Communications Specialist (Population & Development)

Details

Mission and objectives

UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.

Context

The UNV will be working with UNFPA, the UN Population Fund. UNFPA works in over 150 countries to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA has a regional office in Istanbul, which covers 17 countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, as well as an office in Almaty and country offices across the region. The UNV will support the implementation of the Russian-funded CISPop Programme which aims at generating better data for better policies in CIS states by strengthening population data collection, analysis and utilization. The Programme is implemented in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The UNV will be part of the Almaty-based Programme team for the CISPop Programme, as well as, from remote, the regional office’s communications team. The project (and this assignment) is ending in June 2024 and the extension of the project is subject to availability of funding.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Project Manager or his/her designated mandated representative(s), and in consultation with the Regional Communications Advisor, the UN Volunteer Communications Specialist (Population & Development) will: 1. Design, plan and implement communication and advocacy materials • Update and implement the communication strategy for the “CISPop; Better data for better policies” Programme; • Lead the development, translation and production of communication and advocacy materials on the programme and related population issues in the CIS region, including materials related to the EECA Demographic Resilience programme, and ensure wide dissemination of communication and advocacy materials through effective channels; • Generate brochures, factsheets, stories, photos and videos from the field to inform the media and general public of the programme, its results and ensure donor visibility at national and regional levels; • Coordinate the implementation of visibility, communications, and outreach activities with UNFPA Regional and Country Offices, and IPs; • Lead monitoring and evaluation of communication and visibility campaigns as well as media materials; • Prepare comprehensive annual and final project reports, highlighting key accomplishments and outcomes; • Support the organization of meetings and other project-related workshops and events and ensure proper communication and dissemination of relevant information; • Support the positioning of the Programme, its donors and partners in the public and media, as a reference project that promotes evidence-based policy-making; • Execute other project and administrative duties as required and delegated by the supervisor. 2. Manage media relations • Lead relationship-building with the press, especially in the CIS region, and maintain and update a database of relevant press in line with the project objectives/priorities; • Respond timely and clearly to media inquiries, in consultation with the Regional Communications Adviser, and to a variety of inquiries and information requests; prepare related correspondence; identify topics, background information, news-related development and coverage of interest; • Facilitate interviews. 3. Build and maintain communication-related partnerships • Identify and develop communication-related partnerships and alliances to enhance visibility, including with relevant influencers; • Liaise with advocacy partners and undertake outreach to civil society organizations, governments, and other groups to ensure that newsworthy information reaches the public and donors; • Collaborate closely with communication colleagues in the country offices to ensure consistency with corporate policies, messaging and initiatives. 4. Facilitate knowledge building and sharing • Ensure wide dissemination and visibility of project progress and achievements; • Identify, compile, and document success stories and best practices, and manage knowledge sharing among IPs; • Provide training and workshops on communication and advocacy as appropriate; • Manage and document Knowledge Management products, developed during the implementation of the Programme. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: ● Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); ● Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; ● Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. ● Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; ● Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; ● Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. Results/expected outputs ● As an active communications team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high- quality support rendered to UNFPA EECARO and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: o Communications strategy/plan for the CISPop Programme developed o Increased visibility of the Programme, its donor, and UNFPA’s work on population and development in the CIS region, as measured by media mentions and online and social media metrics o Creative content created on an ongoing basis to ensure steady flow of information and messages o Generated coverage in external traditional and social media on the Programme and related population issues. ● Age, documented in all activities throughout the assignment Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and ● A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.