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.
UNDP has been working with national and international partners in the Philippines on the issue of the circular economy. UNDP is working with the European Union in implementing the EU Philippines Green Economy Programme (The Programme). The Programme has the purpose of supporting the Philippines’ transition towards a green economy, including circular economy, reducing waste and plastic, as well as increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment to support climate change mitigation. The Programme acknowledges that the transition to circular economy will have other added benefits such as reduction of the use of energy and greenhouse gas emissions, improve biodiversity and natural capital, decreased pollution levels, and climate change adaptation.
The Programme addresses three main levels:
- Establishing a Policy Dialogue Platform at the central government level to mobilize EU expertise to facilitate policy formulation, improve city-to-city collaboration through supporting the development of a National Circular Economy Strategy and Roadmap, extend the dialogue to promote renewable energy/energy efficiency, and to apply the dialogue’s outcomes.
- Working with local government units (LGUs) where EU expertise will support to define and implement circular economy, climate change, and energy policies with a human rights and gender-responsive perspective, outreach and support of local business and civil society, and support less advanced LGUs.
- Enhancing engagement of the private and financial sectors into the circular waste economy creating better conditions for private sector investment by supporting business-driven waste reduction strategies and circular solutions in the production process.
The Programme has 4 specific objectives:
- SO1: Improved circular economy and climate change policies and reduced GHG emissions
- SO2: Enhanced practices of the circular economy by the LGUs in collaboration with the private sector and civil society sector, with a focus on youth and gender equality
- SO3: Enhanced engagement of the private and financial sectors in circular, waste-reduction economy
- SO4: Increased energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment
UNDP is responsible for the implementation and execution of SO2 with the purpose of enhancing the capacities and practices of local government units (LGUs) on circular waste economy in collaboration with private and civil society organizations (CSOs), with focus on youth and gender equality.
Key results expected at the end of the Project include:
- Reduced volume of waste generated and sent to landfills in partner LGUs.
- Greenhouse gas emissions reduced and avoided (tonnes of CO2eq) from reduced waste and implementation of circular economy initiatives.
- At least 20 LGUs have established circular economy models, including introduction of source separation and collection systems for wastes recycling, diversion, repurposing and other CE initiatives.
- Additional number of organizations applying CE and sustainable consumption and production practices in partner LGUs.
- Additional jobs (including green jobs) created across the circular economy value chain, disaggregated by gender and groups.
- At least 10 LGUs in which nationally defined green procurement criteria have been applied.
- About 15 LGUs that feed their NDC reporting with improved gender and youth sensitive data on co-benefits of CE.
The above results shall be achieved through the following Outputs:
- Output 1: Improved capacities of LGUs and stakeholders to design, implement and monitor resilient and inclusive circular economy strategies.
- Output 2: GEDSI-responsive local policies and regulations designed and applied to enable circular and green growth opportunities and practices.
- Output 3: Public and private financing effectively mobilized to implement gender responsive and inclusive CE strategies and programmes.
- Output 4: Enhanced community innovation and demonstration projects applied to address priority CE solutions in partner LGUs.
- Output 5: Enhanced CE behavior and practices of LGUs, private sector, communities and local stakeholders.
- Output 6: Informal sector, grassroots, civil society organizations, women, youth, and marginalized sector capacitated and integrated into the CE value chain.
- Output 7: CE-related knowledge management, MERL, GEDSI and safeguards in place to strengthen and replicate CE uptake in the Philippines.
The Project shall be implemented in partnership with LGUs. A total of 20 Tier 1 LGUs will be supported directly, while 40 LGUs will be supported with targeted assistance on a demand-driven basis. Out of Tier 1 LGUs, 10 LGUs have been identified:
- Baguio City
- Pasig City
- Caloocan City
- Quezon City
- Iloilo city/Metro Iloilo
- Ormoc City
- Del Carmen municipality/Siargao islands
- Island Garden City of Samal
- Davao City
- Puerto Princesa City/Palawan
The remaining Tier 1 cities will be identified during the first year of implementation.
UNDP Philippines takes overall responsibility and accountability for the delivery of the project outputs. It will be accountable for managing the project, including the monitoring and evaluation of project interventions, achieving project results, and for the effective use of resources, in compliance with UNDP rules and regulations, policies and procedures. These include relevant requirements on fiduciary, procurement, environmental and social safeguards, and other performance standards.
The day-to-day implementation of the project will be led by a Project Manager within a Project Management Unit (PMU) responsible for ensuring that the project achieves the expected targets to the required quality standards and within the specified time and budget allocations. The Project Manager will be supported by a Deputy Project Manager, Project Assistants, technical staff and a pool of contractors and consultants to carry out the deliverables of the project.
UNDP is seeking a Communication and Knowledge Management Specialist to lead the visibility, information and knowledge management and sharing, and coordination and communication activities of SO2: enhanced practices of the circular economy by the LGUs in collaboration with the private sector and the civil society sector, with focus on youth and gender equality. The Communication and Knowledge Management Specialist will work with a team of UNDP specifically assigned to work on this programme, including the Project Manager, Deputy Project Manager, project team, consultants, LGU Hub Coordinators, CO Communication team, and other partners such as the EU, GIZ, IFC, Expertise France, LGUs, and relevant CSO and private sector organizations.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Communication and Knowledge Management Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager. The Communication and Knowledge Management Specialist will work closely with the PMU, CO Communication team and other GEPP stakeholders on communications. The Communication and Knowledge Management Specialist will also liaise with local government units, community groups, and civil society organizations, as applicable and relevant.
The Project is seeking to recruit a Communication and Knowledge Management Specialist, who will be responsible for the following:
Planning and Development of the Programme’s Communications and Outreach strategy and Visibility plan
- In consultation with UNDP team and partners, and in line with the objectives of GEPP, lead the development of the communication and outreach strategy and visibility plan for the UNDP Philippines flagship project: GEPP-SO2.
- Undertake a regular program communications needs assessment in conjunction with the continuous implementation of the communications strategy and visibility plan.
- Develop the program’s Brand Manual, which would include the program’s visual assets, branding guidelines, and templates, in coordination with other stakeholders and partners.
- Customize internal and external systems for team and partners to systematically capture data, document and package information in line with the communication, visibility and UNDP and EU branding requirements.
- Leverage knowledge platforms of the donor, national government and LGU partners to strategically expand the outreach of programme reports and knowledge products on green economy.
- Regularly update and adjust communication and outreach strategies through continuous consultations, ecosystem mapping, and engagement with national and local partners and stakeholders.
Lead Behavioral and Advocacy Campaign
- Lead the development and subsequent implementation of behavioral change campaigns on circular economy, working with different stakeholders and partners.
- Prepare TOR for knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) baseline and KAP impact studies to determine most appropriate behavioral change strategies, targeting priority audiences at the LGUs, to influence practices and positive behaviors towards circular economy.
- Prepare TORs for Consultants, contractors and partners to support implementation of the behavior change campaign.
- Review outputs and reports of consultants, contractors and partners to ensure delivery in accordance with TORs, results and quality.
- Provide overall advice to the Project Manager and Project team to advance behavioral change towards circularity among stakeholders with LGU partners.
- Formulate procedures, criteria and programme for the administration of grants to partners to undertake behavioral change and advocacy campaigns.
Develop and implement Strategic Communication, Outreach and Visibility
- Create the program brand package, which includes the standard presentation deck, a program IEC materials (one-page briefs, flyers, brochures), visibility materials (banner templates, collaterals).
- Prepare communication materials for dissemination to different audiences in coordination with the Project Manager. These include websites, social media content, presentations, briefing material, updated information leaflets, and videos etc.
- Lead preparation of press release(s), social media content, talking points and key messages.
- Document any key events and field missions to increase the project visibility.
- Lead communication of GEPP results and progress including best practices and lessons learned to its audiences using the most effective tools and channels including social media and regularly monitor communication platforms to ensure that the latest information is reflected.
- Lead provision of technical support to the project in the development and implementation of standardized templates with donor taglines for reporting on events, workshops, training sessions, as applicable.
- Develop success stories and provide relevant inputs for the development of newsletters and website articles for the project.
- Produce high-quality photography, videography, and other digital media products for the project with strong and impactful narratives, for example, from field visits and events.
- Provide support during crisis communications and assist the CO communications team with responses to GEPP related media inquiries.
- Liase closely with the UNDP Philippines Country Office Communications Team for the publishing of project communications materials on the Country Office platforms in a timely manner.
- Coordinate with the local media for press relations and visibility, especially for high-level activities of the project.
- Write or/and edit speeches and public statements for the project staff and senior management.
- Ensure that the logos and attribution of UNDP, DILG, DENR, EU and LGU (as appropriate) and other branding guidelines of UNDP, EU and the EU-GEPP Programme are adhered to across all visibility materials and knowledge products.
- Perform other related duties as required.
Lead the effort Knowledge Management and sharing information
- Develop and maintain an effective stakeholder engagement approach, including an up-to-date list of the project stakeholders, and maintain effective relations with all stakeholders to encourage their support to GEPP programming activities.
- Liaise with other implementing partners, government agencies, and respective local government units and other partners to ensure a cooperative approach towards communications and that GEPP activities are reflected in the online and mass media according to UNDP standard procedures and policies.
- Support the development of knowledge products on the implementation of the project including the production of videos and other media.
- Work closely with Data Management Specialist to promote knowledge management and knowledge sharing through maintaining the project communications site with easy access of publications and knowledge resources to all partners and stakeholders.
- Perform other related duties as required.
Coordination of Communications Functions
- Serve as the Project’s focal point to, and provide support to meetings including GEPP Steering Committee, Project Board, Technical Working Group (TWG), and with donor representatives documenting discussions and disseminating finalized minutes with respective stakeholders.
- Along with timely implementation of the KMC components of programme activities, provide KMC-relevant contributions to the submission of progress reports to donor, development of annual work plans and budget monitoring, project monitoring and evaluation, support to GEPP-SO2 partners and stakeholders at all levels, and other requests from the PMU.
- Support event planning to promote the project’s messages among partners, stakeholders, and beneficiaries.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
- 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.
People Management competencies:
- UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
External Relations & Advocacy:
- General (across the functions) Event planning and execution: Ability to plan, manage and execute of 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.
- General (across the functions) Public relations: 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 communications and advocacy initiatives are supported in reaching the public
External Relations & Advocacy/ Communication:
- Advocacy strategy and implementation: Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies 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 writing/editing: Ability to create and/or edit written content for multimedia.
- Digital strategy: Ability to plan the use of resources through digital channels to reach and engage target audiences effectively and to achieve particular objectives.
Business Direction and 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.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in a relevant field of expertise such as Communications, Journalism, Organizational Behavior, Business Administration, Social Science, or any other relevant field is required. OR
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Minimum five (5) years (with master’s degree) or seven (7) years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience in communications and advocacy or related area.
- Proven experience in leading communications functions in initiatives funded by an international organization or UN Agency is required.
- Proven experience in leading strategic and creative communications and developing communication strategies is required.
- Proven experience in press and media coordination as well as social media management is required.
- Demonstrated experience in managing and coordinating events.
- Proven experience in designing and creating data visualization, infographics, presentations, and reports is desirable.
- Previous experience working with national and local governmental organizations, civil society organizations and community-based groups is desirable.
- Prior experience with multi-partner and/or multi-million joint programmes is desirable.
Required languages:
- Fluency in English and Filipino– both written and oral is required
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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