Background
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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 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been operating in Egypt for more than a decade as a trusted and credible partner, supporting the government through policy advice and programme management, leading nationwide initiatives and programmes, and playing an important role in strengthening national institutional capacities to address poverty reduction, job creation, and business promotion. The overarching approach for UNDP in Egypt is to support Egypt’s vision for sustainable development for all and meet Egypt’s strategic and national development priorities. At UNDP, external and internal communication is critical to achieving both development results and business objectives. Skillful communication broadens the impacts of new policies, helps governance reforms take root, and attracts and fosters strong partnerships.
Under the guidance and supervision of the Communication Analyst, the Communication Officer will support UNDP Egypt in: (1) Supporting clear, coherent and consistent communication about the strategic focus, activities and projects of the CO in line with CPD Country Programme Document (CPD) and the Global Communication and Public Advocacy Strategy (2) Supports CO media relations – prepares press releases, responding to inquiries, developing and managing media outreach plans as required. (3) Supports advocacy and strategic communication of the CO as a whole including drafting and implementing annual workplans, PCAPs, communications and visibility plans for the CO and projects. (4) Support internal communication, ensure UNDP positioning and working with other agencies as one UN as part of the UNCG.
Duties and Responsibilities
Support to communications and advocacy outreach activities for UNDP Egypt programmes
- Participates in the formulation and implementation of strategies, communication and visibility plans, planning, development and provision of accurate and timely information to internal and external audiences with the objective of promoting awareness, understanding, support and respect for UNDP Egypt’s mission;
- Assist in the design and facilitate the implementation of a robust communication strategy and action plan aimed at increasing CO and implemented projects awareness, CO achievements, to strategically position UNDP Egypt as a thought leader among target audiences.
- Monitors and analyzes developments in the assigned country, public opinion and press, identifies issues and trends, and advises on appropriate communications plan.
- Works directly with relevant donors, partners, and UNDP implemented projects to ensure CO communication objectives are met.
- Actively seeking ways to improve communication across the organization.
- Assists in the strategic communication and organization of promotional, advocacy, or knowledge-sharing events for the CO.
Facilitates the content development and creation for the EG CO:
- Provide support to communication annual and interim reporting.
- Liaise with UNDP programmes and projects to identify potential awareness raising campaigns, documentary plans, and human-impact stories highlighting UNDP’s impact on the ground.
- Produces or oversees production of information and communications products (e.g. press releases, key messages, articles, speeches, booklets, stories and blogs, fact sheets etc.); including proposing topics, collecting information from the field, audience targeting, writing drafts, and finalizing and editing copy.
- Build strong digital presence for UNDP Egypt, including through social media outreach, digital storytelling, online campaigns and events and more as requested.
- Works closely with personnel responsible for social media and website content and ensure collaboration with UNDP website content
- Provide translation of any communication materials as necessary.
Supports the media engagements and coordination:
- Support UNDP Egypt with national media and press including establishing contact with reporters and editors from news organizations worldwide; including pitching stories to national media.
- Support the development of media content, interview briefings and speaking points;
- Support the development of text for selected UNDP Egypt key opinion pieces.
- Supports the strengthening of programme-level media engagement capacity.
- Undertakes activities to promote media coverage (e.g. press conferences, press releases, interviews, press seminars and other special activities) of priority issues and/or major events, develops media strategies and initiates pro-active media outreach, undertakes appropriate follow-up actions on the impact of coverage.
- Monitor media to analyze the effectiveness of the communications strategy and make necessary tweaks for continuous success of the visibility.
Other:
- Provide or oversee logistical and administrative support.
- Participate in the training for the project personnel for further professional growth through active learning.
- Any other tasks as deemed necessary.
Institutional Arrangement
Reports to Communications Analyst/Head of Unit. Supervises interns and external consultants (translators, videographers assigned to communication related tasks)
Competencies
Core Competencies:
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross Functional and Technical Competencies
- communications (Technical)
- Public relations/Digital media: Ability to build and maintain an overall positive public image for the organisation, its mandate and its brand, while ensuring that individual campaigns and other digital communications and advocacy initiatives are supported in reaching the public
- Business development (Cross Functional):
- Human-centred design: Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process
- Business management (Cross Functional):
- 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
- Communication (Cross-functional):
- Creative Direction and Copywriting: Ability to creatively communicate concepts in an engaging and simple way
- 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 administration, or related field is required, or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Up to 2 years (with Bachelor’s degree) or Min. of 2 years (with Master’s degree) of relevant work experience in communication, preferably in a development context
Required Skills:
- Professional work experience in communication, with a focus on advocacy, storytelling and media relations, preferably in a development context.
- Be fully proficient in Microsoft Office.
Desired Skills:
- Experience in corporate communication, media, event and campaigns management.
- Ability in providing communication packages to promote the activities of international development organization.
- Microsoft Office, Web Content Management Software and Social Media tools experience.
- Previous work experience in the development sector such as the UN is an asset.
Languages:
- Fully proficient in written and spoken Arabic and English (fluent).
Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
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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