Communications Specialist

Details

Mission and objectives

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results. The UNDP Multi-Country Office (MCO) based in Samoa, which covers Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau, implements the UNDP Subregional Programme Document for the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (2018-22), which is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and country priorities as reflected in national development plans. In close partnership with the four Governments, UNDP works in collaboration with donors, the private sector, civil society organizations and local communities, academia, media and regional organizations to provide global knowledge and integrated development solutions to development challenges. UNDP promotes a whole-of-society approach to deliver on the ambition of the 2030 Agenda, with greater involvement of civil society actors, emphasis on empowering women, youth and vulnerable groups, and centered on the principle of leaving no one behind.

Context

The UNDP Samoa Multi-Country Office (MCO) serves the Governments and people of the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau. The MCO’s programme offer to the four countries is structured around the priorities of the UNDP corporate offer to Small Island Developing States (SIDS), climate action, digital transformation and blue economy, with the added localized priority areas circular economy and regenerative tourism. The MCO’s programme is anchored in the notion of leaving no one behind and gender equality, which the MCO pursues through initiatives such as promoting women’s leadership, ending violence against women and girls, and enabling access to justice of women with disabilities, while mainstreaming gender across all projects. This UNV assignment is part of the MCO’s new flagship project “Climate Action Pathways for Island Transport: Accelerating the Decarbonization of Samoa’s Land and Maritime Transport Sectors” (CAP-IT), funded by the Government of Japan with a project volume of USD 15.5 million. CAP-IT aims to promote urgent and inclusive transformation of the land and maritime transport sectors towards decarbonization by accelerating the uptake of electrical vehicles and outboard motors in support of the achievement of Samoa’s enhanced NDCs for the energy and transport sector by 2030. This will be achieved through a three-fold approach: i. Creating an enabling environment through strengthened and gender-sensitive institutional governance, financial, legal, and technical capacities for accelerating the decarbonization of both land and maritime transport systems; ii. Accelerating inclusive decarbonization of the land transport sector with a focus on adoption and imports of electric vehicles and accessible electrification service networks targeting public transport and public service delivery vehicles; and, iii. Introducing and piloting low-carbon outboard motors for Samoa’s fishing fleet through a gender sensitive grant mechanism for local fisherfolk and training scheme on installation, operation, and maintenance. CAP-IT is a directly implemented UNDP project, which will commence implementation on 1 April 2023, and has a duration of two years.

Task description

Under the overall supervision of the CAP-IT Project Manager and in close collaboration with the MCO’s Communications Analyst, the IUNV Communications Specialist will be responsible for strategic communications, visibility, advocacy and graphic design needs. I. Effective communication and visibility of project: · Formulate and implement project communications and visibility plan to ensure greater visibility and public understanding of the projects’ goals and results; · Produce public relations materials for internal and external promotion of the project, and assist with planning and publicizing, including project-related press releases; · Coordinate the presence and coverage of national and international media in project-related events and/or milestones; · Develop project-related graphics, including logo, factsheets, banners, inter alia; · Support the organization of public events at the regional and national level in order to achieve better project understanding, recognition and visibility; · Ensure systematic recognition of donor support and partner involvement; · Provide graphic standardization for project-related documents, including reports, presentations, inter alia; · Use traditional media and social networks to share information about the project and the support it offers to, and benefits of, low-carbon development in Samoa; · Oversee and support awareness campaigns messaging and materials to maximize advocacy impact on the benefits of low-carbon transport; · Manage and feed the UNDP website and newsletter content with news, innovative topics and useful content, including blogs, op-eds, inter alia; · Manage and feed the Organization’s social media platforms with content and news-worthy topics; · Support and coordinate the creation of promotional videos (documentary or testimonials) filming successful stories on project beneficiaries, while organizing the entire production process (preparation, production and post production); · Prepare human stories featuring project beneficiaries and how the project has impacted the sector and testimonials from local counterparts and public service providers to share experiences from the project at national and regional events; · Ensure inclusive language throughout project documentation, including speeches, reports, social media, inter alia; and, · Provide inputs and drafting support to narrative and annual reports. II. Support to MCO communication efforts · Support the implementation of the MCO’s Partnership and Communications Strategy; · Provide coordination support to MCO events, publications and web activities, including content management, norms for photography, video production, publishing, design, and editing; · Support the design and maintenance of the office websites, newsletters and social media platforms based on corporate requirements in cooperation with the ICT team and relevant staff members; · Support implementation of public information campaigns on issues including UNDP activities, UN Reform, and Sustainable Development Goals, including the enforcement of inclusive language; · Develop communication materials, including briefing materials and press releases, for MCO events in coordination with relevant staff members; · Write, edit, and supervise speeches and public statements for senior management and programme staff; and, · Support corporate and donor reporting requirements. III. Support to knowledge building, sharing and management in the MCO: · Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities; · Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories; · Provide training and advice to UNDP staff on internal and external communications for development; and, · Support M&E tasks as required.