Communications Analyst [Open to Tier 1 & 2 applicants]

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. 

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization in fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.

With support from the African Development Bank (AfDB), UNDP is implementing the Building Resilience and Inclusive Development for Governance and Equality (BRIDGE) Project, which aims to strengthen gender-responsive, transparent, and accountable governance, while expanding women’s leadership and participation.

Given the project’s visibility requirements, strategic partnerships, and reporting obligations, effective communication, knowledge management, and outreach are essential to ensure visibility of results, influence public discourse, and strengthen stakeholder engagement.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Communication and Planning                                                                                                          

• Develop, operationalize and continuously refine a comprehensive BRIDGE Project Communication and Visibility Plan, ensuring clear alignment with project results frameworks, donor expectations, and implementation timelines. 
• Ensure full alignment of project communications with UNDP corporate communication policies, brand guidelines, and AfDB visibility and disclosure requirements, maintaining consistency across all outputs and platforms. 
• Conduct stakeholder mapping and audience segmentation analysis to identify priority target groups, communication channels, and tailored messaging strategies. 
• Craft and articulate clear, evidence-based key messages and narratives that position the project’s contributions to governance, inclusion, and development outcomes. 
• Integrate communication planning into project design and implementation cycles, ensuring communications are proactive, results-oriented, and embedded across all project components. 
• Identify strategic communication opportunities (e.g., milestones, policy dialogues, high-level events) to enhance the project’s visibility, influence and advocacy impact.

Content Development and Publications

• Lead the development of high-quality, compelling and results-driven communication products, including:
  • Human-interest stories, case studies, and success stories showcasing impact at community and institutional levels. 
  • Feature articles, press releases, speeches, and briefing notes for senior management.
  • Digital content for websites, newsletters, and social media platforms.
• Translate complex technical and policy information into accessible, engaging, and audience-appropriate content, ensuring clarity and impact. 
• Systematically document project interventions through professional photography, videography, and storytelling, capturing both quantitative and qualitative results. 
• Conceptualize and support the production of knowledge products such as reports, policy briefs, toolkits, manuals, and learning materials, ensuring they meet UNDP quality standards. 
• Manage the full publication lifecycle, including editing, branding compliance, quality assurance, and coordination with designers, printers, media houses, and other vendors to ensure timely production and dissemination.

Digital Communications and Media Engagement

• Design and manage the project’s digital communication strategy, including web, social media, and multimedia platforms, ensuring consistent visibility and audience engagement. 
• Curate, update, and maintain digital content to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and alignment with project milestones and key achievements. 
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with national and international media, including organizing press briefings, media field visits, interviews, and high-visibility events. 
• Proactively ensure timely dissemination of project outputs, achievements, and key messages across appropriate channels to maximize reach and influence. 
• Coordinate closely with the UNDP Country Office Communications Unit to ensure full compliance with corporate branding, messaging coherence, and risk-sensitive communication protocols.

Reporting and Knowledge Management

• Contribute substantively to donor and corporate reporting processes, ensuring communication inputs are evidence-based, results-focused, and aligned with RBM principles. 
• Capture, synthesize, and disseminate lessons learned, good practices, and innovations, contributing to organizational learning and adaptive programming. 
• Establish and maintain a structured and user-friendly digital repository of all communication and knowledge products, ensuring accessibility and institutional memory. 
• Facilitate knowledge sharing across stakeholders through learning events, digital platforms, and targeted dissemination strategies to enhance uptake and replication of project successes.

Partnerships and Capacity Building

• Coordinate and harmonize communication efforts across implementing partners, government institutions, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders, ensuring coherent and unified messaging. 
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders to support visibility, advocacy, and stakeholder ownership of project outcomes. 
• Provide technical guidance and build the communication capacity of partners, including government agencies, CSOs, women and youth-led organizations, and media actors, to strengthen inclusive and effective communication practices. 
• Support stakeholder engagement and advocacy initiatives, promoting inclusive participation and amplifying the voices of marginalized groups in line with UNDP principles.                                                

Monitoring, Evaluation and Compliance

• Develop and apply appropriate tools and indicators to monitor communication performance, outreach effectiveness, and visibility impact, ensuring data-driven decision-making. 
• Track and analyze media coverage, digital engagement, and stakeholder reach, and prepare regular communication analytics and performance reports.
  • Ensure strict compliance with:  
  • UNDP and AfDB branding and visibility requirements
  • Gender-responsive, inclusive, and disability-sensitive communication standards
  • Safeguarding principles, including PSEA, Do No Harm, and conflict sensitivity
• Identify and mitigate reputational and communication risks, ensuring that all outputs adhere to ethical, inclusive, and context-sensitive communication approaches.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangements

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, and in close technical coordination with the UNDP Country Office Communications Unit, the Communications Analyst will lead and implement the BRIDGE Project’s communications, visibility, and knowledge management functions.

The role ensures high-quality documentation, strategic outreach, and effective public engagement to promote project results and influence development narratives. The incumbent will ensure full alignment with UNDP corporate communication standards and AfDB visibility requirements, while applying gender-responsive, inclusive, and Do No Harm communication principles.

Competencies

Business Direction & Strategy

• System Thinking
  • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Development

• Knowledge Facilitation
  • Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.

Business Management

• Project Management
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals. 
• Partnerships Management
  • Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies. 
• Communication
  • Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. 
  • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
• Monitoring
  • Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results. 

Communications

• Multimedia Writing/Editing
  • Ability to create and/or edit written content for multimedia. 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Social Sciences, or related field is required.
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above fields in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, and/or hands-on experience in communications.

Required  skills:

• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages. 

Desired additional skills:

• Experience in photography and video production skills are an advantage. 
• Demonstrated experience using social media platforms and tools (e.g. Facebook, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube) to design, produce, and measure outreach and engagement of communication products.
• Experience with UN, international organizations, or donor funded projects is an asset.
• Experience in communication capacity building and digital engagement is desirable.
• Good networking abilities and partnership development experience is desired.

Language Requirements:

• Proficiency in oral and written English is required. 
• Fluency in the local languages such as Mandinka, Wolof, Fula or Jola would be an asset.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.