UNDP Jobs - 60686- Communication Specialist

Communication Specialist

Location :

Home Based

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

15-Oct-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 months

Languages Required :

English Spanish

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Up to 180 days

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

Agricultural commodity supply chains constitute one of the largest threats to forests. Expansion policies lead to encroachment of productive landscapes into natural habitat, with an estimated loss of 13 million hectares of forest cover each year. Conventional practices reduce farmland’s on-site biodiversity and ecosystem functions as a result of soil eroding tillage and agrochemical pollution; sustain overharvesting of terrestrial and marine resources; and contribute significantly to climate change because of high GHG emission footprint of its productive practices.

UNDP has wide experience building national capacity for changing production of commodities (coffee, cocoa, beef, cotton, seafood, minerals etc) and several major sustainable commodity initiatives underway which support sustainable production and linkages to markets. UNDP’s Environment and Energy Group (EEG) provides advocacy, policy advisory and operational services to support the organization’s work in these areas across 166 countries. UNDP EEG launched in 2009 the Green Commodities Programme (GCP) to fulfil this need and improve the social, environmental and economic sustainability of commodities production and trade by developing global multi-stakeholder strategies on a sector-by-sector basis. The objective of GCP is to contribute to shifting global markets to drive the production and sale of green commodities instead of current unsustainable practices. GCP systematizes and scales up the existing green commodity activity of UNDP to achieve this vision. Supply chain management and public-private partnerships are key approaches used.

Please see Terms of Reference at the following link:

http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=25390

Duties and Responsibilities

The goal of the consultancy is to expand the effectiveness of GCP’s communications and outreach efforts, enhancing the visibility, raising awareness and understanding by key supply chain and donor stakeholders of GCP and its mission, with a particular emphasis on the work being conducted in Paraguay with the National Beef and Soy Commodities Platform.

The communication consultancy outputs should contribute to building and maintaining supportive constituencies, leading to enhanced support for GCPs, helping ensure GCP achieves its strategic objectives. The Communications Specialist will work closely with the Global Head of GCP and advisors in over eight countries to strengthen and expand internal and external communications with key partners and donors. The consultant will be dealing directly with communications initiatives in Paraguay and will have to liaise with the country team and the regional staff advising that country.

The Communications Specialist will also liaise with the relevant global and national media outlets to disseminate GCP messaging and advocate for sustainable commodity production.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will have four sets of responsibilities:

Communications tools and products developed and disseminated

Lead the development of innovative communications tools, including video (using CGI), info graphics etc.;
Oversee the development, production and distribution of all communications products, for example National Commodity Platform documents;
Manage and update website content and social media activities.

Implementation of global communications strategy:

Provide comprehensive editorial support including copy-editing and proof-reading;
Update key messages for key stakeholders;
Provide communications training to GCP global team;
Provide key briefing notes to multiple donors;
Develop and manage a communications strategy for the Soy and Beef Platform in Paraguay.

Media advocacy:

Coordinate the implementation of media campaigns and advocacy work;
Draft and disseminate media releases, articles, editorials, etc.;
Special emphasis on promoting the Paraguay project to global media.

Support and supervise national project communications:

Develop and manage relationship with relevant communications focal points in UNDP. The consultant will also provide support to UNDP national project communications and websites;
Coordinate external communications, with project offices, media outlets and broader communities of practice;
Provide communication training to UNDP Countries Offices and in-country teams, as requested;
Support range of communications products for Paraguay Project.

Please see Terms of Reference at the following link:

http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=25390

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Strong analytical, research, financial, writing and communications skills;
Ability to promote knowledge management and a learning environment through excellent interpersonal relationships.

Core Competencies:

Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
Familiarity with the internal control framework and other Accounting principles;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University Degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, International Relations or related fields. Desirable Master in related fields.

Experience:

At least 7 years of experience in communications at national or international level, experience in media relations and sustainable agricultural development;
Proven experience working with the private sector;
Experience in development and implementation of communications strategies;
Exceptional writing, editing and communications skills.

Language:

Excellent command of the English language (both spoken and written);
In addition a Working level proficiency of Spanish is highly desirable.

Please see Terms of Reference at the following link:

http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=25390