Background

UNDP Country Programme in Kenya aims to strengthen democratic governance, community resilience and promote inclusive sustainable development aligned with UNDP’s Corporate Strategic Plan 2022-2026, the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Kenya, and the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To achieve this, fully aligned with Kenya’s national priorities, UNDP provides support to national and county-level development aspirations through our thematic areas; Environment, Energy and Resilience; Governance, Peace and Security; and Inclusive Growth. Throughout UNDP’s programming in Kenya, attention is paid to the inclusion of vulnerable groups, youth, women and grassroots citizens, with initiatives that build multi-stakeholder partnerships; apply innovative development approaches and foster the creation of new value areas to attain maximum development impact.

UNDP in Kenya has recently re-booted its communications approach. Though wide-ranging, the Country Office (CO) communications effort is dynamic. Guided by the CO’s Strategic communications offer, the overall communication objective is to position UNDP as the preferred UN agency that is strategically and technically fit for purpose and partner of choice in supporting the delivery of Kenya’s development agenda, especially in the priority areas of the CPD 2022-2026. The specific communications objectives are highlighted below:

• To enhance access to information on UNDP’s work for increased visibility.

• Demonstrate the value and impact of UNDP by enhancing the visibility of UNDP’s work, articulating UNDP Kenya’s position and contribution towards Kenya’s development vision.

• To build the capacity of UNDP’s internal and external communication structures for the effective realization of the Country Programme’s objectives: Conducting training on communications,

advancing knowledge management, information sharing and highlighting impact and lessons learned.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Under the overall guidance of the Head of Communications the intern is expected to undertake the following tasks:

• Support the implementation of the UNDP Kenya Partnership and Communications Action Plan as well as the Communications Strategy by curating, producing, and presenting stories, images and videos on related activities and relevant development stories.

• Draft media content, including but not limited to, blogs, articles, social media assets (posters, GIFS, captions) etc.

• Support development and dissemination of newsletters.

• Support documentation of field activities through photography and/or videography.

• Document lessons learnt and produce relevant knowledge products for dissemination.

• Support the implementation of the UNDP Kenya influencing calendar of activities.

• Curate social media content in line with UNDP Kenya activities, monitor and track engagement.

• Participate in capacity building activities.

• Provide support and assist with other related tasks as needed.

Outputs

• Effective support for management of communication platforms including website and social media channels.

• Effective support in organising and undertaking media communications’ capacity building and liaison activities

• Effective support in development and dissemination of knowledge management products

• Effective support in enhancing media visibility for the UNDP Kenya Country Office activities

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Treats all people fairly
• Upholds the United Nations values

Functional Competencies:

• Experience in digital media and communications
• Experience creating digital content and/or managing different media platforms
• Experience with photo and video editing desirable
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Proficiency in desktop publishing software (Photoshop/ Adobe Illustrator) is a plus
• Excellent critical reasoning, creative thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in English and Kiswahili – written and spoken is required

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills.
• Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors.
• Flexible and adaptable to dynamic work environments
• High degree of self-motivation and initiative.
• Willingness to learn and apply new analytical approaches.

Required Skills and Experience

Applicants must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree.

• Be enrolled in a graduate school programme.

• Have graduated with a university degree or diploma and, if selected, must start the internship within one year of graduation.

In addition:

• The university must be accredited.

• The applicant must be specializing in Media and/or Communications and/or Journalism and/or Knowledge management.

• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.).

• Experience in the development of quality communication products for external influencing.

Fluency in English is required.