Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
The UNDP country office in South Africa supports the government of South Africa in achieving its development goals outlined in the National Development Plan 2030 as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The UNDP country office’s activities are guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2020 -2025), the South African National Development Plan 2030, the UNDP Strategic Plan (2022-2025), The UNDP Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025 and the UNDP South Africa Country Programme Document (2020-2025).
The Country Programme Document also envisions gender and social inclusion as cross-cutting themes and has therefore employed a gender and social inclusion mainstreaming approach in all its key priority programmes: i) Inclusive growth, ii) Nature, Climate and Environment and iii) Democratic Governance and Public Service Delivery as well as in its innovation, monitoring and evaluation approaches. However, gender is also considered as a goal in its own right and there are also dedicated gender stand-alone projects. The promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women and social inclusion are central to the mandate of UNDP and intrinsic to its development approach and are vital to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, ensuring that no one is left behind.
The role of the Country Office Communications Unit is to adopt UNDP’s global communication strategy to a local context and the Country Office development priorities. Through the production of high-quality communication materials and innovative use of relevantly targeted communication channels (internal and external), the communications team works collaboratively to position UNDP as a leader in the development arena, promote visibility of UNDP program outcomes/development results, mobilize support for Sustainable Development Goals in the country, including through communication for behavior change, and practice delivery as one UN. Gender equality and mainstreaming can largely be achieved through effective communication of its objectives and good practices that will contribute to change.
Position Purpose
Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Resident Representative (RR), the Communication Specialist implements the corporate communications strategy, designs, manages and facilitates the implementation of the Country Office communications and publication strategies with a view to influence the development agenda, promote public and media outreach and mobilize political and financial support for UNDP. Additionally, the Communication Specialist will use communication methods and tools to integrate UNDP’s policies and programmes on gender, social inclusion with a focus on strategic partnerships and knowledge management.
The Communications Specialist supervises and leads the communications staff of the country office and has a strong regular working relationship with the Regional Communications and Gender Advisers. The Communications Specialist works in close collaboration with the CO Programme, Operations and project teams, staff of other UN Agencies, UNDP Communications staff in the Region and HQ, government officials, international and local media, subject matter experts, donors, and civil society to ensure successful implementation of UNDP’s communication strategy.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Develop and implement internal/external communication strategies and outreach for the Country Office
- Plan and elaborate communication needs assessments for the country office (projects, country programme and corporate change initiatives);
- Lead communication program in the country office and work closely with country office senior management to ensure communication strategies support achievement of CPD targets. Develop a yearly communications action plan in line with the overarching strategy;
- Provide constructive and timely advice on inclusion of communications components in programme and projects formulations to integrate advocacy and communication strategies into all aspects of UNDP’s development programmes;
- Promote and facilitate increased coverage and understanding of the UNDP’s work in the country or practice area through local and global media stories as guided by the UNDP External Communications Action Plan.
- Elaborate and implement the country office publications strategy and plan based on the corporate publications policy
- Identify and develop storylines for publications and substantive articles that contribute to and generate conversations on key development issues, with particular emphasis on gender;
- Coordinate and manage all CO publication activities, including content management in line with corporate guidelines, ensuring that are gender sensitive;
- Liaison with journalists and other communication counterparts for better UNDP visibility.
- Lead UNDP digital communications in country office for wider reach through social media, web site, intranet, and CO web-based knowledge management system.
- Design the country office strategy for digital communications;
- Maintain close contact with the global web management team to ensure the design of the country office’s website is in line with corporate requirements;
- Supervise the content for different digital platforms that includes the country office website and social media to ensure consistency of materials and gender sensitiveness;
- Monitor public engagement on different social media platforms.
- Lead UNDP campaigns to engage different stakeholders (i.e. government, donors, media and public) and increase awareness of UNDP’s mandate and goals.
- Manage and promote advocacy activities and disseminate corporate advocacy materials to publicize UNDP mandate/mission, flagship initiatives, and key publications to position UNDP as a thought leader and leading development agency in the country;
- Create, promote, and maintain public information campaigns on issues including UNDP activities, Sustainable Development Goals, and UN Reform in association with other staff from Business Development Team to increase the visibility of UNDP’s work, mobilize resources, and influence support from stakeholders in achievement of UNDP goals;
- Develop and maintain close contacts with government officials, donors, civil society, and private sector as part of the country office communication strategy;
- Push UNDP’s Campaign and Advocacy Agenda in country office’s UN Communications Group to make sure this is part of “One UN” agenda.
- Lead the effort of country office’s knowledge management and dissemination, learning and innovation
- Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities;
- Provide substantive and sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories;
- Organize and provide training, consultancy, and advice to UNDP staff on internal and external knowledge management;
- Oversee maintenance of UNDP’s Intranet on country office activities for internal knowledge sharing, and the sharing of relevant knowledge products with external stakeholders through the corporate website;
- Work with the Programme teams to ensure all knowledge products are captured, updated, readily available and in the right order, as and when necessary;
- Support the development and dissemination of high-quality knowledge products, evidence-based good practices, among others, including by providing technical guidance and quality assurance to content development.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Provide supervision and performance management of Communications staff.
Competencies
CORE
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking
- Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Business Management: Portfolio Management
- Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.
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.
General (across the functions): Event Planning and Execution
- Ability to plan, manage and execute public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP's overall brand and mandate.
Communications: Advocacy Strategy and Implementation
- Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change.
Communications: Brand & Quality Management
- Ability to position a UNDP brand and uphold it to a high level of quality.
Communications: Campaign Management
- Ability to produce and implement communications and advocacy campaigns which lead to impactful change.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Communication, Journalism, International Relations, Public Policy and Administration, Development Studies, Social Sciences or related field is required, or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in a relevant field in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in public relations, advocacy, communications and gender/women empowerment;
- Previous experience with multilateral or international organizations is an asset;
- Coordination skills and experience liaising with government departments, international organizations, civil society, academia and other stakeholders is desired;
- Proven ability to organize and facilitate trainings and capacity building activities using formal and informal methodologies is required;
- Strong conceptualization, analytical, writing and communication skills/experience is desired;
- Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of web-based management systems such as ERP is required.
Language Requirement:
- Fluency in English is required.
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Disclaimer
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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