Background

Democratic governance is a concept that emerged from the principles that are based on the understanding that an effective system of democratic governance is one which is based on representative, equitable (across gender and other categories), transparent, accountable and inclusive institutions; a vibrant, responsible and capable media; and a dynamic civil society which is engaged in the political process. Phase 1 of DGD, which commenced in 2010 and ended in May 2011, addressed specific interventions that sought to improve the conduct of the 2011 general elections. During this phase, the project’s specific objectives were pursued through 6 distinct and inter-related programme components: Strengthening of the National Assembly; Strengthening of Political Parties; Improvement of the Electoral Process; Increased Capacity and Performance of Civil Society; Reinforcing the role of the Media; and Empowerment of Women. Based on lessons learnt and recommendations of the Project’s Strategic Review which was conducted between November 2011 and January 2012, the project document has been substantively revised to provide a clear understanding of the scope of the project, redefine the strategy, re-prioritize intervention areas, and provide more targeted assistance in order to ensure that the project produces the intended results within the constraints of time and funds.

Phase II of the project refocuses the DGD project and redefines its goals ‘to strengthen the democratic character of Nigerian political processes and outcomes.’ Similarly, to ensure a more focused and streamlined intervention targeted at specific key results areas where there would be no duplication of efforts, especially with other donors within and outside the Joint Donor Basket Fund (JDBF), the DGD Phase II has 4 major components namely: 1) Promoting Credible, Transparent and Sustainable Electoral Processes; 2) Improving the Democratic Quality of Political Engagement; 3) Enhancing Participation by Women, Youth and other marginalized groups and 4) Strengthening Channels of Civic Engagement. The contributors to the project are the European Commission, the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). A Project Management Unit (PMU) runs the project under the leadership of the UNDP.

Under the strategic direction of the Project Manager, and working in close coordination with UNDP’s Capacity for Governance Team Leader and development partners, the Senior Media Expert will support and provide expert services in negotiations, identification of priorities, preparation of relevant documents and follow up support for management and continued partnership development to the project on behalf of UNDP.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Senior Media Expert is expected to:

• Advice on media involvement in elections, the bottom-up legitimacy parts of democratization and governance;
• Planning, designing and implementing of internal and external strategies for communications and outreach;
• Maintain relationships with media particularly the Non-Governmental media organizations through Component Sectoral Working Group;
•  Manage the Media component of the DGD Project;
• Substantively certify media related sub-contracted works;
• Carry out any other duties as assigned by the Project Director.
  

Provides advise on media involvement in elections, the bottom-up legitimacy parts of democratization and governance focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Advise UNDP, JDBF partners, other national institutions, beneficiaries and sub-contractors on media;
• Provision of advice to the Project Director on the media component of the project to advice the Project Management Board in its strategic planning and decision-making;
• Identification of sources of information related to media and democratization issues;
• Identification of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme country policy goals;
• Support to development of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
• Effective supervision and achievement of deliverables from all media related activities.

Planning, designing and implementing of internal and external strategies for communications and outreach

• Planning and elaboration of communications needs assessments for DGD projects and corporate change initiatives, etc.)
• Elaboration of the CO communications and outreach strategy based on the corporate communications strategy;
• Constructive and timely advice on inclusion of communications components in programme formulations to integrate advocacy and communication strategies into all aspects of UNDP’s development programme;
• Elaboration and implementation of the CO publications strategy and plan based on the corporate publications policy.
• Identification and development of storylines for publications and substantive articles contributing to debates on key development issues;
•  Coordination and management of all CO publication activities, including content management, norms for publishing, design, liaison with printers and other suppliers to oversee production and supervision of publications dissemination.

Maintains relationship with media particularly the Non-Governmental media organizations also through Component Sectoral Working Group focusing on achieving the following results:

• Building of synergy among media organizations working in the area of democratic governance;
• Maintenance of a robust and healthy relationship between the Project Management Unit and media partner organizations;
• Nurturing broader partnerships in the areas of media and elections, communicate and advocate the international partners’ positions and engage with Nigerian partners effectively to advocate for freedom of expression and citizen inclusiveness in Nigeria’s democratic process;
• Building organizational capacity of media organizations and media platforms in traditional and non traditional media strategies to promote the freedom of opinion and expression, the freedom of the media and the professionalism of the media;
• Facilitate national discussion forums and  roundtables with the media institutions, civil society and regulatory bodies to promote media pluralism and independence;
• Facilitate the awareness raising activities and provide technical assistance for the establishment of a coordination and information sharing network on media and democratic governance;
• Effectively promote issues relevant to the project’s mandate through media partnerships;
• Effective monitoring and evaluation of media related project activities thereby ensuring value for money.

Manages the media component focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensuring effective management of the media component of the DGD project;
•  Co-ordination of all activities relating to the media component of the project;
•  Preparation of work-plan, timelines and budget on media activities for debating by PMU/CO and donor partners;
• Drafting terms of reference for calling proposals from media for specified activities and follow up on their selection;
•  Crafting and management of agreements with media NGOs for specified services and objectives;
•  Guidance on the implementation strategies of specific media program component;
•  Position the DGD project as a leader in mass and community media and access to information initiatives.

Substantively certify sub-contracted works focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensuring that media grants are awarded in strict compliance with UNDP procedures;
• Managing media sub-grants in a manner that ensures that contractual obligations are met. This includes making sure that reporting timelines are strictly complied with;
• Monitoring and evaluation of performance of media sub-grantees.

Take on any other assigned responsibilities focusing on the achievement of the following result:

• Enhancement of team work for the achievement of overall project goals and objectives.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents
• Building support and political acumen
• Building staff competence,  creating an environment of creativity and innovation
• Building and promoting effective teams
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication
• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization
• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Fair and transparent  decision making; calculated risk-taking

Corporate Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda

• Creates effective advocacy strategies
• Contributes to the elaboration of advocacy strategies by identifying and prioritizing audiences and  communication   means
• Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for advocacy work

Building Strategic Partnerships

• Sensitizes UN Partners, donors and other international organizations to the UNDP’s strategic agenda, identifying areas for joint efforts
• Promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings
  

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches
• Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms
  

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines
• Continues to seeks new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
  

Creating Visibility for UNDP/Supporting UNDP’s Capacity to Advocate

• Develops promotional activities based on monitoring/evaluation information identifying areas requiring higher visibility
• Develops messages for use by UNDP staff when working with partners, internationally and nationally
• Reviews documents and materials intended for use within and outside the organization in order to ensure consistency and validity of messages
  

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals  

•  Creates effective global advocacy messages/strategies
•  Contributes to the elaboration of a global advocacy strategy by identifying and prioritizing audiences and messages

Conceptual Innovation in the Provision of Technical Expertise

•     Leverages different experiences and expertise of team members to achieve better and more innovative outcomes

Client Orientation

•  Anticipates client needs
•   Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider
•  Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective
  

Functional Competencies:

• Proven competence in the field of democratic governance, well-informed on both electoral and broader democratic governance issues such as legislative development, the role and potential of mass and community media, civil society in emerging democratic societies, and the participation and role of women in politics
• Comfortable with full range of sub-sectors within the project, although possibly more knowledgeable and experienced in some areas. S/he should have a strong grasp of the strategic, policy and nuts-and-bolts issues involved in capacity development in the area of democratic governance;
• Ability to appreciate and respond productively to the challenges faced in leading a high-risk initiative in a politically challenging environment. Ability to maintain calm and poise in high pressure and sometimes provocative situations as well as apply skills in mediation and consensus-building;
• Solid academic background and demonstrated abilities in analysis of complex political situations and providing strategic advice, while maintaining personal detachment;
• Proven managerial experience in an international context and ability to lead teams. Proven ability to make sound decisions in delegation of responsibilities and in finding a balance between a focus on detail and keeping an eye on the big picture. Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude; 
• Strong inter-personal communications and diplomatic skills, with an ability to listen, understand and respond effectively to different and divergent points of view expressed by a wide range of stakeholders. Ability to build strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback; 
• Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor work plans. Proven ability to work under pressure and produce output that is accurate, timely and of high quality. Ability to manage conflicting priorities;
• Ability to understand and apply tools such as the logical framework, results-based approaches like UNDP’s RBM and PRINCE2.
  
• Solid knowledge and experience of project management. Ability to support and provide oversight to strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
• Resourcefulness, good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity. Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships with and between different levels and types of project personnel and counterparts.
  

Required Skills and Experience

Education:   

• Advanced university degree (Masters) in the area of Mass Communication, Language Arts, Journalism, Political Science preferably with elements of social sciences, democratic governance and development.

Experience: 

• A minimum of 7 years of experience in planning and implementing media activities preferably in relation to electoral reforms and democratic processes
• Work experience in democratic governance, including electoral issues, dealing with: (a) policy dialogue and advisory work; (b) leadership and management of research and analysis; (c) design and execution of capacity development programmes; (d) project management, including the leadership of multi-disciplinary expert teams, preferably funded by development partners (UN or other); and (e) promotion of stakeholder/community awareness of and participation in democratic governance.
• Familiarity with the media landscape in Nigeria
• Experience in working with the media or in the development of public affairs strategies or programming will be a strong advantage.  Skills in training, process facilitation, strategic planning, and partnership-building.
• Proven track record of advising, organizing and supervising public awareness activities partnering with media organizations capacity-building projects.
• Excellent PC user skills: word processing, spreadsheets, databases and web-based research.
• Ability to travel within Nigeria and overseas.
  

Language Requirements: 

• Strong skills in written communications in English particularly in preparing issue-based papers or reports.
• Excellent spoken English is required as well as fluency in one Nigerian language.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.