Communications Officer

Background

At thed United Nations Sustainable Development Summit on 25 September 2015, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change challenges by 2030. The Sustainable Development Goals build on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), but go much further than the MDGs, addressing the root causes of poverty and the need for development framework that is applicable to all the people from developed and developing world. The Government of Pakistan shows strong commitment to the implementation and achievement of SDGs.

In October 2015, the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives (MoPD&SI) launched SDGs in Pakistan. In February 2016, the National Assembly of Pakistan adopted SDGs as national development agenda. Pakistan Vision 2025 and other provincial strategies reflect SDGs as development priorities.

The Project Focuses On Four Key Areas Of Intervention

UNDP Pakistan has partnered with the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives and set up SDGs Support Units at the federal level and launched a five years project titled ‘National Initiative for SDGs’ in 2016. The project aims to support localization of SDGs at the national level and coordinate closely with all other SDG Support Units established at provincial level and area government levels.

• SDGs mainstreaming through policy integration and coordination;
• Strengthening monitoring and reporting mechanism;
• Financing for development; and
• Applying innovative approaches to accelerate progress on SDGs.

The unit is located at Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives, MoPD&SI Islamabad. The Federal SDG Support Unit needs the services of Communications Officer to promote the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Under the supervision of Project Manager, the Communications Officer will support the design and implementation of advocacy and communication strategies to influence development agendas, promote public outreach, mobilize political and financial support for SDGs, develop a strong digital presence and support the overall functioning of SDGs Support Unit.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of Project Manager, the Communications Officer will be responsible for the following;

• Plan, design and implement internal and external strategies for communications and outreach of the SDGs Support Unit:
• Develop communications strategies for internal and external communication with partners including Federal Ministries, Provincial Governments, international donors, civil society and private sector.
• Support the design and execution of innovative communications strategies, in support of the work of Government in implementing the SDGs
• Support the design and execution of online, social media and offline outreach campaigns on the SDGs.
• Design and develop communications tools including online tools to communicate on the SDGs work in Pakistan
• Develop and disseminate communications materials including printed and audio-visual material to increase outreach
• Develop and disseminate newsletters and external communication material

Enhance visibility of the SDGs Support Unit by engaging with the media and other partners for outreach:

• Support the SDGs Unit team in engaging with media; identifying potential stories, drafting and placing opinion pieces; and facilitating presence of media at events
• Draft press releases and organize media briefings and launches Develop, write and edit engaging content for all digital platforms
• Support the Planning Commission and SDGs Support Unit in developing knowledge platforms

Strengthen internal communications between the Federal and Provincial SDGs Support Unit:

• Draft and share internal communications on the latest tools and mechanisms to strengthen joint advocacy and communications on the SDGs
• Support all SDGs Units and work very closely with Communication Officers of Provincial SDG Support Units for the design and implementation of joint advocacy and communication strategy, where required Update project information materials such as Project Fact Sheet/project summary infographics, designing and layouts of reports, and project website and social media sites.

Conceptualize, Develop And Implement SDG Campaigns

• Support effective communications around key Government priorities in implementing SDGs through developing engaging communications campaigns on key issues

Impact Of Results

• The key results have an impact on the overall performance of the SDGs Support Units and success in implementation of programme strategies.
• Accurate analysis, data entry and presentation of information ensure proper programme implementation.

Institutional Arrangement

• Communications Officer will report to Project Manager, National Initiave for SDGs Project.

The incumbent of the position will uphold the non-discriminatory behavior and ensure that:

• Human rights and gender equality is prioritized as an ethical principle within all actions;
• Activities are designed and implemented in accordance with “Social and Environmental Standards of UNDP”;
• Any kind of diversities based on ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, class, gender are respected within all implementations including data production;
• Differentiated needs of women and men are considered;
• Inclusive approach is reflected within all actions and implementations, in that sense an enabling and accessible setup in various senses such as disability gender language barrier is created;
• Necessary arrangements to provide gender parity within all committees, meetings, trainings, etc.

Competencies

Core Competencies

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Critically assesses established methods;

Contributes to prototyping, piloting, and evaluating lessons / feedback

Level 4: Adept with complex concepts and challenges convention purposefully

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

Creates new opportunities for team, not just self to learn and take on new responsibilities;

Actively shares knowledge

Level 4: Generates commitment, excitement and excellence in others

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Creates new opportunities for team, not just self to learn and take on new responsibilities;

Actively shares knowledge

Level 4: Models independent thinking and action

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Communicates ideas and positions with command and confidence;

Finds common ground to solve problems

Level 4: Synthesizes information to communicate independent analysis

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement; Embraces complex challenges and opportunities for getting work done; Ability to embrace challenges with minimal supervision; Works to develop organizational awareness of UNDP’s approach to client service delivery and integrity and accountability

Level 4: Meets goals and quality criteria for delivery of products or services

Diversity

Functional Competencies:

Inclusive approach is reflected within all actions and implementations, in that sense an enabling and accessible setup in various senses such as disability gender language barrier is created;

Necessary arrangements to provide gender parity within all committees, meetings, trainings, etc.

Level 4: Any kind of diversities based on ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, class, gender are respected within all implementations

Gender

Displays gender sensitivity and promotes gender equality in all aspects of work

Knowledge of systems for gender mainstreaming and

Level 4: Displays gender sensitivity and promotes gender equality in all aspects of work Knowledge of systems

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating SDGs;
• Maintains a functioning network of contacts with a variety of stakeholders to promote a better understanding of SDGs and to support advocacy efforts.
• Building Strategic Partnerships – Maintaining network of contacts
• Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues;
• Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders;
• Establishes and nurtures positive communication with partners.
• Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
• Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new and more effective ways of doing things;
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches.
• Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise
• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position.

Required Skills And ExperienceMin. Academic Education:

• Master’s degree in Mass Communication, Media, Journalism, International Relations, Social Sciences, Journalism or related fields.

Min. Years Of Relevant Work Experience

• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in public relations, journalism, media or communications.
• Previous experience with a multilateral or international organization would be desirable.
• Experience in the use of photo / video software is desirable but not mandatory. Excellent understanding of print, audio-visual and digital mediums of communication.
• Experience in the usage of social media platforms and office software packages.
• Experience in designing layouts, info graphs in different soft wares.

Required Language(s) (at Working Level)

• Excellent knowledge of English, and working knowledge of Urdu an asset

Disclaimer

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC/NPSA categories are subject to local recruitment.

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.

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

HEC Attestation

HEC attested degrees are a prerequisite for employment at UNDP. During the recruitment process candidates may be required to present HEC attested degrees.

Foreign Qualified Candidates: Foreign degree holders shall be required to (i) Present a verification/certification letter from the university verifying the degree & student enrollment, or (ii) Foreign degree Equivalence Letter from HEC.

UNDP provides the Equal Opportunity for all equally qualified male & female including the physically challenged candidates, female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply (local and internal VA)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) does not charge fee at any stage of the recruitment process including application, interviews, selection or induction etc. Moreover, UNDP does not concern itself with any information on the applicants bank accounts

"UNDP has zero tolerance towards Sexual Harassment (SH) and Sexual Exploitation & Abuse (SEA)”.