In this context, UNDP is hiring a Strategic Communications Officer to support the Election and Social cohesion projects with all communications and public outreach activities related to the projects’ ongoing and upcoming work with the national and district counterparts to international communities and the people of Malawi.
Duties and Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be responsible for performing the following:
- Plan, design, and finalize a comprehensive Communications Strategy for the Elections and Peacebuilding projects, including strategies for internal and external communications, social media engagement, and regular production of communications and information material;
- Regularly produce information material including press releases, project updates, human interest stories, project briefs, social media posts, and blogs for hosting on the UNDP Malawi website;
- Ensure that human interest stories of beneficiaries, including vulnerable groups (women, transgender persons, PwDs, and youth), are developed, disseminated, and communicated on a regular and priority basis;
- Support the project management team and Country Office Communications Unit in promoting coverage of all the Elections and peacebuilding projects related events and field visits;
- Support the programme/project team to develop donor communication plans and conduct activities to strengthen partnerships with donors and ensure visibility;
- Undertake any other tasks assigned by the Portfolio Manager, Chief Technical Advisor and Project Coordinator.
Institutional Arrangement
The Strategic Communications Officer will report to and work under the supervision of the Governance Portfolio Manager and in close coordination with Chief technical advisor for election and project coordinator for conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Technical guidance will be provided by UNDP Malawi Communications Unit.
Competencies
Core
- 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
System Thinking:
- Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement 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.
Knowledge Facilitation:
- Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.
Collective Intelligence Design:
- Ability to bringing together diversee groups of people, data, information or ideas, and technology to design services or solutions.
Communications:
- Demonstrable ability to apply traditional and innovative communications platforms and instruments to highlight project achievements, maintain high standards of external and internal communications, and produce quality reports and updates.
- Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
Digital Awareness and Literacy:
- Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to develop communications and information material- solid understanding of the application of SMS based and digital communications platforms for public outreach and alternative messaging.
- 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.
Partnerships Management:
- Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
- Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.
Project Management:
- Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Communications Studies, Journalism, Development Studies, Political Science or related field.
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in a relevant field in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Minimum 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in communication or journalism is required;
- Experience in report writing, editing, communications and coordination skills at national or international development organizations;
- Experience of working on social media and digital platforms including Facebook and Twitter;
- Demonstrative knowledge, experience and expertise in management, communication strategy and networking;
- Excellent computer skills including MS. Office (Word, Excel, Power Point) and various media formats (video, audio, web, app, etc.);
- Strong photography skills/experience will be an asset;
- Field experience in the country and/or region is desirable;
- Excellent written communication skills/experience;
- Cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity, experience and adaptability. Working experience in a multicultural, multinational, multi-stakeholder setting and demonstrable ability to motivate people and work in a team setting;
- Experience/knowledge of peacebuilding and electoral processes in Malawi or region;
- Maturity, experience and confidence in dealing with senior and high-ranking members of national and international institutions, parliament, government and non-government institutions.
Required Language(s):
- Fluency in English and Chichewa is required
