Communications Analyst (NOB)

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. With offices in more than 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

For over 30 years, UNDP has been supporting the people of the Republic of South Sudan in their fight against poverty. With the formation of the independent Republic of South Sudan in July 2011, UNDP established a Country Office and has been working all over the country to help build resilient and sustainable government institutions.

UNDP South Sudan would like to optimize communications of the office’s activities to fulfil corporate requirements and enhance stakeholder buy-in by recruiting a Communications Analyst. The Communications Analyst will as a member of the Communications Team work to ensure that all activities, as well as their results and impact, are systematically captured and shared. The Communications Analyst supports the implementation of the UNDP Communication Strategy geared to influence the development agenda, promote public and media outreach, and mobilize political and financial support for UNDP’s work in South Sudan.

The Communications Analyst will work to align communication and advocacy priorities and deliverables of UNDP’s Partnerships and Communications Strategy and Action Plan (PCAP), 2022-2025, UNDP’s new Strategic Plan, 2022-2025, Country Programme Document, 2023-2025, the UN cooperation framework for South Sudan, 2023-2025, UNDP’s Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025, as well as the revised National Development Strategy, 2021-2024. .   The Communications Analyst may sometimes supervise communications staff of the country office and will maintain a regular working relationship with UNDP’s Regional Communications Adviser and the Global Communications team focal point persons.

Position Purpose

Under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative and direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative and the Communications Unit Team Leader, the Communications Analyst implements the corporate communications strategy, designs, manages and facilitates the implementation of the Country Office communications and publication strategies which are geared to influence the development agenda, to promote public and media outreach and to mobilize political and financial support for UND.

1)  Plan and design communication strategies (internal and external) focusing on achieving the following results:

• Prepare and conduct communications needs assessment for CO projects;
• Identify and develop storylines for publications contributing to development issues;
• Coordinate and manage UNDP South Sudan publication activities (project updates, infographics, articles, human interest stories, annual report, newsletter etc.).

2) Oversee media relations and outreach focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Increased coverage and understanding of UNDP’s work in the country through development and maintenance of media contacts and providing newsworthy information to media, public and donors;
• Preparation and dissemination of media advisories, press release, and timely informative responses to media enquiries;
• Pitch and facilitate trips for journalists to relevant CO projects and activities;
• Ensure access to subject matter experts for journalists;
• Monitor print, radio, and online press to compile media coverage updates and distribute press briefs to relevant CO unit/staff;
• Produce regular media monitoring and placement reports backed by data and insights from trends;
• Monitor effectiveness of media outreach and publications strategy, for compiling quarterly, annual, and other reports as needed.

3)  Supports business development efforts focusing on achievement of the following results: Launches, messaging, events, and campaigns:

• Promotion of public information campaigns on UNDP activities, and results of the Sustainable Development Goals-SDGs;
• Promotion and dissemination of corporate advocacy materials for launching flagship activities and publications such as the Human Development Report;
• Creation and promotion of campaigns to local and international media that position UNDP and influences the development agenda based on current programme and new initiatives;
• Draft review and disseminate talking points, O-peds, country programme documents and background papers;
• Provide communication trainings, technical advice, and capacity building to project staff, implementing partners, CSOs on communication, documentation, knowledge management and storytelling;
• Supports Country Office resource mobilization and business development efforts;
• Package and submit programme initiatives for donor review in close collaboration with programme staff;
• Support One UN communications efforts and participate in the United Nations Communications Group-UNCG;
• Support local UN reforms efforts, joint programmes, Organization, and implementation of joint UN information campaigns (UN Day and other key observances).

4) Public information and Knowledge Management:

• Effective responses to inquiries for public information materials;
• Initiate innovative and creative solutions to sensitive or corporately strategic public communication issues;
• Technical advisory and execution of country-specific communication for development materials;
• Advocacy and promotion of UNDP mandate, mission, and purpose;
• Facilitate UNDP South Sudan knowledge building and management with a focus on innovation, focusing on identification and synthesis of best practices, sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories, and proactive information sharing and collaboration with the Project and Management Support Unit for the enhancement of reporting, communications, and M&E;
• Participate in data collation and information sharing on UNDP web-based knowledge management systems and collaboration platforms;
• Support management and growth of the CO website and social media;
• Carries out other related functions as requested by the supervisor.

Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process

Communication: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

Communications:

Advocacy strategy and implementation: Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change.

Brand & quality management: Ability to position a UNDP brand and uphold it to a high level of quality.

Media Relations: Ability to develop media relations across all aspects of media work including relationships with media and preparing media materials such as messages.

Social Media management: Ability to represent and promote the UNDP brand in virtual communities and networks.

Multimedia production: Ability to create and combine images, text and audio-visuals to produce multimedia content.

Web and social media analytics: Ability to analyse and interpret data and statistics to measure web and social media performance.

• Master's degree in Media Relations, Journalism, Communications, International relations, Development studies, or related field.

• Bachelor degree in relevant field with additional two years of qualifying relevant work experience may be acceptable in lieu of an advanced university degree.

• Minimum  2  years  (Master's degree)  or  4  years  (Bachelor degree) of relevant experience in public relations, multimedia communications, journalism, or advocacy;
• Technical knowledge of web design and digital infrastructure;
• Knowledge of social media monitoring technology and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, with the ability to produce photo, video, and infographic content with Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Final Cut Pro, photography and videography skills, including the usage of external audio/lighting, as well as post-production software;
• Knowledge and experience in working with the UN or International Organization is an asset;
• Excellent writing skills including ability to adapt messages to diverse audiences;
• Proven skills in external communications and liaison and mobilization work with media and civil society;
• Ability to work on own initiative as well as a member of a team;
• Strong analytical skills;
• Ability to work quickly to meet deadlines.

Language:

• Proficiency in written and spoken English and Arabic