Background
The Resident Coordinator’s Office supports the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in South Sudan led by the Resident Coordinator, who is also the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General and the Humanitarian Coordinator as well as the Resident Representative of UNDP. The UNCT includes 15 UN agencies that are represented in South Sudan as well as additional non-resident agencies and other members, and it works closely with the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, as well as with the Humanitarian Country Team that includes humanitarian organizations within and outside the UN family.
The UNCT started implementing the Interim Cooperation Framework (ICF) in January 2016. This plan is assisting the country team in supporting South Sudan as the country emerges from a civil conflict. Within this framework, joint efforts to strengthen common communication will be one of the UNCT’s priority areas. There is an interest in strengthening outreach of the UNCT and its members to press and media, and in particular to the South Sudanese population and development stakeholders via local media, including radio, newspapers, TV and internet.
In order to achieve a joint voice, the Office of the Resident Coordinator through a consultant, developed a communications strategy. The communications Specialist will work under the supervision and leadership of the RC/HC, and in close coordination with UNDP communications team and United Nations Communications Group, which brings together all agency communications focal points.
About the role
The purpose of the Communications role is to ensure that United Nations Country Team (UNCT) achieve their objective of communicating as “one voice” with all their stakeholders. The position will implement the recently developed communications strategy, raise the country team’s profile among both national and international media, support UNCG co-chairs in implementing their work plan and also build the capacity of their members.
Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of Key Functions:
Strengthen UNCT communication:
Working with the United Nations Communications Group:
Strengthen UNCT communication:
Organize and regular monthly press briefings/interviews and media related events for UNCT members and the DSRSG/RC/HC;
Draft and edit speeches and talking points for use with press;
Support ad-hoc events and publications by the UNCT, including high-level delegation visits, and joint UN resource mobilizations for programmatic interventions;
Ensure that inquiries for information about the UNCT are responded to quickly and effectively;
Update the One UN website and ensure that key information is harmonized across different information platforms and institute a system for regular updating and maintenance;
Develop success stories and disseminate them for the UNCT on joint interventions;
Coordinate the weekly radio programme, Working Together, on the UN based Radio Miraya;
Maintain and update media relations contact list/database and ensure rapid and accurate information dissemination to the media;
Conduct media monitoring to identify stories in both local and international media outlets and file these stories;
Develop, maintain and update partners contact list/database.
Produce and disseminate the monthly UN in South Sudan News Bulletin and other communications products including factsheets, annual calendars, etc.
Working with the United Nations Communications Group:
Coordinate and follow-up on implementation of the joint UNCG work plan and other UNCT initiatives related to communications, including training workshops, journalist field visits, joint media advisories and media releases, press conferences and other media outreach activities;
Support the UNCG chair/ planning and scheduling meetings, develop agendas and circulate documentation and updates;
Strengthen UNCG coordination and cooperation with partners in the UN system, including UNMISS and OCHA, in the implementation of communication and media outreach activities;
Implement a strategy for liaising with government counterparts, CSOs and media partners;
Coordinate with members the celebration of UN days and included in the annual UN calendar.
Organize training and advice to UNCT staff on communications especially agencies that do not have technical communications focal points;
Produce annual report on behalf of the communications group in the RCAR and also develop presentations/updates for meetings, seminars and retreats.
Competencies
Functional Competencies:
Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda:
Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate.
Building Strategic Partnerships:
Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders;
Establishes and nurtures positive communication with partners;
Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:
Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things.
Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:
Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position;
Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
Analyzes the requirements and synthesizes proposals;
Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;
Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.
Creating Visibility for UNDP/Supporting UNDP’s Capacity to Advocate:
Promotes awareness of UNDP’s centrally to development through dissemination of information and materials.
Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals:
Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for UNDP’s goals for a variety of audiences.
Conceptual Innovation in the Provision of Technical Expertise:
Keeps updated in his/her area of substantive expertise
Identifies opportunities for conceptual innovation
Client Orientation:
Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion
Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
Core Competencies:
Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity ;
Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
Self-development, initiative-taking;
Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
Creating synergies through self-control;
Managing conflict;
Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Informed and transparent decision making.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations (Or an undergraduate degree plus at least 4 years of demonstrated professional experience in the field of journalism, communications, external relations, public affairs, public relations or Corporate communications.)
Experience:
A minimum of 4 years work experience with Bachelor’s degree (or 2 years with Master’s degree) in communications and media relations + International and national work experience;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages including layout and design software for publications;
Experience in hands-on website management and social media;
Experience in programme coordination, meeting facilitation and documentation would be an advantage;
Working knowledge of UN and Government systems and administration is desired.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in both Spoken and written English. Knowledge of Arabic will be an added advantage.
Disclaimer
Note:
Interested and qualified FEMALE Applicants are encouraged to apply;
This advertisement is open to SOUTH SUDANESE nationals only;
NO PHYSICAL APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED.
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested applicants should apply online through the below link:
https://jobs.partneragencies.net/erecruitjobs.html?JobOpeningId=3939
Cut and paste the link to your browser if you are not able to click on it.