PNUD recruits 01 Communications and Coordination Specialist
PNUD
Maputo, Mozambique
Communications and Coordination Specialist – IPSA11
Maputo, Mozambique
Job Identification2469LocationsMaputo, MozambiquePosting Date02/21/2022, 01:36 PMApply Before03/09/2022, 05:59 AMDegree LevelAdvanced/Postgraduate DegreeJob ScheduleFull timeAgencyUNCDFGradeIBVacancy TypeInternational Personnel Service AgreementPractice AreaConflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive InstitutionsBureauRegional Bureau for AfricaContract Duration1 YearEducation & Work ExperienceMaster’s Degree – 7 year(s) experienceRequired LanguagesEnglish and PortugueseDesired LanguagesFrenchVacancy Timeline2 Weeks
Job DescriptionBackground UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. 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 Country Team (UNCT) in Mozambique is formed by 23 resident and non-resident UN funds, programmes and specialized agencies with projects in-country and led by the United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRC). It focuses on supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The work of the UNCT and UNRC demands strong, strategic communications and advocacy efforts to: 1) leverage UN positioning with all key actors in Mozambique; 2) Give visibility to UN joint work; 3) Advocate for SDGs priorities; and 4) Mobilize engagement from all levels of Mozambican society, including governmental and private sector stakeholders.One extremely sensitive and specific priority in the Mozambique context is the peace process. The Government of Mozambique and Rename signed the Maputo Accord for Peace and National Reconciliation in August 2019. This ended low level conflict and marked a significant turning point in the history of Mozambique. With the support of the Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for Mozambique (PESG) and the Peace Process Secretariat (PPS), the leaders and the people of the country have demonstrated their readiness to work together and peacefully coexist. Over two-thirds of Rename military bases have been closed and 63% of combatants have been disarmed and demobilized and have returned home and reunited with their families and communities. The Parties remain committed to closing the five remaining bases and demobilizing the just over 2,000 combatants who are awaiting demobilization. This will be a significant achievement and will allow the people of Mozambique to collectively plan for a future free from violence.
Food security and nutrition as well as engagement of local government structures are two further specific priorities in the Mozambican context. Chronic development deficits and the ongoing conflict in northern Mozambique are amongst the root causes of food insecurity in Mozambique. The recurrence of droughts, floods and cyclones in shorter cycles has also negated efforts to reduce vulnerability across many communities and to sustaining development dividends and decentralization policies that have been achieved at the local level. Food security, food systems, and local inclusive governance are key to address root causes of the development deficit, conflict and climate vulnerability.
For these reasons, the United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRC), the Peace Process Secretariat (PPS), and United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) have agreed to cost-share the position of a Communications and Coordination Specialist to support the UNRC and PPS’s strategic communications activities and to provide specific deliverables for UNCDF on the engagement of local governments.
Hosted by UNCDF, the Communications and Coordination Specialist will support the UNRC, PPS and UNCDF by providing independent, timely, efficient and high-quality expertise and will work in close collaboration with other UN Entities in the achievement of agreed deliverables. The Specialist will work bilaterally with the three entities and will at all times maintain respect the confidential nature of the work. Information shared by each of the entities will be used solely in connection with the deliverables for that entity and must not be disclosed to third parties.
Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe Communications and Coordination Specialist is responsible for knowledge management, Communications, reporting, and outreach advisory and coordination’s of partnership building and media relations
Summary of key functions:
Communications, Coordination and outreach advisory for the UNRC and PPS;Strategic partnership building and media liaison for the UNRC and PPS;Reporting, branding and editorial services;Leads communications for UNCDF Mozambique and for UNCDF activities in Southern and Eastern Africa;Contributes to partnership building and media relations in support of UNCDF.
Description of main functions:
Communications, Coordination, and outreach advisory for the UNRC and PPS
Advises the UNRC and PPS in identifying risks and opportunities related to communications and suggests mitigation measures as relevant;Prepares a wide range of communication strategies and materials for the UNRC and PPS, including speeches, remarks, op-ed articles, video messages, talking points, press statements, on issues that cover the full spectrum of the UN agenda;Supervises the work of external communication consultants engaged by the UNRC and PPS;Coordinates and ensures communication and visibility around high level UN visits by Agencies’ Principals, Special Envoys and other UN Senior Executives;Supports the UNRC and PPS in shaping advocacy strategies and approaches and contribute, as necessary, to the implementation of relevant communications initiatives;Advises the UNRC on the formulation and implementation of the 2022-2026 UNSDCF Mozambique Communications Strategy and annual communications plans;Provides top quality and timely advice and expertise to the UN Secretariat on any strategic communications related to Mozambique.Strategic partnership building and media liaison for the UNRC and PPS
Scans, identifies and advises the UNRC and PPS on the development and implementation of locally-tailored partnerships for communications and advocacy strategies and initiatives;Identifies, develops and maintains senior-level working relationships with the media, including editors and journalists in key national and international media outlets;Identifies, develops and maintains senior-level working relationships with key-line ministries and development partners at national and regional level.Reporting, branding and editorial services
Monitors in country, regional and global developments and builds on any emerging opportunity for innovative communication and advocacy about sustainable development;Reviews formatting of key UNRC’s and PPS publications and ensures alignment with UN branding guidelines and publishing standards as necessary; Acts as the Editor-in-chief of the UNRC, UN Mozambique and PPS communications platforms, including website and social media profiles.Leads communication implementation of Communications and Visibility (C&V) Strategy for UNCDF Mozambique and for UNCDF activities in Southern and Eastern Africa.
Draft and implement Communications and Visibility (C&V) Strategy for UNCDF Mozambique and UNCDF activities in Southern and Eastern Africa;Leads content gathering, documentation, production, and organization of local adaptation development interventions through local governments;Produce annual calendar of content related to program activities with its various partners is created, costed, endorsed and implemented;Manage the development and maintenance of content for programmes webpages and social media platforms, in compliance with guidelines and standards used throughout the Organization, to ensure consistency of approach. Critically review and improve contents;Leads communications and advocacy activities regarding the financing of local adaptation plans through local governments, including tailored products to different partners;Coordinates and manages a team of public information staff from partners and Government in different UNCDF Mozambique programmes;Promotes the design of communications products for the financing local resilient initiatives;Advises UNCDF in identifying risks and opportunities related to communications, and suggests mitigation measures as relevant; Monitors and analyzes UNCDF experiences, lessons learned and knowledge networking to contribute to strategic planning processes; andSupervises and mentors junior officers on specific projects.
Contributes to partnership building and media relations in support of UNCDF
Leads the significant expansion of UNCDF and Government of Mozambique joint work outreach on the 2030 Agenda and its impact;Leads knowledge management of communication experiences and shares findings with country, regional and HQ communication colleagues so that Mozambican best practices benefit the UNCDF global communications work;Identifies, develops and maintains senior-level working relationships with key-line ministries and development partners at national and regional level;Develops and maintains close working relationships with the media, including editors and journalists in key national and international news outlets; andPrepares and oversees the preparation of UNCDF official briefing materials, talking points, speeches, statements, op-eds and presentations as needed. Lead Communication and Knowledge management to organization of events.
Institutional Arrangement
The position of Communications and Coordination Specialist, IPSA11, will be hosted by UNCDF. The position will be based in UNCDF Mozambique in Maputo as full-time regular IPSA level 11. UNCDF will manage the position and the Communications and Coordination Specialist will report to UNCDF Programme Specialist in Mozambique. The Communications and Coordination Specialist will also provide support to UNRCO and PPS’s activities in line with the resources contributed by each entity with the specific above-mentioned deliverables. The performance of the Communications and Coordination Specialist will be assessed by UNCDF in close consultation with UN Resident Coordinator for overall coordination and the PPS and to UNCDF on their specific deliverables. Every three months, the UNRC, PPS and UNCDF principals will agree on the work schedule of the Communications and Coordinator Specialist to avoid concurrent priorities.
Competencies
Core
Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UN;Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;Treats all people fairly without favoritism;Achieve Results: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact;Think Innovatively: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems;Learn Continuously: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences;Adapt with Agility: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands;Act with Determination: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results;Engage and Partner: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration;Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity. Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Digital & Innovation: Knowledge of digital marketing methods and ability to apply them practically
Communications
Advocacy strategy and implementation : Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change Brand & quality management: Ability to position a UNDP brand and uphold it to a high level of qualityMedia Relations: Ability to develop media relations across all aspects of media work including relationships with media and preparing media materials such as messagesWriting and editing: Ability to create and/or edit written content in different UN languages
Partnership management
Relationship management: Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understandingStrategic engagement: Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high[1]level vision and objectives
Functional Competencies: Knowledge Management and Learning;Shares knowledge and experience;Communicates ideas and positions with command and confidence;Finds common ground to solve problems;Encourages office staff to share knowledge;Develops deep knowledge in practice areas;Demonstrates strong coaching/mentoring skills, regularly providing helpful feedback and advice to others in the office;Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.
Development and Operational Effectiveness:
Ability to elaborate and implement communications and publications strategies;Demonstrated effectiveness in developing media campaigns;Ability to effectively manage an advocacy campaign;Demonstrates excellent ability to write and communicate orally with accuracy and professionalism;Communicates sensitively and effectively;Demonstrates strong IT skills.
Leadership and autonomy:
Always adopts a dynamic, positive and constructive attitude at work;Excellent interpersonal skills complemented by the ability to conceptualize ideas and advocate consensus;Remains calm, self-possessed and in a good mood, even under pressure;Demonstrates openness to change and the ability to handle complex situations;Interacts with others in a professional, respectful and friendly manner;Communicates clearly and convincingly. Required Skills and Experience
Education:Master’s degree or equivalent degree in international relations, political science, communications, or related area.
Experience: Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience in coordination, communications and advocacy in the context of international development and/or humanitarian assistance is required;Experience at an UN Resident Coordinator’s Office is an asset/desirable;Deep knowledge and understanding of the social, economic, and political context of Mozambique is required; and Deep knowledge of Mozambican governance structures, including decentralized and local development entities is required.Experience in humanitarian crises and/or conflict context is required;Experience with UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks, integrated strategic plans, humanitarian response plans and/or appeals is required;Experience in coordinating complex communications strategies is required;Experience in coordinating a large team of communication experts is required;Experience in managing resources, including personnel and budget, to support communications and advocacy activities in a local context, is required;Experience in organizing high-level missions is required;Experience in providing communications advisory for UN Country Teams, high-level UN leadership and Heads of Agencies is an asset;Well established working relationships with peers at country and regional levels is required;Well established network of national and international media outlets is required.
Required Language(s)
Fluency in Portuguese and English (written and spoken) is required.Working knowledge of French is desirable.
Travel:
UNCDF will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. The individual is expected to travel frequently in performing their functions within Mozambique. All travel costs will be covered directly by the UN Entity responsible for the mission, following UN’s rules and regulations.
Disclaimer
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