National Communication Expert

​Requisition ID: 1544 
Grade: SB4 - Local Professional (Junior & Mid Level) 
Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the 
Duty Station: Lubumbashi 
Category: National Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Contract Duration: 6 months (with possibility of extension)
Application deadline: 19-Dec-2022  

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL

Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible. 
Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Departments/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

DIRECTORATE OF SDG INNOVATION AND ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION (IET)

Under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all organizational entities within UNIDO, in particular the Office of Change Management (ODG/CHM), the Office of Legal Affairs and Compliance (ODG/LEG), the Strategic Planning and UN Engagement Division (ODG/SPU), and the Office of Evaluation and Internal Oversight (EIO), the Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET), headed by a Managing Director, is responsible for the development of innovative UNIDO services in the areas of agro-industry and agribusiness, sustainability standards and fair production, and climate-relevant or climate-improving technologies. It is also, in collaboration with ODG, responsible for developing innovative technical cooperation concepts, identifying new sources and means of finance and entering into new partnerships with a broad range of relevant stakeholders.

The Directorate houses the Divisions of Coordination and Integration Support (IET/CIS), Quality, Impact and Accountability (IET/QUA), Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development (IET/AGR), Innovative Finance and International Financial Institutions (IET/IFI), Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade (IET/PST), Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), and Climate and Technology Partnerships (CTP). The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions and relevant entities in the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) and the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS).

Division of Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade (IET/PST)

Under the overall guidance of the Director General, the direct supervision of the Managing Director, Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET), and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, the Division of Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade (IET/PST) develops and implements an innovative service package in response to UNIDO's mandate for fair and responsible local industrial production and trade with a particular focus on building the required skills and capacities and foster a conducive business operating environment to ensure that such production and trade are as inclusive as possible, promoting – among others – the development of human capital through vocational training and industrial skills development. In collaboration with IET/IFI, IET/PPP, TCS/SME, TCS/CPA, and GLO/MSR, the Division will conceptualize and negotiate such services and raise funds from Member States, development partners, IFIs, and the private sector to coordinate their effective implementation and devise ways in which their implementation can be brought to scale.

This will include cross-cutting and sector-specific initiatives for sustainable supply/value chain and skills development in industrial sectors where UNIDO has, over the years, accumulated expertise, such as agro-industries, fisheries, textiles, leather, light manufacturing, health, mining, automotive and pharma and others. It will do so through close engagement with Member States, private sector associations, industrial enterprises, international quality, standards and trade-related governing bodies, other UN Agencies (e.g. ILO), development partners, NGOs and consumer associations, as appropriate, ensuring solid and operational partnerships.

Skills Development and Fair Production Unit (IET/PST/SFP)

The Skills Development and Fair Production Unit supports Member States in integrating into the emerging global systems of fair and sustainable trade. To this end, it leverages partnerships with the private sector to enhance employees' skill sets to become the sources driving the sustainable transition. The Unit also promotes learning, concepts and norms to augment the attractiveness of industrial employment for youth and women under transparent, fair and social working conditions. The Unit also deploys foresight and planning instruments to guide Member States in developing the industrial skills in future cohorts of industrial employees and respond to re- and up-skilling requirements of actors in a sustainable value chain.

PROJECT CONTEXT

The National Communication Expert will be recruited under the project “Support for training and skilled employment in the heavy equipment sector of the Democratic Republic of the Congo” (SAP 210117).

This Public-Private Development Partnership (PPDP) project between the Governments of the DRC and Sweden, Volvo Group, Epiroc and UNIDO aims at increasing the number of Congolese staff, especially young men and women, employed in technically skilled positions in the Heavy-Duty Equipment and Commercial Vehicles (HDIECV) industry in the DRC. The intervention is designed to improve the relevance and quality of TVET in the HDIECV sector and to ensure that experienced and new Congolese professionals are equipped with marketable skills that enhance their employability.

To this aim, the project will support two vocational training centers with upgraded facilities, learning equipment and modernised curriculum. These “Centers of Excellence” will establish proof of concept for PPDPs as an aid delivery modality which effectively promotes youth employment through demand-driven industrial skills training and contribute to improving skills development and labour market systems’ efficiency.

The intervention applies the Market Systems Development (MSD) approach to maximise scalability and sustainability. The project will promote systemic change through evidence-based policy dialogue with relevant governmental authorities to stimulate supportive responses and will encourage private sector engagement in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) governance and delivery in other geographic areas, VTCs and/or trades.

The project design is informed by the market analysis, market/labour and training needs assessment, and stakeholder engagement conducted under SAP# 190404 (see more information here).

The project document is publicly available from here.

The National Communication Expert will implement the project’s communication strategy ensuring the engagement of the project’s stakeholders (Congolese youth, TVET institutions, private and public sector actors) is maximised. He/she will be responsible for developing engaging digital and print content (social media posts, success stories, newsletters, press releases, promotion materials) and for analyzing and reporting on the project’s communication activities.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record in implementing communication campaigns, writing press releases, social media planning and have a strong understanding of DRC’s media landscape.

Under the supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor and with guidance from an International Communication Expert, the Expertwill report to the Project Manager/Allotment Holder and will be responsible for the following specific tasks: 

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree in Communications, Journalism, International Relations, Political Science, Marketing, or similar is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years practical experience in the field of communications, public affairs, advertising or other related field is required.
• Experience developing and implementing nationwide campaigns and social media strategies – using tools and metrics to properly capture reach is required.
• Experience in drafting engaging content (social media posts, press releases, newsletters) in English and producing multimedia content (such as postcards, audiograms, short videos, etc.), incl. technical knowledge of using tools like Canva, Adobe Suiteand Wochit or other similar tools is required.
• Familiarity with the media landscape in the DRC, including a network of media contacts is desirable.
• Knowledge in the field of strategic communications, innovative marketing and communication practices, ideally within an international organization is desirable.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, ability to convey complex messages succinctly and diplomatically are required.
• Experience in graphic design tools (Canva, Adobe Suite, Adobe Express), photography and video production highly desirable.
• Experience and proficiency in using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and internet.
• Understanding of government plans and policies on TVET and youth employment an asset.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken French and English is required.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core Values

WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully, and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key Competencies

WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing, and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside.
Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.

Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org