Communication Specialist – UNDP Apia

  • Location:
  • Salary:
    negotiable / YEAR
  • Job type:
    CONTRACTOR
  • Posted:
    7 hours ago
  • Category:
    Communication and Advocacy
  • Deadline:
    22/10/2024

JOB DESCRIPTION

Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
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.

While Samoa’s contribution to global Greenhouse Gas (GHemissions is negligible, climate change mitigation remains a critical government priority in light of the already felt and predicted increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. The transport sector in Samoa, which is entirely dependent on fossil fuels, is the country’s largest emitter of CO2, accounting for 4% of GHG emissions (based on Samoa’s National GHG inventory, 2020). Reliance on energydense fossil fuels is expected to render decarbonization of the transport sector particularly difficult. Transport demand has grown in parallel to economic development, and with structural changes, it grows faster than that of other sectors. Whilst some interventions to decarbonize the transport sector in Samoa have initiated, efforts remain fragmented due to a lack of investment and coordination across ministries, agencies, development partners, financial entities, private businesses, and individuals.

In order to meet Samoa’s Second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDtarget to reduce national GHG emissions by 26% from 2007 levels by 2030 (equivalent to 91 Gg CO2, the rapid decarbonization of both land and maritime transport systems is fundamental. Researchbased evidence, best practices and lessons learned globally indicate that a number of interventions can catalyze the paradigm shift required 2 to decarbonize the transport sector, including electrification of transport systems, along with supportive policy and business model innovations to catalyze systemic electrification.

The project Climate Action Pathways for Island Transport (CAPI: Accelerating the Decarbonization of Samoa’s Land and Maritime Transport Sectors, funded by the Government of Japan, aims to promote urgent and inclusive transformation of the land and maritime transport sectors towards decarbonization by accelerating the uptake of electrical vehicles and outboard motors in support of the achievement of Samoa’s enhanced NDCs for the energy and transport sector by This will be achieved through a threefold approach:

  1. Creating an enabling environment through strengthened and gendersensitive institutional governance, financial, legal, and technical capacities for accelerating the decarbonization of both land and maritime transport systems.
  2. Accelerating inclusive decarbonization of the land transport sector with a focus on adoption and imports of electric vehicles and accessible electrification service networks targeting public transport and public service delivery vehicles; and;
  3. Introducing and piloting lowcarbon outboard motors for Samoa’s fishing fleet through a gender sensitive grant mechanism for local fisherfolk and training scheme on installation, operation, and maintenance. CAPIT is implemented through the UNDP Direct Implementation Modality (DI, with some activities to be delivered by national implementing entities as Responsible Parties (RPcontracted by UNDP.

The general objective of the position is to ensure high visibility of the project, effective communication of the project to national and Japanese audience, build awareness rising, help project with knowledge building, and sharing, as well as to support MCO communication efforts.

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Under the overall supervision of the CAPIT Project Manager and in close collaboration with the MCO’s Communications Analyst, the CAPIT Communications Analyst will be responsible for strategic communications, visibility, advocacy and graphic design needs. Key responsibilities include, but not limited to;

Duties and Responsibilities
CAPIT Communication Analyst reports to the Project Manager and is expected to work in collaboration with other PMU Team personnel.

Provision of Effective Communication Services and Visibility of the CAPIT project

  • Formulate and implement project communications and visibility plan to ensure greater visibility and public understanding of the projects’ goals and results.
  • Coordinate the presence and coverage of national and/or international media in projectrelated events and/or milestones.
  • Produce public relations materials for internal and external promotion of the project, and assist with planning and publicizing, including projectrelated press releases. These include support management and feeding of the CAPIT’s traditional and social media platforms with content and newsworthy topics, including blogs, opeds, inter alia, in order to share information about the project and the support it offers to, and benefits of, lowcarbon development in Samoa. Minimal requirements include at least 12 posts per week on some of social media platforms, and at least once a month a blog, an article or an oped product.
  • Oversee and lead from the CAPIT side awareness campaigns implementation, messaging, and materials to maximize advocacy impact on the benefits of lowcarbon transport.
  • Support the organization of public events at the regional and national level in order to achieve better CAPIT project understanding, recognition and visibility.
  • Ensure systematic recognition of donor (Government of Japasupport and partner involvement.
  • Support graphic standardization for projectrelated templates, including reports, presentations, inter ali.
  • Support and coordinate film crews during the creation of promotional videos (documentary or testimonialfilming successful stories on project beneficiaries
  • Ensure inclusive language, especially in the Samoan context, throughout project documentation, including speeches, reports, social media, inter alia; and,
  • Provide inputs and drafting support to narrative and annual reports.

Support for MCO Communication Efforts

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  • Support the implementation of the MCO’s Partnership and Communications Strategy.
  • Provide coordination support to MCO events, publications and web activities, including content management, norms for photography, video production, publishing, design, and editing, when required.
  • Support implementation of public information campaigns on issues including UNDP activities, UN Reform, and Sustainable Development Goals, including the enforcement of inclusive language.
  • Support developing communication materials, including briefing materials and press releases, for MCO events in coordination with the MCO Communication Officer.
    Write, edit, and supervise speeches and public statements for senior management and programme staff, when required; and,
  • Support corporate and donor reporting requirements, when required.

Lead knowledge building, sharing and management in the MCO

  • Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities.
  • Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories.
  • Provide, upon needs, training and advice to UNDP staff on internal and external communications for development.
  • The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies

Core competencies:

  • Achieve Results: Level 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
  • Think Innovatively: Level 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
  • Learn Continuously: Level 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
  • Adapt with Agility: Level 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
  • Act with Determination: Level 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
  • Engage and Partner: Level 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Level 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross functional and technical competencies:
Business Development
  • Collective Intelligence Design: Ability to bringing together diverse groups of people, data, information or ideas, and technology to design services or solutions

Business Direction and Strategy

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  • System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Business Development
  • Human centered design: Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problemsolving process.
Business Management
  • Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience: Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
  • Digital Awareness and Literacy: Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skillfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed.
Digital Innovation
  • Data storytelling and communications: 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.
  • Story telling: Ability to empathize with people’s perceptions, motivations, feelings and mental models and craft narratives to build an emotive argument for change accordingly. Ability to present data, insights or information in compelling ways to mobilise resources, talent or action.
  • Ability to choose media and channels that is fit for purpose to reach specific target audiences.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
  • Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalenin Communications, Journalism, Media, or related fields is require. Or
  • A firstlevel university degree (Bachelor’s degrein the areas mentioned above in combination of two years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree (e.g., Master degre.
Experience:
  • Minimum 2 years (with Master´s degreor 4 years (with Bachelor´s degreof relevant experience in communications, journalism, media, or related fields is required.
  • Previous experience in developing, auditing and/or implementing communication strategies or plans for organizations or international projects is required.
  • Demonstrated experience in communication related activities with local communities, Indigenous Peoples, Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIprotection of cultural heritage, and/or community engagement is an asset;
  • Working in the public sector, United Nations and/or any other international organization and/or development agency is a strong advantage.
  • Working with donors from Japan (Government of Japan, JICA, and etc.) is an asset.

Required Languages:

  • Fluency in English and Samoan is required.
Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
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.
Nondiscrimination
UNDP has a zerotolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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