The Pacific region is facing considerable economic and social development challenges due to the increasing impact of climate change and geo-hazards. At the same time, development in these countries is potentially increasing this vulnerability to climate change and disasters. The Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific (FRDP), endorsed in 2016 by Pacific leaders, demonstrates a clear recognition that managing climate change and disaster related risk must be undertaken in the context of economic development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Governance for Resilience (Gov4Res) Project works with Pacific governments to ensure that countries adapt their decision making and governance systems towards more resilient development. The projects theory of change rests on a core assumption that Pacific Island people will be more resilient to the impacts of climate change and disasters if countries manage all development through a risk informed approach. This is consistent with the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific which calls for the ‘mainstreaming’ of climate and disaster risk treating risk management as fundamental to all development decisions.

The Gov4Res Project two outcome areas to work with countries across the region to address these risks by development: 1) Pacific Island Country Governance Systems enable gender and socially inclusive Resilient Development; 2) Pacific Island Countries Weave Learning to Advocate for and Communicate gender and socially inclusive resilient Development. UNDP is partnering with a range of partners to deliver this project across the Pacific including Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UK FCDO).

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Governance for Resilience Project Manager based in UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, the Project Communications for Development Specialist would lead the management and implementation of the project communications and advocacy strategy. The role would have a strong emphasis on communicating and supporting learning and behaviour change in line with the project objectives.

• Identify and utilize Pacific-specific and contextually relevant tools, approaches and media to enhance connection with Pacific audiences
• In close collaboration with the monitoring and evaluation specialist, communicate project successes and document project learning
• Participate in project planning and reviews, and support design of strategies to enhance impact
• Conduct and support monitoring and evaluation exercises to measure impact of communications and advocacy on project objectives.
• Exchange findings, experiences, lessons learned and new methods with partners

Lead the development and dissemination of communication materials and knowledge products

• Lead the preparation of communications material, including articles, press releases, briefing notes and knowledge products for the project
• Identify opportunities for longer term communication strategies and modular approaches, utilizing a variety of communications, advocacy and learning tools. Work closely with the project team and country-based Resilience Officers to identify and collect the appropriate information
• Provide quality assurance on materials and related documentation to ensure optimum impact, scale and sustainability of achievements
• Institutionalise and share best practices and knowledge learned and products with global, regional and country partners to build capacity of practitioners and disseminate these to key audiences

Foster networking and partnerships for advocacy and change

• Coordinate and provide technical support to key partners in development and strategic use of communication and advocacy materials
• Identify, build and maintain partnerships through networking and proactive collaboration with strategic partners to reinforce cooperation and identify opportunities for advocacy to promote risk informed development and pacific-led resilient development
• Collaborate with internal global/regional communications partners to harmonise, link and/or coordinate messaging and use of multiple media and communications platforms to enhance outreach
• Advise internal and external partners on enhancing engagement and participation of key stakeholders, to maximise outreach and impact of project activities

Provide training and capacity building for project staff and partners

• Develop training materials and activities to build capacity for participatory and behaviour change communications
• Organise and implement training and capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of partners
• Lead the implementation of innovative practices, approaches and the latest technology on multiple media and social and digital platforms and networks that are appropriate and available for the Pacific context and audience

Support implementation of the UNDP Pacific Office Communication Strategy

• Ensure alignment with organizational objectives and priorities outlined in the UNDP Pacific Office Communication Strategy

Perform other duties within your functional duties assigned and deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the project/UNDP Programme.

2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness

• Effectiveness: Performance and data analysis and sharing lessons

Communications

• Advocacy strategy and implementation: Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change.

Digital & Innovation

• Story telling: Ability to empathise 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 mobilize resources, talent or action; Ability to choose media and channels that is fit for purpose to reach specific target audiences.

Business development

• Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for content, or responsive to a stated need.

Business Management

• Monitoring: Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results.
• 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 direction and strategy

• System thinking : Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgements 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.