DevCoorOfficer-ProgComms&Advoc

Cairo

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Cairo
Grade: Mid level - NO-C, National Professional Officer - Locally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
- Operations and Administrations
- Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
Closing Date: Closed

Background

The UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) in Egypt supports the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) in providing strategic direction to the UN Country Team (UNCT), coordinating joint initiatives, and pooling the financial and human resources of the UN system in an efficient and effective manner.

The RC is responsible at country level for the implementation of the repositioning of the UN development system. The UN Secretary General’s report (December 2017) “Repositioning the United Nations development system to deliver on the 2030 Agenda” puts forward a comprehensive proposal on further improvements to the RC system to ensure more coherent, accountable and effective support for the 2030 Agenda. A reinvigorated RC system will need to be adequately staffed to ensure sufficient substantive capacities to lead UNCT. The core capacity of the reinvigorated RCO will include expertise in coordination and strategic planning, economics, tailored policy support, results monitoring and evaluation, and strategic partnerships, and a robust standing communications capacity within UNCT.

The UN and the Government of Egypt (GoE) have signed the UN Partnership Development Framework (UNPDF), which covers the period from 2018 till 2022. The UNPDF aims to address national development priorities through four outcomes; inclusive economic development; social justice; environmental sustainability and natural resource management and women’s empowerment. It sets the parameters of the work of the UN in Egypt for the next five years.

This post is part of this new generation of RCO, and the new skillset and competencies required to deliver on the 2030 Agenda. Under the guidance and supervision of the RCO Team Leader, the Development Coordination Officer – Programme Communications and Advocacy will support the design, implementation and monitoring of the UN Joint advocacy and communication strategy, as well as provide strategic advocacy and communication advice on the 2030 Agenda. S/he will also provide advice on public messaging and media outreach, develop and implement a digital content strategy and manage the development of key communication products.

Duties and Responsibilities

1)Plans and facilitates strategy advocacy and programme communications in support of the UNPDF

Provides substantive support to RC and UNCT in designing, implementing and monitoring the UN joint advocacy and communication strategy, promoting the UNPDF as the primary instrument for the planning and implementation of UN development activities in the country, in support of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;

Researches, analyzes and presents inputs to the RC and UNCT on strategic advocacy and programme communications for the 2030 Agenda and to boost impact of programmatic objectives under the UNPDF;

Plans and facilitates the promotion of advocacy and communications as a tool for a participatory approach to UNPDF implementation and monitoring, reflecting the views and priorities of people, including those left farthest behind;

Monitors and analyzes the media in the areas related to the UN’s mandates and programmes in the country, as well as other issues relevant to the UN brand and positioning;

Provides substantive support to the RC and UNCT on public messaging and media outreach, and assists in managing reputational risks or crises around sensitive issues;

Identifies and assesses potential issues, concerns and risks related to communications and advocacy, and suggests corrective actions to the RC and UNCT, Programme Management Team (PMT) and Results Groups;

Plans and facilitates the work of the UN Communications Group (UNCG) throughout the stages of the UNPDF cycle;

In collaboration with the UNCG and the PMT, and in coordination with the RCO colleagues responsible for data management and results reporting, prepares the annual communication plan to publicize and communicate results with a focus on the UN’s development impact;

Assists the RC and UNCT in projecting UN’s image effectively and accurately as well as promoting transparency and accountability;

Provides substantive support to ensure that communication performance indicators are identified, incorporated, monitored and reported on throughout the UNPDF cycle.

2)Contributes to partnership building and media relations

Plans and facilitates the engagement of key traditional and non-traditional partners, including government, civil society, private sector, development partners and others new as well as traditional actors on the collective 2030 Agenda and the related role and impact of the UN’s work in country;

Provides substantive support to the RC and UNCT in significantly expanding public outreach on the 2030 Agenda and the UN’s role and impact in country;

Plans and facilitates public engagement on the UN’s role and work in country, including through programme visits showcasing the UN’s development impact;

Undertakes regular liaison with other partners for content development, information exchange, collaborative communication efforts, and innovative communication and advocacy tools;

Compiles and analyzes communication experiences and shares findings with country, regional and HQ communication colleagues so that best practices benefit UN’s communication work;

Develops and maintains close working relationships with the media, including editors and journalists in key national and international news outlets; develops, maintains and updates media relations contact list/database;

Prepares official briefing materials, talking points, speeches, statements, op-eds and presentations as necessary.

3)Plans and facilitates digital communications

Develops and maintains digital external platforms such as the UN country team website as well as UN social media presence (Facebook, Twitter account etc.);

Plans and facilitates the development and implementation of a digital content strategy and contributes to the development of key communication products (e.g. human-interest stories, photography, video, animations, etc.).

Conducts exercises exploring the applicability of new and emerging tools and techniques to digital communications and advocacy activities to reach a wider, younger audience.

4)Provides substantive support for publications and branding management

Provides substantive support to the RC and UNCT on joint UN publications ensuring high quality standards and the correct application of the UN branding guidelines and the UN publishing standards;

Prepares inputs for the RC and UNCT on the use of the UN joint brand at country level across UN content and products, both offline and online.

Plans and organizes launch events for joint UN publications, coordinating with author entities in the UN country team and relevant local partners, including host country authorities, media representatives, members of academia, etc. to ensure high visibility and impact.

Competencies

Core

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 5: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 5: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions

Technical/Functional

Advocacy and Activations

Ability to design and implement strategic short/long term campaigns and carry out customized activations to highlight the UN’s position and support issue-based advocacy.