelines, standard operating procedures, and if not, advise on appropriate remedies;
• To support the IEC in liaising with external printers on a regular basis to ensure deadlines are met and materials are produced to the highest quality;
• Provide guidance and advice on developing procedures for quality assurance for the printing of voter information, education and promotional materials (e.g., technical specifications);
• Advise the IEC on quality control mechanisms that can ensure that voter information and education materials are produced according to graphic standards and technical specifications;
• Participate in evaluation process for printing of election related materials;
• In coordination with the Graphics Unit, supervise printing and advise the IEC on quality control mechanisms which will ensure materials are printed to an appropriate standard as per specifications, and packaged, labeled, and delivered according to requirements;
• The Specialist will be responsible for contract management of printed materials and liaise with printing companies.

The Graphic Design Specialist will also provide support and advice to the other UNESP technical advisors and consultants to ensure the input of advisors, including planning and assessment, respects and integrates equal opportunity and gender equity policy and practice.

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the overall UNESP efficiency in providing advisory services and success in supporting gender-equitable strategy development; developing IEC and ECC staff capacity development and institutional consolidation; providing accurate, thoroughly researched and documented electoral advice; and ensuring client satisfaction and to enhance UNESP credibility in contributing to gender and public outreach equitable conditions for the conducting of elections.

Primary Competencies:

Knowledge Management

Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge

Team building

Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of professionals towards common goals

Communication

Ability to effectively communicate intensions and requirements to internal and external stakeholders

Education:

• Advanced University Degree (master’s or equivalent) or Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Arts / Design / Engineer, Technical Design, or Certificate / Diploma in related fields;
• Master’s degree minimum 7 years of relevant work experience, and with bachelor’s degree minimum 10 years relevant, diversified, and professional experience in graphic arts, design, and printing technologies.

Experience:

• Previous experience in assisting Election Management Bodies and/or United Nations Election Projects in the design of electoral materials related to Voter Registration, Candidate Nomination, Ballot Papers, Public Outreach Materials and other materials both sensitive “security” features and non-sensitive related in electoral supporting processes;
• Advanced graphic computer skills with Windows and Mac OS;
• Excellent knowledge of election related issues;
• Ability to apply development theory to the specific country context to identify creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations;
• Excellent graphic skills;
• Knowledge/experience in working with Arabic fonts is a must;
• Previous experience in Afghanistan or other Islamic countries an asset.

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Scam warning