Communications Specialist with UNRCO Sudan

Mission and objectives

In September 2019, then-Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok requested that Sudan be declared eligible for the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund. On 16th October, the Secretary-General in his response declared Sudan eligible to the PBF for a period of five years. Since 2018, the PBF has approved over USD 60 million in funding to Sudan to support key peacebuilding priorities including durable solutions, rule of law, local peacebuilding, and women’s and youth empowerment. The PBF has eleven active projects in Sudan, two recently approved projects, six completed projects, and one in the pipeline. In January 2021, a Peacebuilding Fund Secretariat was established under the auspices of the DSRSG/RC/HC Integrated Office to provide assistance to the coordination, monitoring, evaluation, and communications of PBF-funded projects. The Sudan Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) is a pooled funding mechanism that, since December 2020, has mobilised and channelled resources to UN Agencies to assist peacebuilding and stabilisation in Sudan in support of the UNITAMS mandate. In an effort to improve coherence and complementarity, as well as increase impact, coordination and cost efficiency, the DSRSG decided to merge the two secretariats into one Joint MPTF-PBF Secretariat. The Joint Secretariat will be responsible for the coordination, monitoring and evaluation, and communications of all PBF and MPTF investments in Sudan, and based in the Integrated Office of the DSRSG/RC/HC.

Context

The MPTF-PBF Secretariat oversees the coordination, monitoring, evaluation, and communications of two pooled funds – the UN Peacebuilding Fund and the Sudan Multi-Partner Trust Fund – which have collectively invested over $100 million in peacebuilding and peacemaking in Sudan since 2018. Through close coordination with the communications focal points of recipient UN entities and NGOs, the successful candidate will develop timely, creative and high-quality communications pieces that demonstrate the results of PBF and MPTF investments in Sudan to a range of national and international stakeholders. These communications outputs will play a critical role in supporting the MPTF-PBF Secretariat’s broader donor relations and resource mobilization efforts, ensuring that the funds can continue flexibly responding to the needs of conflict-affected communities across Sudan. With RCO members having returned to Port Sudan following the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, the MPTF-PBF Secretariat was relocated to a satellite office in Nairobi, Kenya, as of July 2024. Due to these arrangements the successful candidate will be required to telecommute from their home throughout the assignment.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Head of the MPTF-PBF Secretariat or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Communications Specialist will:

• Develop a communications/external relations strategy to maximize engagement with impact of PBF and MPTF investments among a range of national and international stakeholders;

• Design and produce information and visibility products (human interest stories, blogs, short videos, infographics, newsletters etc.) capturing MPTF and PBF impact and results, working with graphic designers where necessary;

• Contribute to bi-annual reporting by logging and reporting on communications coverage and social media engagement;

• Coordinate with project/ technical teams to develop communications products updating stakeholders on impact of investments;

• Ensure that project teams adhere to content guidelines and requirements, including timely submissions of human interest/success stories to be shared with PBF HQ and the MPTF Steering Committee;

• Work with project teams to develop communications plans for each project and follow up on their implementation;

• Translate transcripts and articles from Arabic to English and vice versa;

• Participate in the UN Communication Group to coordinate with implementing partners from other UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes;

• Assist with organisation of MPTF Steering Committee Meetings and documentation of minutes; • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Eligibility criteria

Age

18 – 80

Nationality

Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience

3 years of experience in communications, public relations, advocacy, journalism or other related experience is required. • Experience working in the UN or other international development organization is required

Area(s) of expertise

Communication

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required Arabic, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in Communications, Public Relations, advocacy, Journalism or other related experience is required.

Competencies and values

• Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing • Communication: proven interpersonal skills • Flexibility • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards to the MPTF-PBF Secretariat’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.