The UN Resident Coordinator (RC) provides leadership to the Pacific Joint UN Country Team and the UN’s programming work, as outlined in the UN Pacific Strategy, in support of national priorities. The RC has a team composed of national and international staff, forming the RC Office (RCO), and is based in Suva (Fiji). The RC oversees 10 Pacific Small Island Developing States (Pacific SIDS or PSIDS), namely Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Twenty-six resident and non-resident UN entities are signatories to the UNPS and members of The Pacific Joint UN Country Team.

The RCO fulfils ten core coordination functions, namely strategic analysis and planning; oversight of the UN country programming cycle; representation of and support of UN Secretariat and UN agencies (incl. non-resident agencies); support to national coordination systems and processes; development and management of shared operational support services; crisis management preparedness and response; external communication and advocacy; human rights and development; joint resource mobilisation and fund management; and general UNCT oversight and coordination.

This position, as part of the Multi-Country Resident Coordinator Officer based in Fiji, will cover the countries aligned with the mandate of the Resident Coordinator.

The position as Programme communications and advocacy analyst includes the following key functions:

Contributes to strategy advocacy and programme communications in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework / UN Pacific Strategy (UNPS) and the One UN Communication Strategy.

  • Provides substantive support to the Resident Coordinator (RC) and Pacific UN Country Team (UNCT) in designing, implementing and monitoring the UN joint advocacy and communication strategy, promoting the Cooperation Framework /UNPS as the primary instrument for the planning and implementation of UN development activities in the country, in support of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
  • Prepares inputs for the RC and Pacific UNCT on strategic advocacy and programme communications for the 2030 Agenda and to boost impact of programmatic objectives under the Cooperation Framework  / UNPS;
  • Contributes to the promotion of advocacy and communications as a tool for a participatory approach to COOPERATION FRAMEWORK /UNPS implementation and monitoring, reflecting the views and priorities of people, including those left farthest behind;
  • Monitors and analyzes the media in the areas related to the UN’s mandates and programmes in the country, as well as other issues relevant to the UN brand and positioning;
  • Prepares inputs for the RC and Pacific UNCT on public messaging and media outreach, and assists in managing reputational risks or crises around sensitive issues;
  • Provides substantive support to the RC and Pacific UNCT, Programme Management Team (or equivalent) and Results Groups on potential issues, concerns and risks related to communications and advocacy, and suggests corrective actions;
  • Provides substantive coordination to the UN Communications Group throughout the stages of the Cooperation Framework /UNPS cycle;
  • In collaboration with the UN Communications Group and the relevant UN inter-agency working and management groups, and in coordination with the RCO colleagues responsible for data management and results reporting, contributes to the annual communication plan to publicize and communicate results with a focus on the UN’s development impact;
  • Assists the RC and Pacific UNCT in projecting UN’s image effectively and accurately as well as promoting transparency and accountability;
  • Provides substantive support to identity, incorporate, monitor and report on communication performance indicators throughout the Cooperation Framework  cycle.
  • Liaises with colleagues across the Pacific to support communications outreach to the country level.

Assists in partnership building and media relations

  • Assists in the engagement of key traditional and non-traditional partners, including government, civil society, private sector, development partners and others new as well as traditional actors on the collective 2030 Agenda and the related role and impact of the UN’s work in country;
  • Provides substantive support to the RC and Pacific UNCT in significantly expanding public outreach on the 2030 Agenda and the UN’s role and impact in country;
  • Supports public engagement on the UN’s role and work in country, including through programme visits showcasing the UN’s development impact;
  • Contributes to regular liaison with other partners for content development, information exchange, collaborative communication efforts, and innovative communication and advocacy tools;
  • Compiles and analyses communication experiences and shares findings with country, regional and HQ communication colleagues so that best practices benefit UN’s communication work;
  • Assists in maintaining close working relationships with the media, including editors and journalists in key national and international news outlets; develops, maintains and updates media relations contact list/database;
  • Prepares official briefing materials, talking points, speeches, statements, op-eds and presentations as necessary.

Provides substantive support for digital communications

  • Maintains digital external platforms such as the UN country team website as well as UN social media presence (Facebook, Twitter account etc.);
  • Assists in the development and implementation of a digital content strategy and contributes to the development of key communication products (e.g. human-interest stories, photography, video, animations, etc.).

Coordinate publications and branding management

  • Provides substantive support to the RC and UNCT on joint UN publications, maintaining high quality standards and the correct application of the UN branding guidelines;
  • Drafts inputs for the RC and UNCT on the use of the UN joint brand at country level across UN products, both offline and online.

Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Commitment to Continuous Learning: Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession; actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally; contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates; shows willingness to learn from others; seeks feedback to learn and improve.

Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in communications, journalism, business or public administration, sustainable development, social sciences, education or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A    minimum     of    two    years    of      progressively      responsible experience in programme communications and advocacy or partnership development in the context of development cooperation or related area is required. Fluency in English and the working language of the duty station.

Important applicant information

All posts in the GS/NO categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension

This vacancy is archived.

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