Partnership and Communications Associate

Background

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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.

UNDP Country Office in Tajikistan supports the country’s national development strategy. The organization is guided in its work by the Country Programme Document, which in turn builds upon the Sustainable Development Goals. The priorities of UNDP mission in Tajikistan are addressed through numerous projects implemented in partnership with national counterparts, key donors, UN agencies and other international organizations.

The role of the Communications Unit is to develop and implement communications strategy to support UNDP in its efforts to advocate for changes toward sustainable development and communicate the results of its programmatic activity.

UNDP follows the policy of open and proactive communication with stakeholders through various channels, including local and international media, when appropriate, and its own digital channels such as local and regional websites and social media. With the rapidly changing trends in technology, UNDP is also committed to expanding accessibility to information and its target audience by widening the scope of coverage and making wider range of information accessible in locally spoken languages.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of Communications Analyst, the Communications Associate supports the formulation and implementation of the communications and advocacy strategies tightly linked to UNDP’s Country Programme priorities, ensures the positioning of the Country Office as a key development actor in the country and a contributor to achieving SDGs, and formulates communication messages/products that promote UNDP and its programming in ways that boost demand for various service lines and increase overall business opportunities.

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

The Communications Associate works in close collaboration with management, programme and operations teams in the CO, staff of other UN Agencies, UNDP Communications Group staff (Regional Communications Adviser and RBEC Regional communications unit, national and international media, and local contractors.

Duties and Responsibilities
Supports formulation and implementation of external communications and advocacy strategies, supports business development

Supporting the conduction communications needs assessments for CO (projects, country programme and corporate change initiatives, etc.)
Support the elaboration of CO communications and outreach strategy based on corporate strategic priorities and Annual Work Plan.
Development of communication materials for marketing and awareness-raising campaigns, including briefing and media materials in coordination with the supervisor.
Organization of roundtable discussions, press conferences, briefing sessions, seminars, interviews.
Provision of inputs and researched information in programme formulations to integrate advocacy and communication strategies into all aspects of UNDP’s development programme.
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 (UN Day, World AIDS Day, etc.) Maintain updated information on key partners and contact with the partners through timely communications products
Provision of inputs and information for elaboration of CO publications strategy and plan based on the corporate publications policy.
Identification of storylines for publications and articles contributing to debates on key development issues.
Prepare working plan for advocacy/awareness raising campaign to promote UNDP knowledge products.
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.
Supervision of content production by individual contractors as necessary.
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 development as appropriate

Support building and implementation of internal communications and information flow strategy

Contribute to identification of gaps in internal communications between country office, projects, and areas offices and building internal communications strategy.
Prepare working plan and tactical measures to overcome internal communication gaps through communications means and products using existing resources.
Under guidance, organize internal capacity building trainings/workshops in close cooperation with the RBEC regional team.

Supports the country office in mainstreaming gender sensitive communication

Works in close collaboration with the country office gender focal points and the regional team to support mainstreaming gender sensitive communications.
Works in close collaboration with gender focal points to develop work-plan on gender-equality communications products
Supports country office gender focal points in building staff capacity in gender sensitive communications
Supports country office in its strategy to promote gender equality through ensuring adequate coverage on UNDP communications channels, including the country office website and social media pages.

Supports the country office in mainstreaming gender sensitive communication

Develops content plan for UNDP country office website and social media in collaboration with the digital communications associate to ensure fair coverage of all UNDP priority areas
Preparation/checking the content for the web sites and social media platforms to ensure consistency of the materials.
Ensures quality control of content developed for website and social media
Coordinates content development process between programme unit and communications unit
Acts as liaison between the country office and RBEC regional hub to promote content from Tajikistan through regional communications channels.

Competencies:
Core

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

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Communication-Advocacy strategy and implementation: Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change
Partnership building-Building strategic partnership: Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives
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
Business Management - Digital Awareness and Literacy: Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome. Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks
Business Direction & Strategy - Business acumen: Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome. Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks.
Digital and Innovation - Social media: Knowledge of social media and ability to advise the use of social media for development outcome.
External relations & advocacy - Advocacy strategy and implementation: Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change.

Required Skills and Experience:

Education:

Secondary education is required.
Bachelor’s degree in Communication, journalism, or a related field will be considered.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

7 years (Secondary education) or 4 years (Bachelors degree) of relevant experience at the national level in providing communication packages to promote the activities of international development organization.
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.). Experience in handling of web-based management systems.
Fluency in English, Russian and/or Tajik.

Important Notice:

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.