Communication Advisor

Eligibility criteria

Minimum age: 25 years old. Nationals of the country of assignment are not eligible.

Description of task

Under the direct supervision of the Communication and Outreach Advisor the International UNV will undertake the following tasks:

• Provide support to IEC and ECC in developing and initiating their public outreach strategies.
• Advise the IEC and ECC in their strategies to informing the public about the importance of broader democratic participation, as well as information campaigns to inform the electorate about specific voting procedures, including election day activities, results and complaints processes;
• Assist in the design of activities that will facilitate inclusive participation in the election process, underscoring the importance of electoral governance to the democratic process through at all key stages;
• Support the IEC to identify priority objectives in developing its public outreach, including civic and voter education strategies and campaigns, underscoring the importance of broader democratic participation, inclusivity in the democratic process, as well as key election-specific information and messages;
• Assist the IEC and ECC outreach to eligible Afghan citizens to register for the next election cycle is effective, including activities as (1) An impact assessment of the 2014 IEC voter education program, (2) Development of a comprehensive voter education strategy, (3) Appropriate methods for public outreach delivery, including public service announcement negotiations and embracing of social and other electronic media, (4) Development and dissemination of materials/messages, and (5) Voter and civic education delivery;
• Provide technical insight to EMB in formulating an official public outreach strategic plan to implement identified objectives and to effectively communicate key messages to the electorate at-large;
• Consult with the IEC and ECC, in liaison with the UNEST Capacity Development Specialist, to assess needs of staff and to organize opportunities for training and education, as appropriate.
• Provide support to IEC and ECC in developing and initiating their external relations strategies.
• Assist and advice EMB’s in designing, implementing, their external relations strategies and aim to build the capacity of the IEC and ECC to develop a regular and transparent communication mechanism with key stakeholder groups and strategic partners, underscoring inclusivity and broad support for the democratic election process;
• Advise the IEC and ECC in developing a concise media and communications strategy to further develop effective conveyance of key election-related information and targeted messages, ensuring a gender component at both strategic and implementation stages;
• In close collaboration with EMB to formulate an official external relations strategic plan to effectively communicate key messages to the widest public audience;
• Guide IEC in planning public outreach activities through both mass media and local initiatives, including rationale, budget and other required resources, timeline and delegation of responsibilities.
• Public perception about the IEC’s and ECC’s role in the electoral process is informed by a clear and effective strategic communication effort
• Provide technical assistance advice and best practices to the EMB’s for (1) The development and implementation of a communication strategy and action plan, (2) Facilitate engagement between all forms of media (radio, television, printed) and the EMBs, (3) Regularly update the IEC and ECC website and social media platforms, (4) Public perception surveys of the IEC and the ECC to feed into reorientation of communication approaches;
• Provide technical guidance to the EMB as an electoral institution to identify external relations goals that underscore effective electoral governance (and ultimately enhance the reputation and credibility of the IEC, and ECC and their ability to conduct elections);
• Guide EMB ‘s to identify key performance indicators (KPIs) capable of demonstrating achievements in assisting them to successfully implement a goal-oriented public outreach strategy;
• In close collaboration with IEC produce regular evaluative reports, drawing on these KPIs and including narrative and analysis; and to adapt strategy and implementation as and when necessary.
• Specific, targeted and comprehensive efforts by the IEC and Afghan civil society to encourage women to register and participate in the electoral process.
• Provide guidance, coaching and mentoring to the EMB on development of strategic communications to communicate civic and voter education messages to women, as well as marginalized groups that may have special information needs;
• Advise the EMB’s in developing specific, targeted and comprehensive efforts to engage Afghan civil society to encourage women to register and participate in the electoral process – as both voters and candidates – are effective;
• Assist in the liaison with political groups to increase their nomination of female candidates across all elections.
• Key stakeholder mechanisms with political parties and civil society strengthen stakeholder confidence in the work of the EMBs
• Advise the EMB’s in developing a targeted, structured and regular dialogue with election stakeholders and partners, including: political actors; governmental agencies; Civil Society Organizations (CSOs); media; etc.
• Support public outreach strategies will involve both a mass media approach as well as local initiatives, and will also engage the cooperation of civil society organizations (CSO’s);
• Provide operational assistance for the EMB’s to, (1) Develop terms of reference and internal regulations for the convening and functioning of separate monthly consultative committees with political parties and electoral contestants, women’s groups, civil society; media and domestic observers, (2) Publishing a schedule of meetings and convening initial meetings of these consultative mechanisms, (3) Delivery of training, via the IEC’s consultative mechanisms, on registration, candidate nomination, polling and results management, to key stakeholders, (4) Developing guidelines for attendance of political party representatives, civil society, media and observers in open sessions, and (5) Identifying and reaching out to (potential) domestic observers in order to inform them of the accreditation process, requirements and opportunities;
• Support the IEC to develop a strategy to maximize cooperation (including through training efforts) with CSOs in the delivery of public outreach / civic and voter education campaigns.

Qualifications/Requirements Required degree level: Master degree or equivalent Education - Additional Comments:

Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in Communications, Civic Education, Media, Journalism, Literature, Arts, Social Sciences, Humanities, Political Science or related field; or a Bachelor’s degree in the above fields with additional years of experience

Required experience: 36 Months Experience remark:

• At least 3 years of progressively responsible experience in elections and related areas in multiple countries; of which 1 year of experience in designing, implementing, supporting and advising in public outreach and communication strategies is required.
• Experience in the usage of media technology, social media for public information, and good knowledge and experience in handling of web-based management systems is required.
• Professional experience in external relations and/or civic or voter education.
• Experience at the national or international level in public relations, communications or advocacy would be desirable but not a requirement;
• Knowledge of electoral processes and the interests of electoral stakeholders in supporting the process (including media and CSO sectors);
• Experience working in Afghanistan or a demonstrable knowledge/understanding of the current political context;
• Leadership qualities, including the ability to motivate others, involve all members of a team, inspire a sense of ownership and responsibility among staff, and elicit consistently high-quality output;
• Ability to meet challenges, constructively and creatively;
• Time management and organizational skills, with the ability to undertake multiple tasks.

Language skills:

• English(Mandatory), Level - Fluent

Area of expertise: Other communications related experience Area of expertise details:

• The key results have an impact on the overall UNESP efficiency in providing advisory services and success in strategy development and planning for IEC and ECC staff capacity development and institutional consolidation. Accurate, thoroughly researched and documented electoral advice ensure client satisfaction and enhance UNESP credibility in electoral communications and public outreach;
• The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs);
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment
• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

Driving license: No Competencies values:

Accountability, Communication, Working in Teams

Application procedure:

* Not yet registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

First register your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/signup.

Important: After creating your account, complete all sections of your profile and submit it. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink. Lastly, select the special call to which you would like to apply.

* Already registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

First update your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/profile.

Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink to select the special call to which you would like to apply.

Application deadline: 29 January 2020