Project Officer – Communications, Outreach and Gender

In December 2015, UNDP Tajikistan with financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) launched Phase I of the ‘Civil Registry System Reform Project in Tajikistan’ directly contributing to implementation of the on-going reform of civil registration offices (ZAGS). The first phase of the project runs until November 2019.

Building on the results and lessons learned from Phase I, UNDP is planning to launch Phase II of the project as of 1 December 2019 until 30 November 2023. The second phase of the project will continue to be implemented by UNDP in close partnership with the Ministry of Justice. The project will work with other different actors at different levels to make civil registry institutions and mechanisms more responsive to the populations needs and more functional, by developing capacities among the relevant institutions and stakeholders and by simplifying and standardization processes. This will include more refined capacity development approaches and creating strategic partnerships with other institutions, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health and Social Protection, and the Ministry of Interior. The project will apply human rights-based approach and will work on both the supply and demand sides of civil registration service provision enabling each side to substantively contribute to implementation of the civil registration reform process.

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Project Officer will be responsible mainly for the general, day-to-day management of the project’s output 4:

Output 4: MoJ proactively incentivize the public to register their civil acts through communication strategies, supported by selected CSO awareness raising campaigns, to bolster civil registration, and the public contribute to improving the quality of the system through enhanced feedback mechanisms.

As well as for mainstreaming gender throughout all project outcomes and outputs.

The Project Officer also will be responsible for the general management of the project’s output 1, namely:

Output 1. The Government and MoJ endorse and implement new and amended legislation and regulations, and increased interagency coordination, partnership and efficiency of the civil registry services

The Project Officer will be responsible for all project activities and products related to civil registration communications, outreach and gender of the highest quality and standards through applying Human Rights Based Approach and the principles of Conflict Sensitive Management as well as Gender Mainstreaming.

1.  Policy and Technical Advice

• Provide substantive and technical support for the management and implementation of the communications strategy.
• Provide expertise to the Ministry of Justice on the Design and implementation of an appropriate communications plan.
• In coordination with the M&E Officer, translate project materials and data into communicable and relevant pieces of information in the form of infographics, infomercials, and ensure that project results are profiled and communicated.
• Assist in planning, publicizing, and carrying out knowledge exchanges, press releases, outreach activities, and media events.
• Prepare media and communications outputs such as news articles and human-interest stories.
• Maintain a library of photographs, videos, and other materials for communication.
• Maintain a database of knowledge products.
• Assist in the preparation of quarterly and annual reports, in adherence to and compliance with project Annual Work Plans (AWP) and M&E frameworks;
• Assist in the monitoring of milestones and key accomplishments of the program;
• Manage and update the website and other social media channels of the program; and
• Maintain contact with and participate in forums with relevant UNDP and non-UNDP partners and actors to identify synergies, expand partnerships, avoid duplication, and exchange information.
• In coordination with the M&E Officer, promote information sharing on all aspects related to project activities among stakeholders; and
• Manage the delivery of knowledge products to inform and/or support policy making and programme enhancement.
• Perform other works necessary for the successful implementation of Project activities.

2. Gender:

• Identify critical project areas for gender-based interventions.
• Contribute in planning, monitoring and reporting of the project and integrate gender in all the processes.
• Explore the baseline data on the gender dynamics and the status of women and poor/marginalized communities in the context of the project and relating to civil registration, which will constitute the project’s base for a monitoring and evaluation plan for gender.
• Identify a list of key gender-related indicators to be included in the project M&E plan, which include disaggregated data wherever possible.
• Assess and recommend to the project the activities that can be incorporated into planning and implementation to ensure improvement of conditions of women and poor/marginalized communities’ in general and more specifically as it relates to civil registration.
• Support implementation of the strategy for mainstreaming gender and a human rights approach in programme activities and develop action-plan for implementing the strategy.
• Provide necessary orientation and advise to all the implementing partners and agencies on gender issues and policies.
• Contribute to produce resource materials addressing the issues of gender.
• Facilitate policy dialogue on gender and social inclusion, sexual and gender based violence, gender sensitive transitional justice with government and other relevant stakeholders.
• Engage with the partners in reviewing and providing necessary inputs on drafting necessary regulations.
• Build capacity of CSOs and government partners to plan and implement project activities on gender.
• Conduct desk review of existing policy documents and legal frameworks (legislations) to identify areas for improvement on gender issues in collaboration with Government counterparts.
• Collaborate with Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist to make sure that the impact measurements focus on women and other vulnerable groups.
• Assist implementing partners to develop gender sensitive and gender responsive monitoring mechanism.
• Maintain awareness of and relationships with civil society organizations and development partners also working in areas of social inclusion and women rights.
• Document lessons learned and best practices and communicate with UNDP headquarters (both national and international) to contribute to global knowledge on gender in relation to the civil registry reform programme.
• Implement project activities as directed by PM.

3. Coordination and Cooperation:

• Assist the Project Manager in establishing trustful relationships and maintaining continuous and constructive dialogue with the government, civil society, local communities, donors and else partners to maximize impact and results;
• Ensure that activities and support to government and civil society is coordinated and synergies are utilized to assist in attaining the programme’s outputs and outcomes

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Delivery

Ability to get things done

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda

Analysis and creation of messages and strategies

• Creates effective advocacy strategies
• Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

Contributing to results through provision of information

• Provide information for linkages across project activities to help identify critical points of integration
• Provide information and documentation on specific stages of project implementation
• Provide background information to identify opportunities for project development and helps drafting proposals
• Participate in the formulation of project proposals

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Building Strategic Partnerships

Identifying and building partnerships

• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners
• Promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

Developing new approaches

• Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals
• Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations
• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking
• Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Resource Mobilization

Implementing resource mobilization strategies

• Analyzes information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach
• Identifies and compiles lessons learned
• Develops a resource mobilization strategy at the country level

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

In-depth knowledge of the subject-matter

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work Assignments
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals

Research and analysis

• Analysis and creation of messages and strategies
• Performed analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses
• Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Client Orientation

Contributing to positive outcomes for the client

• Anticipates client needs
• Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider
• Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective
• Solicits feedback on service provision and quality

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Education:

• Master’s degree in Gender Studies, Public relations, Sociology, Human Rights, Law or relevant fields.

Experience:

• At least five years of progressive relevant experience of communication and mainstreaming gender in the development sector;

• Relevant experience in public relations, communications, or advocacy;
• Proven experience in developing strategies for gender mainstreaming in programme design and implementation;
• Familiarity with the justice sector actors and issues of civil registry reform from gender perspective;
• Strong management skills including ability to provide strategic guidance, technical oversight; mentor staff; develop work plans and manage budgets and project expenditure;

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in both verbal and written English, Tajik and Russian is a must. 

Other:

• Strong understanding of Tajikistan’s development context in general and civil registration issues in particular.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.)

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

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