Background

The UNDP Multi-Country Office (MCO) for Mauritius and Seychelles is implementing its new Country Programme (2024–2028), focusing on socioeconomic transformation and environmental sustainability in Mauritius, and on digital governance, innovative financing, and climate resilience in Seychelles. With a growing development-funded portfolio—delivering around $50M for Mauritius and Seychelles, the MCO has established a dedicated Communications Unit. Its role is to highlight the development impact of UNDP’s work across both countries, promote transparency and accountability, and share human-interest stories that support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In that respect, the UNDP MCO Mauritius and Seychelles has established a communication function to showcase stories from Mauritius and Seychelles, outlining development impact towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and sharing supporting individuals, communities, civil society, the private sector and government to share socio-economic human and environmental interest stories aimed at demonstrating development impact in partnership with UNDP. The Communication unit’s mission is to ensure that the multi-country office is able to communicate coherently and consistently, and to promote transparency, accountability and understanding of the core of UNDP’s work.

The UNDP Mauritius & Seychelles communication function serves a multi-country office and several programmes spread over Mauritius and Seychelles. The ambition to improve communications to enhance the visibility of the multi-country office and programmes comes along with the necessity to strengthen the communication function in view of a sustained quantitative and qualitative delivery. Given the importance to communicate through various media channels and an increasing volume of communications assignments, resources are required to support the communication function in delivering consistently on the various programmes, strategies and actions of the Country Office across the year. In this context, the recruitment of a 2 Communications Associates is critical.

Duties and Responsibilities

With day-to-day supervision of the Communication Specialist, with matrix responsibility to the Office of the Resident Representative,  the Communications Associates will support the formulation and implementation of the communications and advocacy plans of the UNDP MCO Mauritius and Seychelles to increase the standing and awareness of UNDP with partners, the media and the public. This includes support for the development of communications tools, products and maintenance of the social media profile for UNDP Mauritius and Seychelles projects.

This assignment includes showcasing stories from Mauritius and Seychelles, outlining development impact towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

It will require skills in fields like photography-videography, journalistic drafting, photo editing, management of social media platforms.

The expected key tasks of the Communication Associates are as follows:

Support the implementation of the communication and outreach strategies of the UNCP MCO Mauritius & Seychelles

• Provide support to UNDP projects and programs in implementing communication plan;
• Work closely with various Programme and Operation teams in documenting UNDP activities;
• Gather information from different programmes and projects and archive it for any communication needs;
• Research and retrieve data from internal and external sources;
• Organise and classify a Digital Photo Library that includes reviewing and identifying reference materials for retention;
• Ensure Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment

Support implementation of the country office publication strategy and plan

• Provide support in sharing information for different publications both internally and externally;
• Support the Country Office in the development and implementation of a Partnerships and Communications Plan (PCAP) to enable effective reporting, accountability and engagement with a wide range of national, regional and international stakeholders;
• Maintain contact with printers and other suppliers to ensure production and dissemination of publications

Maintain database for digital communications (audio, video, infographics, photos, and other information)

• Assist in updating CO website in line with corporate guidelines;
• Prepare TORs for hiring vendors and suppliers to create content for digital communications;
• Maintain database of digital content for web sites and social media platforms

Support country office communication campaign and advocacy initiatives to increase awareness of UNDP’s mandate and goals through dissemination of information and organization of public and media events

• Under guidance of Communication Specialist, assist in the conception, production or publication of UNDP’s communication materials, including photo and video content, artworks, media releases, newsletters, annual reports, website pages, social media pages, etc;
• Assist in organizing roundtable discussions, press conferences, briefing sessions, seminars, interview, photo and video shootings;
• Organize publicity, advocacy, knowledge-sharing events and promotional opportunities. Provide logistics support to the events as required;
• Regularly report on progress of campaign and advocacy activities

Assist Communications Specialist in knowledge management and dissemination

• Collect knowledge products from programmes and projects, and archive them properly;
• Upload content on Internal database and website guided by the Communications Specialist;
• Work with suppliers/vendors as and when necessary

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

Institutional Arrangement

• Supervision: The Communications Associates will report to the Communication Specialist on a day-to-day basis, with matrix reporting to the Office of the Resident Representative.
• Collaboration: The role will require close coordination with the Office of the Resident Representative, Programme teams, Operations, and UNDP Seychelles staff.

Competencies

CrosFunctional & Technical competencies (insert up to 7 competencies)