UNDP
Background
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UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
The Strengthening climate resilience of agricultural livelihoods in Agro-Ecological Regions I and II in Zambia (SCRALA) project aims to increase the resilience of smallholder farmers in Agro-Ecological Regions I and II in Zambia in view of climate change and variability. The project is undertaking a value chain approach, addressing risks posed across key stages of the value chain – planning, inputs, production and post-production. The very high co-finance ensures that this project shifts public financing on agriculture towards climate resilient agriculture through strong partnership with GCF and UNDP. The project makes targeted interventions to capitalize on opportunities to strengthen and promote viable climate-resilient value chains relating to smallholder agriculture in the target regions, specifically targeting value chains that are gender sensitive and provide viable economic opportunities for women. This includes three interrelated outputs:
1) strengthening capacity of farmers to plan for climate risk,
2) strengthening resilient agricultural production and diversification practices (for both food security and income generation) and
3) strengthening farmers’ access to markets and commercialization of introduced resilient agricultural commodities.
This project which started in September 2018 and will run up to 2025 is implemented in Sioma, Senanga, Sesheke, Mulobezi, Kazungula, Namwala, Gwembe, Siavonga, Chirundu, Chongwe, Rufunsa, Luangwa, Nyimba, Mambwe, Chama and Mafinga districts.
SCRALA, the UN supported project has gone past mid term evaluation, from inception, it has rolled out a lot of interventions that address the adverse effects of climate change by promoting resilience in agricultural livelihoods and markets linkages. The impact on the rural livelihoods has to be well documented and disseminated to enhance the project’s visibility to the donors, government, public and other stakeholders. It is against this background that a qualified and self-motivated professional is sought to fill the role of Communications Officer.
Under the guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative and direct supervision of the Project Manager and in close collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme CO Communications Team, the Communications Officer will contribute to the implementation of the UNDP Zambia communications and visibility strategy by ensuring that the SCRALA project’s communication needs are adequately supported.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Communications Officer maintains a working relationship with government officials, UNDP communications Team, staff of other UN agencies , donors etc to ensure a successful implementation of the project’s communication strategy that provides input to the overral UNDP communication strategy. The main duties include:
Enhanced public knowledge, information and understanding of SCRALA project’s work in Zambia
Enhance SCRALA project and its partners digital presence, ensuring that the social media platform (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc) are dynamic, attractive, and interactive platforms to attract, broaden and engage audiences;
Create engaging written, visual and multimedia content that addresses stakeholders’ needs;
Monitor outreach and the impact of communication activities using analytics, feedback and reporting tools;
Support the visibility on SCRALA project’s work and its partners to external audiences, as well as maintaining close collaboration with media;
Support the production of communication products and materials in a timely manner to support the communication strategy and priorities;
Contributing to drafting and editing articles, human interest stories, quarterly newsletters, and other information materials;
Support the coverage of SCRALA events, including field visits by UNDP, Senior Government officials, donors and media.
Internal communication:
Contribute to the maintenance of up-to-date documentation centre for publications, press releases and news clippings, as well as photographic and audio-visual materials;
Track SCRALA project mentions in the media and report on the trends;
Prepare reports on the SCRALA project social media performance and presence;
Ensures all content complies with UNDP standards and style guides;
Creates timely reports for all communication campaigns;
Creates interactive social media contents and campaigns;
Work closely with internal and external topic experts and contact points, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, consistency and coherence of written, visual, multimedia and verbal communication deliverables.
Institutional Arrangement
The Communications Officer will report to the Project Manager and will work in close collaboration with the UNDP Communications Team, the Implementing partner and other project responsible partners.
Competencies
Core Competencies
Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making
Technical and Cross-functional Competencies
Business Management:
Customer Satisfaction/Client Management: Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs.
Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy.
Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests.
Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.
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.
Communications:
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
Multimedia writing/editing: Ability to create and/or edit written content for multimedia
Social Media management: Ability to represent and promote the UNDP brand in virtual communities and networks
Writing and editing: Ability to create and/or edit written content in different UN languages.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Communication, Journalism, Digital Marketing, International Relations, Public Administration, or related field is required.
A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
Minimum 2 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in public relations, advocacy, or communications;
Experience in the usage of computers, office software packages,such MS word, excel, PowerPoint, Access etc;
Outstanding written and oral communications skills;
Communications strategy preparation and implementation, as well as the relevant research, analysis and reporting skills;
Specialization in communication, journalism, digital marketing, public relations etc;
Experience in liaising or working with UN Agencies and/or international organizations or non-governmental agencies is an asset;
Experience in writing and editing articles, human interest stories, quarterly newsletters, and other communication and information materials;
Experience in the usage of graphic design software such as Adobe, Illustrator, Canva, In design, Corel draw etc.
Knowledge in social media strategies and best industry practices.
Languages:
Fluency in English with good verbal and writing skills is required;
Knowledge of any local languages.
Disclaimer
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.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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