The Merged Areas Governance Programme (MAGP), under the Democratic Governance Unit, is a comprehensive governance initiative that focuses on technical assistance and implementation support to the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (GoKP) in three main areas: (1) accelerated development with an emphasis on the delivery of basic services; (2) border governance and connectivity; and (3) support to local governance. The Programme’s overall objective is to enhance the capacity of the GoKP to successfully integrate the Merged Areas and strengthen border governance and cross-border connectivity by extending laws, policies, and strategies; planning, designing, and delivering development initiatives; and implementing inclusive local government systems. An emphasis is placed on inclusive development to ensure that marginalised population groups benefit from development in the MAs, as well as on disaster-risk reduction and improved risk management to help prevent, mitigate and/or address the effects of climate change and other risks.

The Communication Officer will support MAGP’s outreach, communication and stakeholder engagement across all workstreams, working closely with project implementation teams to a) develop and implement specialised communication strategies, plans and products; b) support outreach and external stakeholder engagement in line with approved guidelines and strategies; and c) support donor reporting, communication and knowledge sharing in line with UNDP and donor-specific guidelines. The role requires collaboration with various UNDP teams and external stakeholders, such as project beneficiaries, development partners, media and government officials amongst others. S/he will work closely with the project implementation teams (Field Implementation Specialists, Project Output Leads and the Strategic Communications Unit embedded with the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and the Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning team to support effective communication and reporting of the project results and outcomes. The Communication Officer will champion MAGP’s Communications for Development (C4D) approach at various levels, creating opportunities to enhance MAGP’s visibility and support the achievement of its strategic communication goals.

A summary of key functions is listed below:

• Coordinate the development and implementation of a comprehensive communication strategy and plans for MAGP.
• Facilitate reporting and effective communications on MAGP activities, progress and results in close coordination with MAGP Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL) team.
• Support MAGP’s multi-level stakeholder engagement efforts, including engagement with project beneficiaries, external partners and implementation teams.
• Contribute to MAGP knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

Coordinate the development and implementation of a comprehensive communication strategy and plans for MAGP, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Contribute to planning and design of internal and external strategies for communications and outreach, including design and implementation of the project Communications, Outreach and Visibility Strategy, with detailed annual plans in line with UNDP Pakistan CO Communications Strategy and donor agreements;
• Conduct project-wide communications needs assessments, identifying potential opportunities for outreach and engagement in coordination with the project implementation and MERL team;
• Draft annual and quarterly communication work plans in coordination with the MAGP programme team;
• Coordinate the management and oversight of work plan and budget utilisation for MAGP communication activities in close coordination with the programme team;
• Develop communication and advocacy materials for outreach, awareness-raising and stakeholder engagement, including briefing, media and communication materials (including press releases, talking points, project briefs and factsheets), in coordination with Project Output Leads and technical teams;
• Support development, implementation and tracking of community mobilisation initiatives, creating specialised communication strategies for enhanced uptake;
• Facilitate preparation and clearance of all electronic and print products (press releases, event programmes, knowledge products, etc.) for events at national, provincial and local levels;
• Coordinate procurement requests for implementing communication activities, including drafting relevant Terms of Reference, technical specifications, and requests for quotations;
• Oversee, track and monitor the work of vendors and other suppliers to ensure timely production and high quality of communication products in coordination with the Project Output Leads and the MERL team.
• Coordinate with the UNDP Communications Unit to ensure adherence to Country Office requirements regarding all communication and outreach plans and products.

Facilitate reporting and effective communications on MAGP activities, progress and results in close coordination with MERL team, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Prepare and/or oversee the preparation, design and production of all project communications and outreach materials;
• Ensure adherence to UNDP and donor communications and visibility requirements in all communications (including print and electronic) products of MAGP;
• Prepare weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual donor progress reports in addition to briefing and background notes, talking points, and other documentation as required.; prepare weekly sub-office and other project updates as needed;
• Ensure that information and data from the field are captured, documented, analysed and reported in a results-based and timely manner;
• Identify storylines and achievements within the MAGP for online and print publications; draft success stories and learning products as needed;
• Undertake field visits as appropriate to document the implementation of project activities with a ‘communications lens’ to ensure visibility and sharing of best practices, preparing case studies and success stories;
• Prepare and disseminate both routine and specialised outreach products that promote the strategic and timely flow of information and key messages about MAGP products and results for internal and external users;
• Prepare quarterly newsletters, success stories, press reports, press briefings, and project presence in social media and UNDP corporate networks through preparation and regular review and updating of content;
• Prepare clear and concise reports and PowerPoint presentations for various meetings, workshops, and conferences, including the Project Board meeting and donor briefings.

Support MAGP’s multi-level stakeholder engagement efforts, including engagement with project beneficiaries, external partners and implementation teams:

• Under the guidance of the Programme Manager, support development and roll-out of MAGP external stakeholder management and communication strategies at local and policy levels in collaboration with the field teams;
• Coordinate field-level community mobilisation efforts, adapting project materials and communications strategy to local context;
• Support MERL team in conducting beneficiary feedback surveys and organising project grievance redress mechanisms, maintaining a two-way flow of information to inform project planning and needs;
• Support organisation of project events, workshops and dialogues with external stakeholders in collaboration with Project Output Leads and field implementation teams

Contribute to MAGP knowledge building and knowledge sharing, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Maintain MAGP library/ database of reference materials, photos, and digital assets;
• Liaise with project implementation, MERL and other relevant teams to record and consolidate data from various internal and external sources and maintain an updated information database;
• Liaise with relevant UNDP Country Office teams (such as the Democratic Governance Unit and the Communications Unit) to ensure smooth reporting and knowledge management of project visibility and other related materials;
• Coordinate the translation, adaptation, or rewriting of information received for the local context; disseminate materials to appropriate stakeholders;
• Upload communication products and materials to MAGP workspace at UNDP SharePoint;
• Support the development of user-friendly, visually appealing and innovative knowledge, research and communication products to highlight key features and achievements of MAGP’s work; suggest further areas of improvement for overall project reporting and communication.

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

• 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 & Technical competencies:

Communications

• Advocacy strategy and implementation: Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change.
• Media Relations: Ability to develop media relations across all aspects of media work including relationships with media and preparing media materials such as messages.
• Video Production: Ability to produce or oversee the production of high-quality video and audio products.
• Digital asset management: Ability to use digital asset management (DAM) systems to effectively store, share and organize digital assets such as images, videos and other media.

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.