UNDP Jobs - 52278- International Consultant

International Consultant - Communications Specialist

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

16-Feb-2015

Application Deadline :

23-Dec-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

140 days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

03/30/2016

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 United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is the UN’s Global Development Network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in over 170 countries, employing participatory approaches to developing local solutions to national and global development challenges. UNDPs core vision is to help countries achieve simultaneous eradication of poverty and significant reduction of inequalities and exclusion.

We do this through three main areas of work are:

(1) Sustainable development;
(2) Inclusive and effective democratic governance; and
(3) Resilience.

Addressing gender equality and women’s empowerment is a key aspect of UNDPs approach to achieving its core vision. Gender Equality and Women’s empowerment are seen as goals in their own right and are also central to the achievement of UNDPs development mandate. UNDP is guided in its work by its Gender Equality Strategy 2014-2017 which details how UNDP works towards gender equality in each of the goals and key results set out in the UNDP Strategic Plan 2014-2017.

The Gender Team of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) is the institutional anchor of UNDP’s work on gender equality and women’s empowerment. The Gender Team provides policy advice and technical support to all of UNDP’s Bureaus and leadership on how to mainstream gender across all areas of their work. The Gender Team works to implement gender equality as a core objective of UNDP through a two-pronged approach (i) mainstreaming gender in all core practices; and, (ii) dedicated interventions that empower women and promote gender equality. In addition, the Gender Team is responsible for all corporate planning, for supporting corporate programming, reporting on gender and for supporting Senior Management in ensuring accountability for gender mainstreaming. Finally, the Gender Team is supports the Administrator and senior management in addressing gender equality and women’s empowerment in their convening and representational functions.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Communication Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Director of the Gender Team, providing support in developing communication text and materials, in various mediums, for use in promoting UNDP’s work on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Specific Deliverables/Activities

Support Management of Gender Team, BPPS Directorate, Executive Office and Executive Board (February 2015 - March 2016):

Support Executive Office, BPPS Directorate and Gender Team with preparation of speeches, briefings, op-eds, media outreach;
Deliver briefing notes, speeches and presentations; edit reports; develop key messages;
Script and prepare corporate Video on UNDP’s gender equality initiatives/investments;
Script and prepare statements for Director of Gender Team, ASG/Director of BPPS, Administrator and Associate Administrator of UNDP;
Prepare corporate statements and media outreach for commemorative days: International Women’s Day, Day of the Girl Child, Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Support the Commission on the Status of Women (February-March 2015/2016):

Develop a Communication Action Plan for the 59 and 60 CSW;
Provide quality assurance and editorial support for communication package including text and materials, key messages, Fast Facts for use in promoting UNDP’s work linked to the 59 and 60 CSW and liaise with UNDP Communications Office to promote these materials and messages.

Provide communication support for international conferences (March, May and December 2015):

UNISDR World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction: prepare briefings, speeches, media outreach for public Gender and DRR event and possible Ministerial Roundtable on Gender and DRR (March 2015);
Conference on Women and Poverty/Beijing+20: (Prepare briefings, speeches, media outreach, op-eds (May 2015);
United Nations Climate Change Conference/COP 21: Prepare briefings, speeches, media outreach, op-eds (December 2015).

Develop a compendium of stories/results to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment (February 2015 - March 2016):

Identify and capture good experiences on promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment;
Translate the results and outcomes of Gender Team programme and projects into stories and share these with the Communications Office.

Travel:

The Communications Consultant may be requested to travel.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Demonstrates excellent organizational skills and proven ability to deliver projects within deadlines;
Ability to work collaboratively in a team structure in a multicultural and geographically dispersed environment;
Provenknowledge of development issues;
Demonstrates sound editorial and journalistic judgment as well as political sensitivities in the UN context;
Writes clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences;
Speaks clearly and convincingly, demonstrating strong presentation skills in meetings;
Listens actively, acknowledging and responding constructively to other points of view;
Good network of contacts within the UN and the media;
Excellent networking capabilities;
Excellent computer skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in journalism, communication or other related area.

Experience:

A minimum of 10 years of communications and/or management-related experience at the international level, preferably in a Communications/Media environment;
Strong editing skills;
Proven experience in using communications services and tools;
Experience and knowledge of the UN system in general;
Knowledge of UNDP programmes and policies.

Language:

Proficiency in English.