United Nations Development Programme (Regional Bureau for Africa, RBA)

Knowledge Management and Communications Associate

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Last update: Apr 22, 2024 Last update: Apr 22, 2024

Details

Deadline: May 3, 2024 Deadline for applications has passed
Location: Gambia
Job type:Contract, 12 months +
Languages:
EnglishEnglish
Work experience: Min 3 years
Date posted:Apr 22, 2024

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Description

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.
Job Purpose and Organizational Context

The UN Secretary-General launched on 1 January 2019 a bold and new global reform that repositioned the UN Development System to deliver more effectively and efficiently with the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. As part of this reform, UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO), under the leadership of an empowered and independent UN Resident Coordinator - the highest-ranking official of the UN Development System and Representative of the UN Secretary-General at the country level - support countries in the achievement of their development priorities and the attainment of the SDGs. The position is in Gambia's United Nations Resident Coordination Office (RCO).

The PBF support has helped catalyze critical peacebuilding processes in a very short period, helping to ensure that the country did not descend into violence during this fragile transition period, including the 2021 presidential elections. Thanks in part to PBF assistance, and with the technical support of UN agencies alongside the government’s commitment and participation, commendable progress has been made in sustaining peace, particularly in the areas of transitional justice, constitutional review, security, judicial and civil service reform, women and youth empowerment and participation, returning migrants and economic development. 

A dedicated PBF Joint Steering Committee was established on the 21st of August 2023 to provide strategic guidance on the PBF portfolio and strengthen coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of the portfolio towards achieving the project results.  The Joint Steering Committee (JSC) is the primary decision-making body overseeing PBF-supported projects. The JSC is Co-chaired by the United Nations Resident Coordinator, the Secretary-General, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Gambian Government. Its membership comprises key coordination Ministries, Development Partners, Bilateral and Multilateral partners, donors, and civil society. 

Under the guidance and supervision of the PBF Secretariat Coordinator and/or other direct supervisor, the Driver provides reliable and safe driving services ensuring high accuracy of work. The Driver demonstrates a client-oriented approach, high sense of responsibility, courtesy, tact and the ability to work with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

The Driver provides driving services to PBF Secretariat and RCO staff, consultants and experts, and UN staff on mission.

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
  1. Develop, update, and support the implementation of a Communications strategy and plan for PBF:
  • Develop a communications strategy and action plan for the PBF in the Gambia. 
  • Developing and disseminating communications products and conducting activities that ensure effective communication with targeted audience(s) on project activities and achieved results. 
  • Preparing media advisories and press releases.
  • Tailor communication forms to selected recipients, including local language translations when necessary. 
  • Organizing and moderating meetings, training, and workshops as part of key activities under the PBF Secretariat portfolio. 
  • Drafting and reviewing of speeches. 
  • Drafting success/case stories, compiling best practices, and preparing policy impact briefs and other communications products for distribution to partners and targeted audiences. 
  • Building partnerships with the media for advocacy and communication purposes. 
  • Ensuring cultural and political sensitivity in all communications materials. 
  • Providing background information and briefing materials (including brochures and newsletters) on the PBF Programme in The Gambia as needed. 
  • Using social networks and digital communication platforms as appropriate; creating high-quality content for both social media and media. 
  • Raising awareness and improving PBF's public image in The Gambia. 
  • Produces periodical and ad hoc reports on the projects/programmes’ communications activities, including media analysis. 
  • Assesses and reports the effectiveness of the communication strategy.

2. Facilitating knowledge building and sharing in close collaboration with the Peacebuilding Team.

  • Supports/builds the capacity of project teams, partners, and stakeholders in identifying, documenting, and drafting best practices and lessons learned, effective communications, and advocacy.
  • Assists in systematically capturing key achievements and lessons learned from projects/programs’ activities for knowledge-building, sharing, and advocacy.
  • Supports the preparation of publications, documents case stories, and compiles best practices for learning and sharing.
  • Serves as PBF Secretariat point of contact for media and communication.
  • Serves as PBF Secretariat focal person in the UN Communication Group and works closely with other UN agencies and partners to ensure related communications materials include information about PBF work in The Gambia.
  • Supports the preparation of knowledge-sharing events and strategies.
  • Researches, compiles, and presents basic information for use in preparing and producing communications products/services.

3. Administrating and enriching PBF Funded projects online information sharing and social media
  • Develops, updates, and administers project success story information on the website and social media.
  • Ensures the use of online channels is in line with UN guidelines, standards, and best practices.
  • Use relevant software; create designs in the appropriate format for promotional and other material, such as brochures, presentational materials, announcements, video, audio, website, and social media content; ensure that photos, graphics, etc., are appropriate and conform to UN standards for communications materials.

4. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
 

Core Competencies
Core
Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
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 

Thematic Area Name Definition
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 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 Digital Awareness and Literacy
  • Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skillfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed.
Communications  Digital asset management
  • Ability to use digital asset management (DAM) systems to effectively store, share and organize digital assets such as images, videos and other media 
Communications  Multimedia writing/editing
  • Ability to create and/or edit written content for multimedia 
Communications Social Media management
  • Ability to represent and promote the UNDP brand in virtual communities and networks 
Communications  Writing and editing
  • Ability to create and/or edit written content in different UN languages. 
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
  • Completion of High School/Secondary education is required or A university degree in communications, journalism, or advertising will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.
Experience:
  • Minimum of 6 years (with high school diploma) or 3 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant communications experience preferably providing communication packages at the national level to promote the activities of an international development organization.  
  • Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.
  • Proven experience on systems, procedures, guidelines, manuals and templates for reporting and information verification practices.
  • Proven experience and knowledge in Development communication effectiveness and cooperation, gender equality and its related issues.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills with ability to creatively communicate cconcepts in an enguaging and simple way.
  • Experience in developing informative blogs, feature articles,  impact/human interest stories and social media posts.