Communications Associate NPSA 7

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.

In 2014 and 2015 respectively UNDP in Iraq designed and initiated the Iraq Crisis Response and Resilience Programme (ICRRP} and the Funding Facility for Stabilization (FFS} - the two primary and largest programmes to support the Government of Iraq to respond to the crisis that had broken out in the country and to stabilize the areas that were formerly under the control of ISIL. Both platforms are anchored under the Stabilization Pillar of UNDP Iraq's Country Programme framework.

The Iraq Crisis Response and Resilience Programme (ICRRP) which was set up at the end of 2014 promotes the recovery and resilience of communities vulnerable to multi-dimensional shocks associated with large-scale returns and the protracted displacement of Iraqis and Syrian refugees. This is achieved through immediate crisis response and medium-term programming, integrating crisis management capacity building, rehabilitating basic service infrastructure, livelihood recovery and social cohesion.

The ICRRP also manages the Building Resilience Through Employment Promotion programme (BREP). It was launched in December 2020, to support transition of vulnerable individuals of the targeted communities through creating short- and long-term opportunities that are designed to reinforce their livelihood capitals.

In mid-2015, at the request of the Government of Iraq and with the support of the Global Coalition Against Daesh, UNDP Iraq established the Funding Facility for Stabilization (FFS) to carry out stabilization activities in areas affected by the ISIL conflict. Working in 31 locations across the five liberated governorates - Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninewa and Salah Al Din, and in nine major sectors - electricity, health, water, education, sewerage, livelihoods, municipalities, roads and bridges, and social cohesion, FFS focuses on rehabilitating public infrastructure and providing essential services to communities living in areas affected by the conflict.

The position of the Communications Associate will be anchored under the Stabilization Pillar of UNDP Iraq. Under the direct supervision of the Communications Specialist (FFS} and overall direction from the Head of Stabilization. The Communications Associate will also work closely with programme colleagues, M&E and country office communications.
Duties and Responsibilities
Scope of Work Support the communications specialist with implementing the stabilization pillar's communications strategy, including outreach and visibility through media, newsletters, UNDP website and social media to raise the profile of Iraq's stabilization activities. The duties and responsibilities include:

Partner/Donor Communications

• Support to donor reporting including editing, graphic design, and ensuring adherence to UNDP branding and publication guidelines.

• Support with developing a newsletter and updating contact data base of external partners.

• Support with donor communications by assisting the communication specialist with content packages and stories for donors to communicate the impact of the programmes under the Stabilization pillar.

• Support with multimedia content production, such as videos, photo stories and other forms of innovative digital storytelling to showcase impact of support from donors.

Content Planning and Production (focus on Arabic)

• Find innovative ideas and ways to increase awareness about stabilization priorities in Iraq. This will include supporting with developing and implementing campaigns.

• Support with content planning and production. This will include overseeing production, editing, dissemination and archiving of high-quality photo and video documenting.

• Ability to design, develop and edit social media graphics, videos aligned to current social media trends. He/she should have the unique ability to adapt skills to trends and stay on top of digital trends in content.

• Support with reporting on communications, through media monitoring and analyzing social media analytics. Focused on reporting on Arabic content.

• Use data and analytics to drive communication strategy in Arabic and English.

Internal and External Coordination

Take ownership and lead on engaging with the Government of Iraq's media teams at the national and governorate level to collaborate on messaging and content.
Coordinate with programme, M&E and other teams daily to provide communication and branding support.
Coordinate with vendors, such as ad agencies, photographers and videographers to produce content.
Collaborate closely with the UNDP Country Office Communications Unit to share content where appropriate and harmonize messaging.

Other support:

Support with visibility and communications for events, high-level visits and key milestones in the project life cycle.

Develop press releases, briefing notes and talking points for key leadership where required.
Support with crisis communication and response, if required.
Photograph, videography and video editing stories, if required.
Reviewing, copy editing, translating and quality checking Arabic content where required.

Institutional Arrangement

The Communiactions Associate is part of the UNDP Iraq Stabilization Pilla's External Relations and Donor Relations team. The person reports directly to the Communications Specialist for Stabilization and is based in Erbil
Competencies

Core

Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies (insert up to 7 competencies)

Advocacy strategy and implementation: Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change.

Writing and Editing: Ability to create and/or edit written content in English and Arabic.

Social Media development outcomes: Knowledge of social media and ability to advise the use of social media for development outcomes.

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.

Media Relations: Ability to develop media relations across all aspects of media work including relationships with media and preparing media materials such as messages.

Multimedia production: Ability to create and combine images, text and audiovisuals to produce multimedia content.

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education requirements

Secondary Education or Bachelor's Degree in Communications, journalism, International Relations, Political Sciences or related area

Min. years of relevant work experience

Secondary Education with 7 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in public relations, communications, advocacy or a related field. Or Bachcelor's degree with 4 years of relevant experience in public relations, communications, advocacy or a related field.

Required skills

Practical experience in maintaining online portals and social media channels for an organization in Iraq and in establishing and expanding social networks online.
Experience developing high quality and engaging content in Arabic and English.
Ability to write and edit in Arabic and English. Especially, for digital platforms.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

Practical knowledge with video editing, photography or design is an asset. Basic knowledge of using Canva and Adobe tools, such as, Premier Pro, lnDesign, Photoshop, and office software packages. Also, a good knowledge and experience in handling of web-based management systems.
Strong and innovative storytelling abilities; creative, out-of­-the box thinking.
Knowledge of media landscape, Government of Iraq's communication practices and social media pulse in Iraq.
A proven track record working across complex cross­functional teams and different projects.
Comfortable working in a proactive and high-paced environment.
Ability to analyze data, generate creative briefs and reports.
Resourceful, attention to detail, and comfort offering solutions and clarity where there is ambiguity.
Outstanding teamwork and interpersonal skills. Follows a team-first mentality.
Curiosity and willingness to learn, while at the same time wiling to skills and help other colleagues the team reach their full potential.
Experience with video editing, photography or design is an asset.

Required Language(s)

Fluency in English and Arabic languages.