UNDP is the development arm of the United Nations system, with offices in 180 countries. Globally, the organization employs 17,000 people and manages a budget of USD 5 billion each year.

The UNDP office in Skopje employs a big team and currently manages a portfolio of projects in environmental protection, good governance, and social inclusion worth USD 15 million per year.

Within its Democratic Governance Unit UNDP works closely with the Government and institutions at all levels to increase skills and capacities to design more responsive and inclusive policies and to deliver services more effectively. Through its projects, UNDP is working with the national institutions in the design and development of policies, laws, and measures to increase the accountability of public institutions. In addition, central and local government officials receive significant support to tackle decentralization challenges, resulting in improved cooperation among municipalities, enhanced public services, strengthened regional development, efficient digitalization, improved public finance management, and increased collaboration with NGOs, CSOs, and the private sector.

The Green Portfolio aims to integrate various program elements, facilitating holistic planning and integrated implementation through a portfolio approach. It encompasses projects centered on innovative financing mechanisms to advance the green agenda, along with a program framework focused on local development, emphasizing policy coherence, resilience, and sustainability. Additionally, it allows for adaptive programming, ensuring responsiveness to changing circumstances.

In support of implementation of some of the UNDP projects, there is a need for hiring of a Communications Officer to provide support in area of communication, PR and visibility.

The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Head of the Good governance and Green portfolio and respective project managers, and in cooperation with the project teams, representatives of different donors and the stakeholders.

To enhance transparency of all projects within the Democratic Governance and Green Portfolio and ensure better outreach to potential beneficiaries as well as promotion of results achieved, the Communication Officer will support the unit/portfolio with building and enhancing communication network with relevant national partners and broader public.

The incumbent will promote UNDP’s mandate as all-inclusive gender-responsive organization with zero tolerance to any kind of discriminatory and abusive behavior, including sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

Design and Implementation of the Communication and Advocacy Plans of the respective projects and the Unit’s Communication and Advocacy Plan:

• Development/production of communication and advocacy instruments and materials for PR, marketing and awareness-raising campaigns, including briefing materials and press releases in coordination with the supervisors.
• Drafting articles, content management, norms for publishing, design, maintenance of regular contact with printers and other suppliers to ensure production and publications dissemination.
• Copywriting and production of various types of promotional materials, including but not limited to media advisories, press releases, op-eds, briefs, blog posts, web articles, posts for social networks, talking points, etc.
• Preparation and dissemination of press clipping, donor reports, education and community awareness, where appropriate, to support the promotion of the Programme activities and results.
• Preparation of communication input for the monthly UN communication report.
• Timely and effective responses to media inquiries and inquiries for public information materials related to the Projects.
• Organization of various public events on local and national level in order to achieve better understanding, recognition and visibility of the Projects.

Support the CO web-based information and knowledge management system in relations to the Unit and the Projects:

• Preparation of the content for the web sites related to the Projects and the Unit to ensure consistency of the materials.

Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing within the Unit/Portfolio and with other Units:

• Take part in the development of annual and/or semi-annual work plans that specify tasks undertaken and specify indicators of success.
• Work with financial/admin officer to prepare managerial and financial reports as needed.
• Emphasize the project’s results-oriented approach in all activities undertaken.  Ensure the projects can measure results of activities under Her/his responsibilities.
• Submit quarterly reports of relevant project progress, successes and failures on communication issues to the supervisor.
• Contribute to the project assessment of best practices as it gains experience. This will include encouraging an atmosphere of adaptive management in the project, (i.e. organizing round table discussions on project successes and failures) where people focus on meaningful results “on the ground”, rather than generating reports.
• Contribute to the development of lessons learned derived from the projects’ experience.

Ensure the mainstreaming gender, disability and youth) considerations in the field of expertise, promote a safe and enabling environment free of any kind of discrimination, abusive behavior and exploitation, and use the principles of Inclusive HR communications in line with the UNDP corporate standards:

• Produce knowledge products (articles, success stories, research studies, think-pieces, videos, photos, etc.) in line with UNDP’s and UN communication guidelines (UN Disability-Inclusive Communication Guidelines, UNDP Principles of Gender-responsive Communications and UN Youth Strategy 2030).
• Build visibility and credibility through awareness raising campaigns and advocacy initiatives on nationally relevant gender/disability/youth issues, in partnership with the media, civil society actors, and government counterparts.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Performance indicators for evaluation of results:

The key results have an impact on creation of effective communications and dissemination of information on the Unit and the Projects. In particular, the key results focus on: Established and maintained good relations with the key national partners and beneficiaries and the media while ensuring good affirmative coverage of the Unit/Portfolio and the Projects; The content of the UNDP website managed and uploaded with up to date news, articles and other innovative topics related to the Unit and the Projects; Organized various media events (briefings, face to face meetings, presentations, interviews, press statements etc.) and other local promotional events and improvement of the visibility of the Unit/Portfolio and the Projects; Documentary videos and other promotion materials related to the Unit and the Projects produced while supporting the entire organization of the production; Efficient and proactive cooperation and building partnerships with all project stakeholders and counterparts, donors, other projects.

Institutional Arrangement

Communication Officer will report to the Head of Democratic Governance and Green portfolio and close coordination and guidance of the Communications and Partnership Officer of the CO, collaborate with communications colleagues from other portfolios, and will closely coordinate with the Project Managers of the respective projects. The supervisor will ask and consider the feedback from the CO Communication and Partnership Officer in the annual performance review.

• 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.

• General- Event planning and execution          
  • Ability to plan, manage and execute public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP’s overall brand and mandate.
• General- Public relations
  • Ability to build and maintain an overall positive public image for the organization, its mandate and its brand, while ensuring that individual campaigns and other communications and advocacy initiatives are supported in reaching the public.
• Communications- Creative direction and copywriting
  • Ability to creatively communicate concepts in an engaging and simple way.
• Communications- Digital strategy
  • Ability to plan the use of resources through digital channels to reach and engage target audiences effectively and to achieve objectives.
• Communications- Media Relations
  • Ability to develop media relations across all aspects of media work including relationships with media and preparing media materials such as messages.
• Business Management- Partnerships Management
  • Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts, and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
• 2030 Agenda- Peace – Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights
  • Safeguarding human rights and protecting vulnerable groups.