Communications Specialist

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 170 countries and territories, working with Governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges to help empower lives and build resilient nations.  

 The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the pledge to leave no one behind reflect the interconnectedness of health and sustainable development issues such as the widening economic and social inequalities, the climate crisis, rapid urbanisation, the continuing burden of HIV and other infectious diseases (e.g., malaria, tuberculosis, COVID.19), the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and the emergence of health threats. The scope and scale of delivering health and well-being for all demands innovative partnerships and financing.  

UNDP’s partnership with the Global Fund (GF), in line with UNDP’s HIV and Health Strategy 2022-2025: ‘Connecting the Dots’, makes a vital contribution to UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the pledge to leave no one behind.   When requested, UNDP acts as interim Principal Recipient (PR), working with national partners and the Global Fund to ensure management, implementation, and oversight of GF grants, while simultaneously strengthening health institutions and systems for national entities to assume the PR role over time.  

UNDP has been identified by the Global Fund as the interim PR for the Venezuela malaria grant, which is in the final year of grant implementation, having started on 1 January 2021 and ending on 31 December 2023.  The grant was exceptionally approved by the Global Fund Board as a result of the sustained increase in malaria cases which began in 2010.  

 UNDP implements the programme in close coordination with the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), the Ministry of Popular A1-B2 level desired Power (MPPS), and other technical agencies.   

In order to manage the malaria grant and achieve its aforementioned goal, a dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU), has been established to ensure strategic, programmatic and operational management and oversight of the grant.  Importantly, since there is no CCM in Venezuela, a multi-stakeholder advisory group (‘the malaria technical advisory group’) has been established.  Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) is the Sub-recipient supporting programme implementation.  

Duties and Responsibilities

• Establish strong collaboration with other members of all PMU units. 

• Establish close collaboration with counterparts and donor, facilitating the availability of reports as needed. 

• Support the implementation of communication and promotion strategies for Global Fund (GF) grant projects. 

• Design of communication, informational and educational materials inherent to the implementation of PMU projects. 

• Coordination with UNDP Country Office Communications Unit for the creation of timely content for UNDP’s social media and relevant digital platforms. 

• Suggestions, contributions, content development, coordination of production, including filming and editing of video content of the work and results of the implementation of the UPG. 

• Dissemination of information and publications; attendance at public events, press conferences, briefings, interviews. 

• Support to the implementation of communication and advocacy strategies, following UNDP Country Office publication policies. 

• Facilitation of knowledge creation and sharing. 

• Logistical support to the organization of PMU activities and events. 

• Maintenance of the database of counterparts, partners, information/videos, and photo library. 

• Ensure full compliance with UNDP rules, regulations and policies, target setting and monitoring of results achievement in accordance with the terms of the Grant Agreement, corporate agreements with the Global Fund and Global Fund policies. 

Competencies

Core 

Achieve Results: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline?.

Think Innovatively: ??Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements ? 

Learn Continuously: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination:  Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Data Storytelling and communication: Skilled in building a narrative around a set of data and its accompanying visualizations to help convey the meaning of that data in a powerful and compelling fashion.

Behavior changes communication/communication for development: Knowledge of appropriate digital communication methodologies for development and behavior change, and ability to apply them practically

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. 

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.

Graphic design: Ability to communicate visually and create appealing UNDP graphic products.

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

Social Media management: Ability to represent and promote the UNDP brand in virtual communities and networks 

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education requirements 

Master’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism or other relevant field; 

Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism or in another relevant field with 2 additional years of relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master’s degree. 

Min. years of relevant work experience  

Minimum of 2 years with master’s degree or 2 years with bachelor’s degree of relevant experience in communications, journalism, photography, videography, editing and written production or other related areas.  

Required  skills  

Strong general computer skills. 

Excellent oral and written skills 

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

– Experience in photography and videography would be an advantage Advanced knowledge of and experience with newsletter design, photography or video production will be an asset. 

– National and/or international work experience in logistics, event management, photography, social media or other communications functions is a plus.

Required Language(s)  

Fluency in Spanish is required  

Working knowledge of English is desirable