JOB DETAILS:

United Nations Development Programme Strategic Partnerships Specialist Pakistan UNDP Jobs 2024

United Nations Development Programme looking for “Strategic Partnerships Specialist”. Applicants with an Advanced degree may apply on or before 12-Jul-24.

The United Nations Development Programme has published a job vacancy announcement on 28/06/2024 for qualified applicants to fill in the vacant post of Strategic Partnerships Specialist to be based in Islamabad , Pakistan. For more jobs, please visit https://unjoblink.org

Company Name: United Nations Development Programme

Job Title: Strategic Partnerships Specialist

Duty Station: Islamabad , Pakistan

Country: Pakistan

Application Deadline: 12-Jul-24

About the Company:

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. UNDP has been working in Pakistan for more than 50 years on climate change and resilience, gender, governance, health, livelihoods, human rights and rule of law. Under the broader framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in close coordination with other UN agencies, UNDP is supporting the people of Pakistan’s aspiration for peace, prosperity, and sustainability. UNDP is currently implementing its Country Programme 2023-2027.

In this context, the UNDP Pakistan Partnership and Communications Team is entrusted with ensuring the following:

• Promoting and expanding innovative partnerships and scaled-up engagements on key issues iiin Pakistan for poverty alleviation, resilience building, democratic governance and sustainable development.
• Enhancing visibility and presence on a diverse array of communications channels/mediums to promote UNDP’s work and success stories, designed to increase partners engagement and awareness of UNDP’s impact in Pakistan.
• Ensuring communications are designed and implemented to ensure active     engagement in UNDP’s substantive areas of work at all levels of the organization.
• Projecting UNDP as a substantive thought leader, promoting its mandate, mission, and purpose via effective communication and strategic positioning, and promoting UNDP’s principles and work as a tangible value proposition with national and international partners.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Resident Representative, and with a matrix reporting line to the Deputy Resident Representative, the Strategic Partnerships Specialist ensures that the overall objectives of UNDP Pakistan related to Partnerships and Communications are achieved, by overseeing the communication and media outreach, with capacity development, protocols, and content development in place, and with strengthened partnerships, positioning and resource mobilization. Working closely with the CO Senior Management and units, project, and programme teams, RBAP and BERA Partnership and Communications, s/he leads and guides the partnership and outreach, including communication, efforts to raise the visibility of UNDP’s work and impact in the country.

The incumbent will be responsible of the following duties:

• Substantive leadership and content development for public outreach, advocacy, communication and media on UNDP Pakistan’s programme activities and results.
• Partners engagement, resource mobilization and effective positioning of UNDP and delivery of policy and programme support by UNDP Pakistan.
• Leadership and management of the Country Office Partnership and Communications Unit
• Knowledge management and capacity building (external and internal) on Partnerships, as well as relevant substantive areas of UNDP Pakistan programmes.

Substantive leadership and content development for public outreach, advocacy, communication and media on UNDP Pakistan’s programme activities and results:

• Lead the development of the partnership engagement and outreach strategy.
• Support the building of strategic alliances and partnerships, especially with key think tanks, CSOs and non-governmental organization, and national counterparts.
• Develop content for CO knowledge products   on UNDP’s work in Pakistan and lessons learned through the analysis of data, case evidence, and research findings in accordance with corporate standards.
• Collect and analyze data on social media uptake/ impact of UNDP’s communications efforts and ensure the communications strategy is results-based and adaptable to changing circumstances
• Support advocacy on the need to scale up investments on SDG achievements in various global, regional and country fora with a view to deepen related political commitment and related responses.
• Contribute to the identification and scoping of technical issues warranting collaboration with     HQ and regional teams to research, develop and share knowledge-based tools, such as policy positions/practice notes/concept papers and other research-based products to influence/advance policy and programme dialogue and present UNDP’s knowledge assets and capabilities at global, regional and national fora.
• Work closely with policy and technical teams in HQ and Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH) to advance research, testing and roll-out of newly commissioned policy/business development initiatives, by providing the country perspective/specificities as well as experience-based insights on what is of most practical value for partners, national counterparts and local communities in Pakistan.

Strategic Partner engagement, resource mobilization and effective positioning of UNDP and delivery of policy and programme support by UNDP Pakistan:

• Provide technical advice and support on relationship management with key donors, including IFIs, and resource mobilization in line with UNDP’s priorities and corporate guidelines.
• Navigate entry points based on an analysis of partners’ strategies and priorities and/or pivotal considerations to expand partners engagement for efficient delivery of key UNDP priorities and results on the ground.
• Ensure UNDP’s representation in relevant interagency coordination platforms and mechanisms, academic conferences, donor consultations and other events.
• Provide technical advice and support on mobilizing and fostering external partnerships regarding regional, multi-country, and cross-border initiatives.
• Collaborate substantively and coordinate with regional partners and relevant COs in neighboring countries, as well as the Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH), to achieve regional/CO strategic goals and plans by supporting relevant sub-regional initiatives and promoting synergies.
• Support the prioritization, planning and fielding of missions, in collaboration with other CO teams, for assessment and programmatic design and follow-up from a partnership perspective, as required.

Leadership and management of the Country Office Partnership and Communications Unit:

• Ensure optimal financial planning and identification of human resource requirements for UNDP Pakistan Partnerships and Communications Unit.
• Ensure the formulation of gender-sensitive management targets and results indicators (KPIs) on Partnerships and Communications for UNDP Pakistan, in line with UNDP corporate policies.
• Effectively manage the Partnerships and Communications Unit, including identification of learning needs and facilitation of learning opportunities, and sharing of substantive knowledge with the relevant teams within the CO.
• Contribute to the formulation, advocacy to and realization of CO business-development initiatives in practice areas and cross-thematic initiatives.
• Assure quality of all communications products and keep a birds-eye view to ensure alignment with the overall Communications Strategy

Knowledge management and capacity building (external and internal) on Partnerships, as well as relevant substantive areas of UNDP Pakistan programmes:

• Design and deliver training on UNDP Pakistan Communications Strategy and Plan and related SOPs (including protocols for use of blogs, social media etc.), provide capacity-building support on programme-related public and communication outreach, partnerships and resource mobilization, mitigating risk to institutional reputation, and fostering innovations and improvement to enhance impact of programmes and delivery.
• Provide technical expertise in identifying tools, developing methodologies and producing knowledge management products.
• Contribute to the analysis, documentation, codification of country-level results/lessons learned (on programme and on partnerships/communications).
• Review country data, case evidence and research findings to distill pivotal lessons for UNDP regionally and globally and for advocacy vis-a-vis partners.
• Advocate and enable South-South cooperation of exchanges and experiences sharing where valuable.
• Encourage culture of knowledge management and knowledge sharing in the CO, including active engagement in UNDP’s Communities of Practice, and other relevant practice networks, within UNDP and in the broader UN landscape.
• Provide guidance, coaching and mentoring to Pakistan CO staff engaged in programme and projects, including on engaging with partners and resource mobilization.

Other duties:

• Perform other duties within your functional profile as assigned and deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the office.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: 

• The Partnership and Communications Advisor manages the Partnership and Communications Unit.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in International Relations, Economics, Political or Social Sciences, Journalism, Communications, External Relations, Public Relations, Public and/or Private Finance, or a related area is required, or
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills: 

• Minimum of seven (7) years (with Master´s degree) or nine (9) years (with Bachelor´s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in either public sector (national or multilateral including UN), private (academia, non-governmental sector, corporate), with increasing level of responsibility, including proven track record and leadership experience related to development cooperation, partnerships, resource mobilization, public relations and advocacy
• Excellent negotiating and communication skills and ability to mobilize support from a wide range of partners (public, private sector, academia, civil society, business community leaders).
• Proven track record of management and resource mobilization skills.
• Experience in strategy development and donor and UN partnerships/public relations at the international level; proven experience in partnership building with IFIs and resource mobilization an asset; specialized experience in development financing and/or South-South cooperation is an asset.
• Substantive and practical knowledge of relevant key strategic areas of focus for UNDP (corporate and at country- level) is a plus.

Language Requirements: 

• Proficiency in English is required – both written and oral.

COMPETENCIES

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Politically savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management Competencies:

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:

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.

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.

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 understanding.

Partnership Management: Resource Mobilization

• Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements.

Communications: Advocacy Strategy and Implementation

• Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change.

Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinking

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision  to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions.
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

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