National Comm. Officer

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.

Please note that the person selected for this position will be offered a contract with UNDP under its National Personnel Services Agreement (N-PSA) modality. More information about the N-PSA is available here [link to the N-PSA POPP https://bit.ly/3gaGFud)

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. 

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.

The Central Asian Spotlight initiative will focus on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Asia. These thematic focus areas will serve as an entry point to focus programming and impact on prevention of violence against women and girls in all forms. In line with the principle of universality of the SDGs it will expand to other regions and focus areas as new funding partners join.

Project’s objectives:

The Spotlight Initiative in Tajikistan will work on implementation of Pillars/Outcomes: 1) Legislation and Policies; 2) Institutional strengthening; 3) Prevention of violence; 4) Available, accessible, and acceptable, quality services; 5) Quality and reliable data and 6) Supporting women’s movements and relevant civil society organizations

The joint EU-UN Spotlight Initiative (SI) will bring the resources to leverage the increasing political will to strengthen institutions and to engage civil society to significantly increase and expand on the ending violence against women and girl (EVAWG) efforts done to date. Building on European Union’s (EU)“commitment to gender equality, human rights, the empowerment of women and girls and the eradication of gender based violence” it will contribute to a new way of collaborating to fill important legal gaps and institutional needs and change the norms and perceptions that will address root causes of SGBV and prevent VAWG in Tajikistan, while supporting women and girls survivors of violence, in a holistic and impact-oriented manner.

The interventions across the six Pillars will complement each other to engage a range of actors and institutions at the national and sub-national levels, ensuring that actions at the national level are influencing change at the sub-national levels and that local actions and voices are informing decisions at the national level.

The Spotlight Tajikistan Programme aims to effect change at the individual and inter-personal level, while shifting institutional practices and social norms which are more gender equitable and supporting legal and policy improvements and enforcement of existing legislation on VAWG, in line with international human rights standards, accelerating Tajikistan’s achievement of SDG 5 on Gender Equality and the broader 2030 Agenda.

The activities will be implemented in Sogd, Khatlon regions and DRS at regional level and in Dushanbe at national level. UNDP will implement and  contribute to implementation of activities under most of  Pillars (or components), with special focus on legislation related to SGBV with a special focus on Domestic Violance Law, Criminal Code, administrative Code and all other sectoral legislation.

For this purpose, UNDP Tajikistan is seeking to recruit a National Communications Officer who will be respoinsible for overall design and implementation of communications, visibility and outreach activities of UNDP’s interventions within Spotlight Initiative Country Programme. The incumbent in coordination and tight collaboration with Spoltight Initiative UN Partners in general, and with RUNOs’ (Recipient UN Organizations) and established communications taskforce in particular,  will implement Communication and Visibility Strategy and Work-plan, coordinate existing communications capacities and resources, prepare and submit communications materials upon request of donor and UNDP Regional Office, provide guidance support to implementing partners on review and clearance of advocacy and visibility material with project management and correct usage of logos of Spotlight Initiative and collaborating partners according to donor’s requirements, and report on results.

The National Communication Officer will report to the UNDP Team Leader on Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights and will coordinate his/her work closely with the UNDP Rule of Law Project Manager, UNDP Spotlight project staff, Resident Coordinator Office and Spotlight Programme Coordinator.

* Communication and Visibility Strategy is a guiding document aligned with the global Spotlight Initiative’s Communication and Visibility Strategy, which was designed to ensure a credible and consistent flow of information about the Initiative, its partners — and most importantly — its impact on eliminating violence against women and girls (VAWG). This document should be regularly used by all communication’s focal points while developing their communication activities throughout programme implementation.

Scope of Work

• Oversee design, planning and implementation of UNDP’s communications, advocacy and visibilty component of Spotlight Initiative, including imeplementation of Communication and Visibility strategy and Work-plan;
• Lead the work of UNDP in Spotlight Initiative Communications Taskforce (SI CTF), including communication and advocacy support on SGBV prevention, gender equality and women’s empowerment, and other communication needs;
• Serves as focal point for Spotlight Initiative overall communication, advocacy and visibility activities.

1. Oversee design, planning and implementation of UNDP’s communications, advocacy and visibility component of Spotlight Initiative, including implementation of Communication and Visibility strategy and Workplan

• Through coordination with Spotlight Initiative communiation taskforce support the development and implementation of of gender-sensitive communication and visibility plan and strategies; 
• Coordinate the implementation of visibility, communications, and outreach activities with recipient UN agencies;
• Ensure wide dissemination and visibility of programme achievements;
• Identify and develop success stories and programme achievements, including those implemented by implementing partners and manage knowledge sharing among recipient UN agencies; 
• Track progress against established communication and visibility 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 advovacy and information campaigns, launching initiatives, and publications, including those implemented by engaged implementing partners;

2. Lead the work of UNDP in Spotlight Initiative Communications Taskforce (SI CTF), including communication and advocacy support on 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 SICT and engage in the related actions of UN Communication Group as necessary;
• Facilitate knowledge building and learning across UN agencies related gender equality, women’s empowerment, and EVAWG.

3. Serves as UNDP’s 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;
• In cooperation with Spotlight Initiative Communications Taskforce and RCO Communication unit undertake 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;
• Coordinate communications and advocacy activities with UNDP country office communications unit to ensure wider coverage through UNDP in-country and regional communication channels.
• In collaboration with UNDP Spotlight Initiative Project staff, assist with organization of review meetings and other project-related workshops and events and ensures proper communication, advocacy and visibility requirements are met;
• Prepare and edit communication materials (articles, press releases, human-centered success stories, social media content, videos and other advocacy/information items) on overall Spotlight Initiative programme;
• Provide direct support and guidance on preparation of communication and visibility materials (press releases, success stories, etc.) to implementing partners and guide on correct usage of logos according to donor’s requirements;
• Manage Knowledge Management products, developed during the implementation of the Programme, that might include inventory, control of distribution, etc;
• Provide substantive support in coordination and implementation of the UNDP communications and visibility component under the Spotlight Initiative, including collaboration with external communications and outreach partners and stakeholders, such as mass media, Hotline service providers, implementing partners, etc.
• Any other duties and responsibilities, especially tasks related to communications as assigned by the Team leader or Project Manager.

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.
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Technical Competencies:

• Design and oversee communication, advocacy and visibility processes, including with multiple stakeholders.
• Design and implement communication for development and/or social and   behavioral change communication strategies and messages.

Functional Competencies:

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.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks.
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.
• Demonstrates awareness and sensitivity regarding gender issues.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and in a team.
• Strong interpersonal skills.

Communication and advocacy:

• Ability to speak and write clearly and effectively.
• Ability to listen to others, correctly interpret messages from others and responds appropriately.
• Ability to ask questions to clarify and exhibit interest in having two-way communication.
• Ability to tailor language, tone, style and format to match audience.
• Ability to demonstrate openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Ability to design and implement strategic campaigns and carry out customized activations to highlight organization’s position and support issue based advocacy.

Client Orientation

• Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion.
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines.
• Responds to client needs promptly.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

• Researches best practices and poses new, more effective ways of doing things.

Promoting Accountability and Results-Based Management

• Gathers and disseminates information on best practice in accountability and results-based management systems.

Education

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in communications, public relations, journalism (print, broadcast, media) or Social sciences (human rights, gender/women’s studies, international development or a related  field, or
• A relevant bachelor’s degree (or equivalent in above mentioned fields) in combination with five years of qualifying experience in communications, public relations or journalism (print, broadcast, media) may be accepted in lieu of the master’s degree.

Work experience 

• At least 3 (three) years (with master’s degree) or 5 (five) years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience in communications, public relations, journalism (print, broadcast, and/or media).
• Working experience in gender equality and/or human rights/Work experience in projects on eliminating violence against women and girls, sexual and gender based violence, domestic/intimate partner violence, etc. is an asset.
• Experience in communication and advocacy with of one or several of the UN agencies in Tajikistan is highly preferred.
• Proficiency in design, photography, videography, social media campaigns, or other similar skills are an asset.
• Computer literate, with proficiency with office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management and knowledge management systems.

Required Languages:

• Excellent spoken and written skills in English and Tajik.
• Knowledge of Russian is a strong advantage.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3)the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also includepeers.
• A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

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.

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