UNDP Jobs - 59458- Communications and Knowledge Management Specialist

Communications and Knowledge Management Specialist

Location :

Geneva, SWITZERLAND

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

04-Sep-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

4 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 post is located in the Senior Transformative Agenda Implementation Team (STAIT) based in Geneva. The Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s (IASC) Emergency Directors Group (EDG) established the STAIT to support the roll-out of the IASC Transformative Agenda at field-level. The STAIT is an inter-agency team which includes senior NGO and UN colleagues with extensive experience in humanitarian operations. The STAIT provides peer support for country operations to provide a better collective humanitarian response. The STAIT aims to contribute to a ‘mindset shift’ in the way humanitarian actors work together to enable a more effective, accountable and timely humanitarian response.

The STAIT’s work focuses on the following main areas:

Leadership (at all levels including: Humanitarian Coordinators, Humanitarian Country Teams, Inter-Cluster, Clusters, sub-national)
Coordination;
Humanitarian Programme Cycle with a focus on delivery;
Accountability to Affected People;
Centrality of Protection;
Enabling security management.

The Communications and Knowledge Management Specialist reports directly to the Humanitarian Affairs Officer.

Overall Goal and Purpose of the Consultancy

The overall goal of the consultancy is to produce a range of communications products that clearly summarise the Transformative Agenda and its related Protocols, and other issues related to humanitarian policy and STAIT activities (STAIT missions, OPRs, webinars). The role will also include finalizing a communications and knowledge management strategy for the STAIT to maximize learning opportunities and the application of the Transformative Agenda.

The specific purpose of the Communications and KM Specialist is to ensure information on the Transformative Agenda is communicated to three specific audiences to improve their understanding of the concept, create ownership of the concept in different agencies and NGOs, and strengthen its application. The three target audiences are: (1) senior humanitarian leadership in countries affected by crises; (2) senior members of IASC agencies and NGOs to ensure knowledge of the TA and ownership is taken on by these agencies for the TA; and (3) the broad humanitarian community to ensure a wide number of humanitarian workers involved in response across the globe are familiar with humanitarian response structures and processes (broad understanding will make the application of the TA more accepted and provide the opportunity for all agencies and NGOs to commit more fully to the agenda).

General overview of the role

The Communications and Knowledge Management Specialist support two of the STAIT’s five work streams: 1) developing communications products and 2) shaping policy and practice by sharing lessons; and will focus on three specific outputs:

Development of a knowledge management and communications strategy and workplan;
Production and dissemination of communications and learning products related to the TA and its protocols, learning materials from STAIT missions, and other communications products relating to the STAIT’s work;
Management and expansion of the STAIT’s digital platform/online presence to effectively share STAIT learning and communications.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Communications and Knowledge Management Specialist is expected to deliver three key outputs:

Produce a knowledge management and communications strategy and 12 month workplan (with support from the supervising Humanitarian Affairs Officer and other members of the STAIT), that relates to different audiences including currently: senior humanitarian leadership in the field (HCs, HCTs); senior managers in UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs; and a broad base of humanitarian practitioners. The three different audiences will require different approaches to communicate messages successfully. The Communications Strategy should express how these messages could be articulated and disseminated to the specific audiences. The Communications Strategy will also include a dissemination section that identifies strategies and tools for disseminating products and communicating messages and information through a variety of platforms and media as appropriate (web, e-mail distribution, social media, youtube, vimeo etc.). This element will take up approximately 25% of time during the consultancy.

Create communications products and web-based content on the Transformative Agenda and its protocols, as well as other issues of interest to the humanitarian community for dissemination to senior humanitarian leadership in the field and HQ, and a wider audience of humanitarian practitioners. This may take the form of re-packaging policy and guidance documents into accessible and easily absorbable communication products in multi-media format (print, electronic, video, audio, animation). Products will be developed with the support and expertise of subject-matter experts from within STAIT and partner agencies. Technical resources (e.g. for video, animation, audio products etc.) may be sought from partner organisations to the STAIT team; and/or outside contracting may be available depending on STAIT resources. The STAIT team will provide advice and support on the content of learning and communications products and approaches to disseminating products.

Typical products which will be expected from the consultant are as follows:

A series of accessible two-page briefing papers on the Transformative Agenda and its protocols, with support from the STAIT team on content;
A series of short briefing papers on issues of relevance to the humanitarian community to complement webinars (see below note on webinars), with support from the STAIT team on content;
A series of audio-visual products (talking heads videos, audio reels, animations if possible) on the Transformative Agenda and related issues (particularly related to STAIT webinars);
A series of briefing papers and audio-visual products on STAIT missions and OPRs which can be used for learning purposes in other countries. This element will take up approximately 40% of time during the consultancy.

Expand and update the STAIT’s online presence: manage and maintain website content, and support the expansion and design of the website as required, as the site evolves, with the support of a web technician. The STAIT has a website hosted by the IASC’s platform (Drupal) and is looking at an independent platform (Node) that will be developed by a web designer, and populated and managed by the Communications and KM Specialist when ready. This element will take up approximately 35% of time during the consultancy.

The following deliverables are required as part of these Terms of Reference:

Communications Strategy including a dissemination section for STAIT products.

A series of accessible two-page briefing papers on the Transformative Agenda and its protocols, with support from the STAIT team on content.

A series of short briefing papers on issues of relevance to the humanitarian community to complement webinars (see below note on webinars), with support from the STAIT team on content.

A series of audio-visual products (talking heads videos, audio reels, animations if possible) on the Transformative Agenda and related issues (particularly related to STAIT webinars).

A series of briefing papers and audio-visual products on STAIT missions and OPRs which can be used for learning purposes in other countries.

Well-maintained and updated web presence for the STAIT.

Note:

The content of the products is informed by the STAIT staff members, and production responsibility rests with the Consultant.

The consultant will be paid only after approving authority confirms the successful completion of each deliverable as stipulated hereunder.

The qualified consultant shall receive his/her lump sum service fees upon certification of the completed tasks satisfactorily, as per the following payment schedule

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modelling the UN/UNDP’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of the UN and UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills (English, and preferably French);
Excellent interpersonal and networking skills.

Client Orientation:

Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback;
Ability to build and sustain effective partnerships with UN Agencies and main constituents, and with NGOs, advocate effectively, communicate sensitively across different constituencies.

Planning and Organizing:

Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Promotes knowledge management and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example to interns and junior staff and consultants;
Sound time management and organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks;
Capacity to work under tight deadlines, manage stress and adapt to rapidly evolving situations;
Ability to travel for short periods;
Ability to manage systems for communications, knowledge management and information sharing, and website management (Drupal / Node platform);
Excellent writing skills and design skills for developing print products for communications (familiarity with In-Design, Publisher, Photoshop or other design software an asset);
Ability to use audio-visual technologies / software to create communications products: e.g. Digital SLR cameras, audio equipment, Final Cut Pro, or similar editing software;
Ability to work in a multi-stakeholder environment. Very good understanding of and proficient use of Microsoft Office software applications.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Journalism, Communications, Information Management, International Relations, Development, Law, Political Sciences or Social Sciences, Knowledge Management or a related field. Experience and a Bachelor’s Degree can substitute for a Masters’ degree.

Experience:

Five (5) years of relevant experience in a field related to communications and/or knowledge management is required e.g. journalism, communications, information management, knowledge management.
Strong writing skills, an eye for detail, and design capability to produce in-house print and audio-visual products is required.
Experience of working in a multi-stakeholder environment, and bringing together multiple stakeholders towards a common goal, is required.
Experience with social media and other multi-media platforms for communication dissemination is required.
Experience of strategy and work plan development is required, preferably related to communications and knowledge management.
Experience of managing open source websites (e.g. Drupal, Node, Wordpress) is a strong asset.
Experience of audio-visual production and editing is a strong asset.
Experience using on-line communications tools, particularly experience with WebEx is an asset.
Knowledge of humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness/response, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, political affairs or other related area is an asset.
Experience in the UN System and/or with NGOs or in an inter-agency environment is an asset, either at headquarters level or in the field;
Experience with online communications/learning tools, such as Webex.

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken English is required for this post;
Knowledge of French or other languages (Spanish, Arabic particularly) is an asset.

Note:

Only shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit technical and a finanacial proposal.