Background

The UN General Assembly, and all its 193-member countries, in September 2015 adopted a global development vision entitled Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This 2030 Agenda was designed as a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity.  It lays out 17 new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets, to stimulate global action over the next 15 years on issues critical to humanity and the planet. India committed to these SDGs at the September 2015 UN Summit and the SDGs officially came into force on 1st January 2016. The Government of India has actively engaged in mainstreaming the SDGs in its work from early 2016. NITI Aayog, the National Institution for Transforming India, has been entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating the efforts on SDGs with ministries and states, indicative of “whole of government” approach. NITI Aayog has prepared an Action Agenda (3 Years) and is preparing medium term perspective plan (7 years) and long term (15 years) goals for the country through a 15-year vision document for a period up to 2030, which will be co-terminus with Sustainable Development Goals. NITI Aayog has also developed the Output Outcome Monitoring Framework – OOMF. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has prepared the draft National Indicator Framework (NIF) consisting of 306 indicators.  Based on 62 high priority indicators, NITI Aayog has prepared an SDG India Baseline Index in the year 2018 in which the State of Punjab is in the category of ‘Performer’. NITI Aayog is now in the process of publishing the SDG India Index Baseline Report 2.0 for the year 2019.
The UNDP India Country Programme Document CPD (2018-2022) signed with the Government of India (GoI) aims at transformative change and development impact at scale. In line with this, UNDP has initiated active support to many state governments in mainstreaming SDG’s within their schemes and programmes as a part of an UN system wide to SDG roll out for visioning and planning in India. UNDP has done some pioneering work on localizing SDGs in States like Uttarakhand, Haryana, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and North East. The focus of the agency is to support the States in Localisation & Integration and to provide technical capacity in the implementation framework for SDGs. In view of India’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda, the Economic and Statistical Organisation (ESO), Department of Planning has come up with vision document focusing on sectoral growth aligned with SDGs and is in the process of developing State Indicator Framework also. State level consultations are underway to align the global goals with the planning process of the State.
To implement the ambitious targets set for itself in SDG VISION 2030, the Government of Punjab is partnering with UNDP to establish SDG Coordination Centre (SDGCC) under Punjab State Board for Economic Policy and Planning reporting to the Department of Planning. UNDP is putting together a team of experts to be a part of the PMU in SDGCC and work closely with relevant government departments, technical agencies, UN agencies, civil society organization and academic institutions to provide the requisite impetus to the state government’s initiative in rolling out the SDGs. The team is expected to catalyse the actions around achieving the Global Goals by 2030 by performing the role of a think tank and solutions provider to the State.
The services of a SDGCC Awareness Generation and Capacity Building Lead are required to lead a small team in UNDP’s interventions in translating the SDG vision to work towards generating awareness of SDG VISION 2030 of Punjab and help build necessary capacity amongst internal and external stakeholders. He / she will be accountable for developing, managing, co-coordinating, networking, implementing and monitoring a communication and capacity building strategy and associated products and activities on on-going basis with public audiences, with the objective of promoting awareness, understanding, support of the SDG VISION 2030 targets set by the Government of Punjab.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities: 
Under the supervision of the SDGCC Project Head, the incumbent will –
1. Ensures planning and design of internal and external strategies for communications and outreach focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Communication Strategy in place for spreading awareness around the SDG 2030 VISION including the ADVOCACY STRATEGY for internal Stakeholders to have clear idea what they need to deliver in 2019, 2022 and 2030 + AWARENESS of all Stakeholders including Media organizations, Community Organizations, Academic Institutions, Schools and Colleges;

• Engage the best in class communication experts / agencies to create professional communication and outreach tools and materials in the local language;
• Plan and execute Communication Strategy in close collaboration with Chief Ministers Office, Planning department, all concerned GOP departments, UN agencies etc. and ensure visibility of SDG targets set by GOP in the media;
• Conceptualise, promote and disseminate SDG specific advocacy materials for launching initiatives and publications;
• Strengthen government partnerships through providing high quality and strategic communications support.
2. Plan and implement digital media strategies for SDGCC focusing on the achievement of the following results:
• Engage the best in class Digital communication experts / agencies to conceptualise the digital presence of SDGCC; 
• Design and implementation of digital media strategies including social media platforms for SDGCC, aligned with outreach on the Goals and targets set in SDG VISION 2030 for GOP;
• Use creative mediums like Website, Mobile App, SDG specific Information campaigns, films, Digital Media campaign, folk media in English and local language to create digital presence.
• Create compelling digital content to engage audiences in a dynamic and interactive way, drawing attention to key development debates;
• Monitor and evaluate the dissemination of advocacy and communication material to target audiences and impact of the same.
3. Supports the business development focusing on achievement of the following results:
a. Launches and campaigns
• Promotion and maintenance of public information campaigns on GOP SDGCC priorities and results
b. Platforms & partnerships
• Creation of content for SDG Private sector partner platform involving companies, business forums and banking sector,
• Strengthening the engagement of partnerships with civil society, philanthropies and mobilising CSR.
• Facilitate partnerships between different stakeholders and offer avenues for innovative financing.
c. Outreach
• Maintenance of increased coverage and understanding of the SDGCC work in the state and practice area through regular media contacts and provision of newsworthy information to national public and, where possible, donors.
• Organization of roundtable discussions, press conferences, briefing sessions, interviews, launches, etc.
• Forging of a “Whole of Government approach” through publicizing the significance of SDGCC 2030 VISION of GoP and consequently the reform efforts, convergent programmes. Organization and implementation of joint SDG specific UN information campaigns (Women’s Day, UN Day, World AIDS Day, Environment Day , etc.)
• Preparation of donor reports, civic education and community awareness where appropriate to support projects
d. Public information
• Effective responses to inquiries for public information materials
      
4.      Plan and Implement Capacity Building Modules to generate awareness around SDGs
• SDG Awareness Conclaves to be conducted for legislators and all administrative secretaries
   SDG Awareness Conclaves to be conducted for all line departments at the state and district         level
• Online training modules to be developed to generate awareness on SDGs within the government as well as for external stakeholders like schools, colleges etc
      
5.   Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:
• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities;
• Provision of training, consultancy and advice to SDGCC staff on communications for development.
      
6.    Effective management of the Communications Component of SDGCC:
• Supervision of communications staff
Ensure effective and smooth functioning of the communications component, including procurement and finance
 

Competencies

Functional Competencies 

• Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

a) Thoroughly familiar with the SDG agenda, development context and challenges about key developmental issues in the state.
b) Helps in writing concept notes, background materials based on secondary data
 

• Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda
a) Preparing information for advocacy
b) Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating SDGCC and UNDP mandate
c) Maintains a functioning network of contacts with a variety of stakeholders to promote a better understanding of SDGCC and UNDP’s mandate and to support advocacy efforts
 

• Building Strategic Partnerships
a) Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues
b) Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders
c) Establishes and nurtures positive communication with partners

• Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
a) Basic research and analysis
b) Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
c) Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches

• Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise - Fundamental knowledge of own discipline

a) Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position
b) Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
c) Analyzes the requirements and synthesizes proposals
d) Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
e) Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments

• Creating Visibility for SDGCC & UNDP/Supporting SDGCC ’s Capacity to Advocate

a) Research and data analysi
b) Promotes awareness of SDGCC and UNDP centrally to development through dissemination of information and materials

c) Maintains networks and knowledge assets for use in visibility and image activities
 

• Global Leadership and Advocacy for SDGCC and UNDP’s Goals
a) Preparing information for global advocacy
b) Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for SDGCC and UNDP’s goals for a variety of audiences
c) Maintains a functioning network of contacts in the media and civil society, to promote a better understanding of SDGCC and UNDP’s mandate and to support advocacy efforts

• Client Orientation
a) Establishing effective client relationships
b) Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion
c) Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
d) Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients

Required Skills and Experience

Educational Qualifications 
• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Rural Development, Business Administration, Social Sciences or related field.

Experience:
 • 7-10 years of relevant experience with private sector, advertising agencies, Corporate Communication, Government at the national level or sub-national level being responsible for awareness and press and media 
• Experience in leading a team or sub-offices as part of a larger organization or entity.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Knowledge and Skills 
• Promotes and enforces ethics and integrity and creates precedence in good practice
• Demonstrates corporate knowledge and sound judgment
• Self-development, ability to take initiative, adopt a corporate approach to complex situations
• Creates and promotes an enabling environment for open communication
Language Requirements 
• Fluency in written and oral English is a must. Knowledge of Punjabi and Hindi will be an asset.

Disclaimer

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