UNDP Jobs - 52485- Knowledge Management and Communications Officer (D

Knowledge Management and Communications Officer (Deputy Programme Coordinator) - Maldivian Nationals Only

Location :

Male' (with travel to Laamu Atoll), MALDIVES

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

03-Jan-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SC-9

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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 Republic of Maldives is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its low-lying geography that makes it susceptible to flooding and inundation, and its dependence on economic activities that are sensitive to climate change, such as fishing and tourism. It is also highly dependent on imported fossil fuels for its energy supply and this represents a major source of greenhouse gas emissions for the country. Consequently, the Maldives has made significant commitments to the pursuit of a low emission climate resilient development agenda. However, ongoing decentralization reforms, fiscal crisis and low capacity at the sub-national level, mean that local planning is not reflective of national level commitments.

The 3 year, US$9.2 million UN Joint Programme, “LECReD”, responds to the United Nations Development Assistance Framework Outcome 9: “Enhanced capacities at national and local levels to support low carbon life-styles, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction” and builds on the comparative strengths of United Nations Organizations including UNDP, UNICEF, UNOPS, UNFPA, UN WOMEN, WHO and FAO. The programme is innovative and represents a pioneering initiative of bringing together the wealth of diverse development-oriented expertise from these United Nations Organizations with equally diverse national and local partners to address this multi-faceted development challenge.

The programme is assisting the Laamu Atoll and its islands to realize low emission and climate resilient development (LECReD). The programme seeks to mainstream LECReD issues into local level development planning and service delivery for greater community-level ownership and sustainability of programme benefits. Towards this objective, the programme will support local councils, civil society, private sector and other local stakeholders to establish platforms for stronger partnerships, improved coordination, and enhanced participation in local planning for LECReD; it will strengthen data and knowledge systems for LECReD; improve local level LECReD development planning and management of service delivery; and through a learning-by-doing approach establish early lessons and build demand for LECReD planning and management for replication and scaling-up.

The aim is that the local development plans will evolve from stand-alone action plans into more strategic and evidence-based instruments, which are climate smart and able to mobilize public and private investment. This programme will be closely linked to the existing national development planning cycle and will build capacity of local and national partners engaged in these local processes. The rationale being that lessons learned will be used to inform replication throughout the country and directly support the national agenda.

In pursuit of the core objective, the programme will achieve the following outputs:

Output 1: Partnership, coordination and participation platform for local LECReD planning and action is strengthened;
Output 2: Data and knowledge systems established or identified to support evidence-based planning and policy development for LECReD at the local level;
Output 3: Improved Local Level Planning and Management for LECReD;
Output 4: Practical local experience in LECReDs interventions leads to learning and promotes replication.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Knowledge Management and Communications Officer (KMCO) / Deputy Programme Coordinator will be addressing the communications needs of the LECReD programme including knowledge management, dissemination and promotion of programme activities. The KMCO will also be responsible for assisting the Programme Manager Programme Coordinator in the management of the Programme Coordinating Unit to administrate, coordinate and close the programme. The KMCO will work closely with the PUNOs to support development and refinement of advocacy and communication materials.

Key Functions:

Support to programme coordination

Support Programme Manager (PM) and Project Coordinator (PC) in all areas of management and coordination of the programme that includes but not limited to the management and coordination of Programme Board (PB), Programme Technical Committee (PTC), and UNTG meetings;
National, Atoll and island level coordination of the programme;
Communicate and publicize programme activities in liaison with the PUNO’s and oversee all communication related activities of the programme including Laamu Climate Change Forum and those identified in the Communication Strategy and Action Plan;
Serve as a backup during Programme Coordinator’s absence and coordinate the PCU functions.

Communication and knowledge management:

Serve as the programme’s knowledge management focal point in coordination with PM and PC. He/she will be working closely and in partnership with all Participating UN Organisations in the promotion and dissemination of advocacy materials relating to the programme areas;
Development/production of communication and advocacy instruments and materials for creating visibility of the programme and organise awareness-raising campaigns, including briefing materials and press releases as and when required by the programme in coordination with the PM and PC;
Conducting communications needs assessments for the programme;
Promotion and maintenance of public information campaigns on programme activities under the supervision of the PM and PC;
Coordination, identification, development and dissemination of knowledge products and lessons learned;
Timely and effective responses to inquiries for public information materials.

Learning and Outreach:

Support the CSES in creating a comprehensive community engagement strategy to increase visibility of programme across the islands;
Participates in networking by interacting with peers and influencers and attending events/trainings;
Promotes practical synergies between programme related practices in Laamu Atoll and other UN regional networks and platforms;
Identifies, consolidates and communicates impact stories as a result of knowledge services undertaken in the Atoll;
Take up functions as and when required by the PCU.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda - preparing information for advocacy:

Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating the programmes objectives and purposes and overall UN work.

Building Strategic Partnerships -Maintaining a network of contacts:

Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders;
Establishes and nurtures positive communication with partners.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing - Basic research and analysis:

Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise - Fundamental knowledge of own discipline:

Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position;
Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
Analyzes the requirements and synthesizes proposals;
Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;
Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.

Creating Visibility for UN/Supporting UN Capacity to Advocate - Research and data analysis:

Promotes awareness of UNs centrally to development through dissemination of information and materials.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UN Goals - Preparing information for global advocacy:

Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for UN goals for a variety of audiences.

Conceptual Innovation in the Provision of Technical Expertise -Research and analysis:

Keeps updated in his/her area of substantive expertise;
Identifies opportunities for conceptual innovation.

Client Orientation - Establishing effective client relationships:

Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion;
Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines.

Core Competencies:

Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
Self-development, initiative-taking;
Acting as a team player and facilitating team 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;
Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master's degree in development, environmental management, community programme, project management, communications, or related field.

Experience:

Up to 2 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in development programme or project management, public relations, communications and/or advocacy;
Proven experience in working on communications, knowledge management and advocacy work is a must;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, good knowledge and experience in handling of web-based management systems;
Experience in working in the area of community development projects with focus on environmental management and knowledge management preferable;
Experience in a relevant Programme area will be an advantage, including management and coordination experience.
Availability to travel to Laamu Atoll as and when required.

Language:

Fluency in English and Dhivehi.

To apply please submit the letter of interest, CV and P 11 form (can be downloaded from UNDP Maldives Website). Please upload all the documents as one file.

Salary: Monthly take home pay of MVR 27,200 - 28,200.