UNDP Jobs - 38236- Project Communication / Information Specialist, En

Project Communication / Information Specialist, Energy Efficiency and Peatlands projects

Location :

Minsk, BELARUS

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

01-Aug-2013

Application Deadline :

29-Jun-13 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

one year

Languages Required :

English Russian

Expected Duration of Assignment :

up to 3,5 years

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. 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.

Background

The aim of the project “Improving energy efficiency in residential buildings in the Republic of Belarus” No. 00077154, planned for 4 years, is to reduce energy consumption during the construction and operation of residential buildings and a corresponding reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The focus of the project will be devoted to develop and ensure effective implementation of new methods of designing of residential buildings and construction standards with related energy certification schemes to improve energy efficiency in multi-family residential buildings.

The project will help achieve the following objectives:

Provide support to strengthen the legal and regulatory framework, as well as mechanisms to enforce the legislation for improving the energy efficiency in the building sector;
Facilitate the development of enhanced capacity of the Belarusian specialists to implement and effectively enforce the new energy efficiency building standards and construction norms;
Implement pilot projects to demonstrate the energy and cost-saving potential of new energy efficiency measures on the example of three residential buildings in two Belarusian cities;
Ensure awareness of industry experts and the general public on energy efficiency in the residential sector;
Establish monitoring mechanisms and replication to ensure the reproduction of the results of the project in Belarus and abroad.

UNDP and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) also launch a new project in the area of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development “Landscape approach to management of peatlands aiming at multiple ecological benefits”. The objective of the project is to promote a landscape approach to management of peatlands so as to conserve biodiversity, enhance carbon stocks, and secure multiple ecosystem services with demonstration in the Poozerie landscape.

The project proposes an integrated approach to decision-making on peatland use that takes into account ecological as well as economic criteria, and considers carbon benefits that may be derived from participation in the voluntary and compliance markets, in addition to biodiversity, land degradation and SFM benefits. A National Strategy for Weatlands Management including a scheme for peatlands management will be developed as a consensus policy document and demonstrations of the restoration and sustainable use of peatlands will take place in a number of sites ranging from protected areas, to agricultural and forested peatlands. The existing MRV protocol for emission reductions from peatlands will be extended to agriculture and forestry biotopes. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus is the project’s national executing agency (referred further in the text as Executing Agency), with the Ministries of Forestry, Agriculture and Food acting as a key partners.

Please read carefully the below information. Before you apply on-line, please download and fill in the P11 form (UNDP personal history form), that should be attached to your on-line application.

UNDP will use a transparent and competitive screening process, though will only contact those applicants in whom there is further interest. No telephone inquires will be entertained. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Only the UNDP PERSONAL HISTORY FORM (P11) will be considered for screening of applications! It can be downloaded at the following link:UNDP Personal History Form

Duties and Responsibilities

Communication with mass media:

Prepare information materials (brochures, booklets, reports, backgrounders, various audio-visual advertising and promotion materials, press releases, briefs, media alerts, leaflets, articles, interviews, reviews, etc., as necessary) about the projects implementation progress and disseminate them through printed and online media at the local, national and international levels.
Prepare, organize and manage informational and media coverage on projects priority areas and major project activities, such as workshops, round-tables, seminars, conferences, festivals, exhibitions, contests, trainings, media tours and other relevant activities carried out in the framework of the projects.
Identify, collect and file projects "good stories" and pictures for internal and external use.
Organize field trips on project activities, as required, with respective notification of local and national mass-media.
Keep up to date media contacts, monitor media requests and draft responses, follow up relevant media coverage and report to the PIU on the impact of coverage.

Development of communication products and publications:

Help develop content and design for brochures and leaflets and other materials, which are to be printed as per the projects detailed work plan, and provide financial assessments, procurement plans, manage and oversee their production.
Conduct maintenance and ensure regular update of the projects web site in the Russian and English languages.
Provide translation of projects materials intended to be disseminated from/to English when necessary.
Perform any other duties and actions related to the project implementation as may be assigned by Project Managers.

The expected results are as follows:

It has been ensured that the UNDP/GEF projects have a clear communication strategy and associated work plan to support the projects' objectives.
The projects have delivered the issues on sustainable peatlands management and energy efficiency in the residential sector into the public domain enhancing thereby UNDP and GEF credibility and brand in the focus areas.
Implementation of information and communications strategies has been successfully conducted that should positively highlight the projects' activities and increase knowledge and understanding of sustainable peatlands management and the issues of energy efficiency in the residential sector among experts, general public and media.
It has been ensured that the projects maintain and continually develop a contact list of journalists and media outlets covering all media formats (print, TV, radio, online, etc.) in order to communicate the projects' progress and achievements to a wider audience.
The projects' key achievement and findings have been widely covered by local, national and global mass media (printed, radio, TV web-based), increasing public awareness in Belarus and abroad on the major issues the projects are focused on.
Refined process has been established with regard to communicating with governmental and public sector, media contacts, including public and media events as well as issuing of a wide range of information and advocacy materials and products.
Rapid and accurate information dissemination on the projects' activities to the participating UN agencies, National governmental bodies, media, public sector and other appropriate agencies have been ensured.
The projects' representatives and stakeholders have been provided with professional expertise and advice on all aspects of communication.

Competencies

Proven ability to perform tasks involving multiple and diverse clients.
Excellent organizational and inter-personal skills.
Ability to work under pressure and to keep tight deadlines, and respond to changes in a rapidly evolving work environment.
Ability to communicate clearly and precisely at all levels both orally and in writing.
Strong sense of initiative and responsibility.

Required Skills and Experience

Advanced university degree (Master degree or equivalent) at least in one of the following fields: international relations, communication, journalism, PR, sociology, art, pedagogy or related area.
At least five years of progressively responsible experience in communication, PR or related field.
Experience in managing communication products, planning, organizing and conducting PR and media actions and public events with close collaboration with media, government officials, NGOs and civil society in Belarus.
Working experience and familiarity with the issues of sustainable peatlands management and energy efficiency in Belarus is desirable.
Previous work in at least one international technical assistance project is a plus.
Excellent command of the Russian language and fluency in oral and written English is required.
Advanced PC user (profound knowledge of MS Office software package, Photoshop, CorelDraw applications, web tools); excellent knowledge of office equipment.
Working knowledge of UNDP and GEF communication policies and procedures, UNDP graphic standards, requirements to logo and brand using, UNDP information policy is highly desirable.