Communications Expert

UNDP has been providing development assistance to the people of Myanmar since the 1950s. UNDP operated under a restricted mandate from 1993 until 2012 implementing the Human Development Initiative programme which provided assistance directly to communities and individuals for improving their lives and livelihoods. 

In 2013, UNDP began working through two country programmes, and between 2018 and 2020 the focus shifted to direct support to the Myanmar Government. 

Following the military takeover in 2021, UNDP Myanmar pivoted to directly target the extremely vulnerable by meeting their basic needs and supporting community recovery, through the Community First Programme: 2021-2023. 

UNDP Myanmar will expand operations from 57 to 77 townships across Myanmar, including in Rakhine, and areas controlled by SAC, EAOs and those under mixed control.  

We have and extensive presence with 4 field offices covering 11 states and regions, with offices  in Mon State – covering Mon and the southeastern regions including Bago – and Kachin and Shan states. UNDP also has a field office in Rakhine State and a sub-office in northern Rakhine. 

UNDP Myanmar works with an extensive network of local CSO, CBO, grassroots partners and community leaders established by UNDP under the Human Development Initiative which started in 1993. These networks remain operational, and UNDP has been able to quickly connect and deliver support through them despite rapid changes in Myanmar’s political and social landscape. 

This is required at a time when the UN system can face a lot of criticism from those who perceive its presence is not justified and legitimizes the de facto military authorities, and its impact is insufficient due to poor access.

Communications has a key role to play in showing the impact of UNDP across its seven projects in spite of the challenges and criticisms faced.

Under the direct supervision of UNDP Resident Representative, the International UN Volunteer will carry out the following tasks:

• Provide strategic direction and guidance for UNDP’s communications in Myanmar, including implementing and revising (when necessary) the communications framework/strategy.
• Develop communications content for social media, the UNDP website, and media publications that reflect the challenges faced by people in Myanmar, and the impact UNDP is having on addressing those challenges.
• Support the resident representative and deputy resident representative with communications materials targeting the donor community.
• Monitor news publications and social media for developments that pose an opportunity for UNDP to communicate about issues related to its mandate.
• Produce communications content to coincide with select international days, such as Human Rights Day and International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction.
• Manage the UNDP Myanmar website, ensuring news content and publications are uploaded, and project pages are kept up to date.
• Manage media outreach with journalists, including developing relationships, responding to enquires, and drafting press releases and lines.
• Together with the national communications officer, upload bilingual content in English and Burmese on the Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages of UNDP Myanmar.
• Build the communications skills of the national communications officer.
• Where possible, visit project sites to collect audio-visual content and interview people who have been reached by UNDP’s programme.
• Together with the national communications officer, draft and design brochures and factsheets for public and donor audiences.
• Attend and contribute to the UN Communications Group meetings to ensure UNDP’s perspective is represented and the wider UN communications network is aware of UNDP content updates.
• Develop and implement comprehensive crisis communication strategies to effectively respond to and manage emergencies, including coordinating with other UN agencies and relevant partners.
• Coordinate with the UNDP Bangkok hub to ensure Myanmar is represented in regional communications products, including the monthly email digest.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:
• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for in-stance in events that mark International Volunteer Day).
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, org encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.
• Mentoring for the National Communications Officer

Results/Expected Outputs
• One feature story on UNDP’s impact on the website every month.
• At least four cross-platform social media post every month.
• Develop content for four international UN days in one year.
• Myanmar referenced in each Bangkok regional hub monthly newsletter.
• Secure four feature stories or op-eds in international and regional media in one year.