Communications Associate

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. 

Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent an unprecedented leap forward in the fight against poverty and inequalities, as well as in the struggle for environmental sustainability. The SDGs embody a universal, inclusive and transformative vision of development, which calls upon all Member States to ensure a life of dignity for all, leaving no-one behind. 

UNDP Azerbaijan in line with the UNDP Strategic Plan's (2022-2025) vision help countries achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, is accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development, and building resilience to crises and shocks.

UNDP’s work focuses on poverty reduction, social protection, good governance, climate change and disaster management, as well as economic development. UNDP provides support to governments to integrate the sustainable development goals into their national development plans and policies.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Resident Representative and day-to-day management of the Deputy Resident Representative, the Communications Associate supports the formulation and implementation of the communication and advocacy strategies tightly linked to the programmatic priorities, helping position the Country Office as a leader in development solutions in ways that boost demand for various service lines and increase overall funding opportunities.

The Communications Associate increases the standing and awareness of UNDP with partners, the media and the public and promotes a client-oriented approach in UNDP.

The Communications Associate works in close collaboration with the Programme and Operations teams in the Country Office, staff of other UN Agencies, UNDP Communications Group staff (Regional Communications Adviser and HQ), Government officials, national and international media, multilateral and bilateral donors and civil society.

• Supports the formulation and implementation of internal and external communications and advocacy strategies.
• Provision of information for elaboration of CO communications and outreach strategy based on corporate.
• strategic priorities and the UNDP External Communications Action Plan.
• Development of communication materials for advocacy and awareness-raising campaigns, including briefing and media materials in coordination with the supervisor.
• Organization of roundtable discussions, press conferences, briefing sessions, seminars, interviews.
• Integrate issue-based advocacy into the communications strategy around key priority areas in the country office.
• Review of reference materials, identification of reference materials for retention. Maintenance of information database and photo library.
• Organization and implementation of joint UN information campaigns.
• Preparation of inputs for CCA, UNSCDF, corporate dashboards and CPD and other documents as needed.
• Lead in UNDP CO’s work through media outreach.
• Promote, advocate and raise awareness around UNDP activities, results, flagship initiatives through a variety of communication vehicles, such as roundtable discussions, press conferences, briefing sessions, interviews, report launches, among others.
• Explore and utilize innovative and emerging communication tools and new media in support of the communications strategy.
• Proactively market UNDP’s program work in the media by regularly pitching UNDP success stories and placing UNDP experts for interviews and commentaries in print and TV/radio outlets.
• Prepare/draft a range of materials, including talking points for senior managers, press releases & advisories, news briefs, fact sheets for inclusion in media kits and further public outreach.
• Support UNDP senior management with public appearances, communications activities, and arranges and ensures wide media coverage for them. 
• Develop and constantly update strategies for increasing the profile of the CO in the regional Communications plans through audio-visual material to broadcast and social media.
• Prepare written pieces that showcase development results achieved by UNDP.
• Ensures the design and maintenance of the UNDP website, UNDP social media accounts,  intranet, CO web-based knowledge management system.
• Assistance in the design and maintenance of the office websites based on corporate requirements in cooperation with the ICT staff.
• Preparation/checking the content for the web sites and social media platforms to ensure consistency of the materials.
• Technical supervision of translation/adaptation/rewriting of information received, printing and dissemination of publications and audio-visual materials. Contact with printers and other suppliers to ensure production. 
•  Supervision of publications dissemination and social media platforms.
• Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management.
• Position UNDP as a substantive thought leader within the country and promote its mandate, mission and purpose via effective communication and different platforms.
• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories.
• Organization and conduct of training and workshops on communications for partners as appropriate.

Institutional Arrangement

The Communications Associate will report to the Resident Representative.

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

Cross Functional and Technical competencies:

• Business Management - 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.
• Business Management  Customer Satisfaction/Client Management
  • Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. 
  • Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. 
  • Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
• Communications -Graphic Design                         
  • Ability to communicate visually and create appealing UNDP graphic products.
• Communications -Media Relations
  • Ability to develop media relations across all aspects of media work including relationships with media and preparing media materials such as messages.
• Communications-Advocacy strategy and Implementation           
  • Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change.
• General (across the functions)-Public relations                
  • Ability to build and maintain an overall positive public image for the organisation, its mandate and its brand, while ensuring that individual campaigns and other communications and advocacy initiatives are supported in reaching the public.