Background

A joint project “Livelihood and Economic Recovery: strengthening social cohesion and community resilience” with 6 UN agencies as partners and funded by the Peace Building Fund, will be implemented in three governorates including Hajjah. The project has been developed by the Working Group for Sustainable Livelihoods and Employment Generation (SL-EG) established within the Joint UN framework to support the transition in Yemen with active participation of five (5) government Ministries and seven (7) UN Agencies,  reflecting the commitment of the government and United Nations System (UNS) to address critical issues of unemployment, poverty and displacement. The project will build the resilience at the community level by enhancing social cohesion and providing long and short term employment opportunities for vulnerable men and women.  
The proposed project has been developed by the Working Group for Sustainable Livelihoods and Employment Generation (SL-EG) established within the Joint UN framework to support the transition in Yemen with active participation of five (5) government Ministries and seven (7) UN Agencies,  reflecting the commitment of the government and United Nations System (UNS) to address critical issues of unemployment, poverty and displacement.

The unemployed youth, poor women, and at risk populations who are marginalized and excluded, if properly supported, can drive innovation, economic recovery, and peaceful coexistence and stability. Catalytic support through the PBF mechanism is needed to generate peace dividends in the immediate, short-term that, parallel to successful national dialogue, will contribute to a peaceful transition period.
The proposed project will contribute to peace building in Yemen as it is aligned with the overall goal of the Transitional Program for Stabilization and Development (TPSD) of “restoring political, security and economic stability and enhancing state building”.  As well, the proposed project is aligned with the five peace building priorities established by the UN Secretary General – “Economic revitalization, employment and livelihoods” – and is framed within and will make a contribution to peace building outcome, priority area 3 of the PBSO, “revitalize the economy and create immediate peace dividends.

Support from the PBF mechanism will provide innovative technical and financial support needed for immediate interventions that will generate concrete and visible changes in the lives of people most adversely affected by the conflict. “Business as usual” will not meet the unique needs of Yemeni populations during this historic transition phase. This project will lay a solid foundation for peace consolidation and economic recovery in the short and medium terms and will create a model that could be used to demonstrate to other stakeholders that unemployed youth, poor women, and at risk populations who are marginalized and excluded from political, social, economic, and decision making processes can contribute to economic recovery, peaceful coexistence and stability. Through strategic targeting of interventions in conflict affected / prone areas, the PBF financing will be unique and contribute to changing perceptions of international and national actors standing on the margins waiting for the termination of the transition period, hoping for a successful national dialogue and transition into development. Catalytic funding from the PBSO will be used to leverage other resources from the international community and national stakeholders, including the private sector.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance and supervision of the Crises Prevention & Recovery Team Leader, the National Advocacy & Communication Officer will provide programmatic support service ensuring high quality, accuracy and consistency of work.
She/He will work in close collaboration with UNDP program Officer and other staff at the CPR Unit, field offices, UN partners of PBF to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery.

The Communication & Advocacy will perform the following tasks:

• Manage PBF funded project media/press relations;
• Corporate contacts maintained and expanded with: broadcast and print journalists; media groups, organizations and outlets (audio, visual, electronic); and topics, background information, news-related developments and coverage of interest for each geographical locations;
• Produce information materials, print and audio-visual for media, web sites, and other public outreach;
• Draft and produce press releases, advisories, background information, brochures, media kits, success stories to inform media and the general public;
• Draft material for regional and corporate UNDP web sites to provide up-to-date information on project progress in all locations;
• Supervise the production of relevant video material on PBF funded activities;
• Identify effective channels for dissemination of all information products to relevant target audiences and supervise distribution
• Provide advice and support to the project special events and campaigns;
• Liaise closely with other UN agencies who implement the PBF funded project to contribute to overall project publicly and to capture lesson learnt and best practices;
• Perform any other tasks as requested by the supervisor.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Professionalism:

• Knowledge of different aspects of public information and communication;
• Ability to address a range of issues in the context of humanitarian action, political developments, public attitudes and local conditions;
• Ability to conceptualize, design and implement major information campaigns;
• Ability to rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources;
• Ability to diplomatically handle sensitive situations with target audiences and cultivate productive relationships;
• Ability to produce a variety of written and visual communications products in a clear, concise style;
• Ability to deliver oral presentations to various audiences;
• Shows pride in work and in achievements;
• Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter;
• Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges;
• Remains calm in stressful situations;
• Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

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;
• Excellent oral and written skills both in Arabic and English.

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.

Planning & 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.

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; able to navigate bureaucratic obstacles.

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.

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Self-development, initiative-taking;
• Acting as a team player and facilitating work;
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
• Creating synergies through self-control;
• Managing conflict;
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others;
• Informed and transparent decision making. 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master Degree in in media, journalism, public relations, or related filed.

Experience:

• A minimum of 4 years of progressively responsible experience in media, communication, management or related field;
• Bachelor degree with additional two years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the master degree;
• Excellent good liaison, interpersonal and communications skills; Presentation skills;
• Very good command of Office suite applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint);
• Very good in draft & design success stories, media release, fact sheet,
• Training and experience in development and use of information management systems and techniques.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic is required.