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Communication Officer

Dushanbe

  • Organization: UNWOMEN - United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
  • Location: Dushanbe
  • Grade: Consultancy - SB-3 (SC6/SC7), Service Contract, Local Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Operations and Administrations
    • Communication and Public Information
    • Women's Empowerment and Gender Mainstreaming
    • COMMUNICATIONS
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

The European Union and the United Nations have launched the Spotlight Initiative, a multi-year programme aimed at addressing all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG), and harmful practices.  It will follow a transformative and evidence-based approach, addressing unequal power relations between men and women and focusing on gender equality and women’s empowerment, as well as ending impunity for VAWG.  In line with the principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Initiative will follow a human rights-based approach and take into consideration the specific needs of women and girls who experience multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and uphold the principle of “leaving no one behind.”

The Spotlight Initiative aims to support transformative change on the ground to end violence against women and girls, in numerous countries globally, including Tajikistan. The initiative comes with the highest level of commitment globally and will be governed by the UN Deputy Secretary General and the Vice President of the EU Commission.

This post is in line with the spirit of the new generation of Resident Coordinator offices, with the new skillset and competencies required to deliver on the 2030 Agenda, as well as the EU/UN Spotlight Initiative.

Under the supervision of the Spotlight Programme Coordinator, the Communications Officer will support and guide the development and implementation of the Spotlight Initiative communications and visibility strategies, follows up on communication for development (C4D) and social and behavior change communication (SBCC) activities.  The Communications Officer will work closely with UN agencies through coordination with the UN Communications Group (UNCG), the Spotlight Team, and the relevant reference groups. This includes coordinating existing communications capacities and resources, Spotlight-specific communication capacities and resources, training, gathering data and feedback, developing tools and guidelines, supervising consultants, and reporting.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions: 

  1. Support design, planning, and implementation of communications and advocacy component, including Spotlight Initiative Communication and Visibility strategy and plans
  2. Follow up with RUNOs on C4D work plan and assist in implementation if necessary and help in coordinating the design and planning of C4D and SBCC strategies for to ensure coherence between RUNOs.
  3. Support Spotlight Communications Taskforce, including related to SGBV prevention, gender equality and women’s empowerment, and other communication needs
  4. Serves as focal point for Spotlight Initiative overall communications and advocacy activities

1. Support design, planning, and implementation of communications and advocacy component, including Spotlight Initiative Communication and Visibility strategy and plans

  • Support the development of comprehensive and realistic communication and visibility plans and strategies, ensuring a gender perspective; 
  • Support the SI programme manager to manage, evaluate, and implement high impact communications’ products (e.g. web, electronic, etc.);
  • Coordinate the implementation of visibility, communications, and outreach activities with recipient UN agencies;
  • Ensure wide dissemination and visibility of programme achievements;
  • Identify and compile success stories and programme achievements and manage knowledge sharing among recipient UN agencies; 
  • Lead monitoring and evaluation of communication and visibility campaigns;
  • Track progress against established work plans and outputs;
  • Write and/or disseminate press releases, policy briefs, leaflets, talking points, speeches, editorials, branded materials, and other written communications materials;
  • Provide communications and advocacy support to joint national campaigns, launching initiatives, and publications;
  • Manage contracts with consultancies and vendors;
  • Develop and support management of relationship with members of the media;
  • Design and maintain a digital presence, including robust social media footprint for the Spotlight Initiative.

2. Follow up with RUNOs on C4D work plan and assist in implementation if necessary and help in coordinating the design and planning of C4D and SBCC strategies for to ensure coherence between RUNOs.

  • Follow up with recipient UN organizations in design and implementation of coordinated C4D and SBCC campaigns and messaging across programming areas;
  • Support the RCO and recipient UN agencies to assess the impact of C4D and SBCC activities to achieve measurable results in behavioral and social changes. Submit reports and synthesis of results;
  • Engage with recipient UN agencies to ensure coordination and consistency in implementation of C4D and SBCC activities and campaigns.

2.3. Support Spotlight Communications Taskforce, including related to SGBV prevention, gender equality and women’s empowerment, and other communication needs

  • Provide miscellaneous communications, graphic and written resource, advocacy, and coordination support to the SCT and engage in the related actions of UNCG as necessary;
  • Facilitate knowledge building and learning across UN agencies related gender equality, women’s empowerment, and EVAWC;
  • Take the secretarial role for SI CTF and ensure the group works effectively through assisting in identifying and following up the group workplan, effectively planning, organizing and recording meetings with indication of follow-up actions and other tasks.

4. Serves as focal point for Spotlight Initiative overall communications and advocacy activities:

  • Support to position the Spotlight Initiative, its donors and partners in the public, political and media agenda, as a reference programme to prevent and eradicate SGBV and harmful practices;
  • Lead on the production of advocacy and communication materials (e.g. infographics, podcasts, video, audio-visual, other social media and website content  etc.) for national and regional campaigns, and jointly with management, RCO and CTF oversee the qualitative aspects of production (e.g. quality control including respect of SGBV survivors rights, translation, review of layouts and graphic designs etc.) to ensure the highest standards and compliance with the Spotlight Initiative as well as with the UN communication guidelines and policies;
  • Support the organization of review meetings and other project-related workshops and events and ensures proper communication and dissemination of relevant information;
  • Prepare and edits communication materials (articles, press releases, human-centered stories, social media content, videos and other advocacy/information items) on overall Spotlight Initiative programme;
  • Manage Knowledge Management products, developed during the implementation of the Programme, that might include inventory, control of distribution etc.
  • Monitor and analyse the political, social and economic environment relevant to the project’s work, as well as the public perception of the project activities in the media including social media and general public; identify opportunities for strategic communications interventions and recommend appropriate action to seize opportunities for increasing visibility for the Programme;

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to gender issues
  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
  • Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability and
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Technical Competencies:

  • Design and management of communication and visibility processes, including with multiple stakeholders
  • Design and management of communication for development and/or social and behavioral change communication strategies and messages

Functional Competencies:

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

  • In-depth knowledge of gender equality, gender-based violence, and women’s and children’s rights issues

Building Strategic Partnerships

  • Ability to build and sustain effective partnerships with UN Agencies and main constituents, advocate effectively, and communicate sensitively across different constituencies
  • Ability to contribute to the development and implementation of efficient and effective communications, visibility, and C4D/SBCC strategies and programming, including with multiple stakeholders

Effective Communication

  • Demonstrated excellent written and oral communication and advocacy skills
  • Ability to design and maintain a robust digital and social media presence
  • Strong interpersonal skills

Team building

  • Ability to work in a multicultural environment and in a team
  • Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view

Stress management

  • Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure

Promoting Organizational Change and Development

  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
  • Demonstrates creativity and creative problem solving
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude

Design and Implementation of Management Systems

  • Ability to conceptualize issues and analyze data
  • Demonstrated strong IT skills

Client Orientation

  • Focuses on impact and result for the client
  • Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion

Promoting Accountability and Results-Based Management

  • Schedules activities to ensure optimum use of time and resources; monitors performance against development and other objectives and corrects deviations from the course

 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master’s degree (or equivalent) in communications, public relations, journalism or related field; or
  • A relevant bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the master’s degree.

Experience:

  • At least 5 (five) years (with master’s degree) or 7 (seven) years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible professional experience in communications, print, broadcast, and/or media.
  • At least 4 years of professional experience working on gender equality and human rights, especially in the area of gender equality is highly desired
  • Experience in communications with of one or several of the UN agencies in Tajikistan is preferred
  • Proficiency in design, photography, videography, social media campaigns, or other similar skills are an asset; and Computer literate, with proficiency with office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management and knowledge management systems

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in English, Tajik and Russian languages is required

Disclaimer

Important applicant information

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

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.

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