Background

Women face significant social and economic barriers in participating in India’s workforce. The country has witnessed a decline in women’s participation in the workforce by 10 percentage points between 2005 and 2010. The ILO’s Global Employment Trends 2013 Report ranks India 120 out of 131 countries surveyed on female labour force participation. Women also face significant disparities in wages across industrial sectors and women’ owned businesses account for only 20 per cent of the total registered businesses in the country.

While creating better and wider employment opportunities for women is an important human development goal in itself, it also has enormous growth potential for the country. Estimates from the IMF suggest that that India’s GDP could expand 27 percent if the number of female workers increases to the same level as that of men. The importance of women’s participation in economic growth is also re-affirmed by an UNESCAP study which estimates that if India’s female labour force participation reached parity with that of United States (86%), its gross domestic product (GDP) would increase by 4.2 per cent a year, representing an annual gain of US$19 billion.  

In 2015, UNDP launched a three-year partnership with a leading private foundation, a management advisory company and a think tank to positively impact the lives of one million women in India through training, entrepreneurial skill development and employment, as well as to develop a new model of public-private collaboration that can be adapted and replicated across India.

Importantly, the partnership aims to bridge the demand and supply gap of women’s workforce by addressing barriers at both ends that limit women’s participation in the economy. On the supply side, the project works closely with businesses to identify employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for women, and develop their skills while also looking at public-private cost-sharing models that can ensure long-term sustainability. On the demand side, the project aims to build a model for empowerment, skill development and entrepreneurship opportunities for women. 

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Project Manager - Chief Skills & Business Development, the Communications Officer plans and implements a programme communications strategy geared towards influencing the development agenda, ensuring public and media outreach on the programme mandate and results, supporting key flagship events, and supporting donor communications.  

Summary of Key Functions:

• Plan and implement internal and external strategies for communications and outreach;
• Build strong digital presence for the programme including on UNDP India’s corporate digital accounts such as the website; social media; Instagram and youtube;
• Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing;
• Support to business development and donor relations.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Communication Officer will be responsible for the following tasks: 

Ensure planning and implementation of internal and external strategies for communications and outreach focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Draft and finalize communications and outreach strategy for the project across four locations;
• Integrate advocacy and communication strategies into all aspects of programme formulation;
• Ensure quality assurance for high-quality knowledge products and develop independent dissemination plans;
• Support photo and audio-visual documentation of the project.

Build strong digital presence for the programme focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Develop a social media campaign for the programme and ensure regular updates to UNDP India’s corporate accounts including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram;
• Create webpages and project information pages on the UNDP India website and ensure regular updates;
• Explore digital tools to increase visibility for the project.

Facilitate knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Draft and finalize newsletters and other multi-touch communications products to generate awareness of programme objectives and to share updates with beneficiaries and other local stakeholders;
• Prepare and produce newsletters for dissemination to key stakeholders, partners, the private sector and civil society;
• Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities;
• Ensure quality assurance for high-quality knowledge products and develop dissemination plans;
• Build capacity of local career counselling centres set up under the project through developing standard dissemination tools and templates for greater outreach in multiple languages.

Supports the business development focusing on achievement of the following results:  

Campaigns:

• Promoting public information campaigns on activities, UNDP, the SDGS and so on;
• Promoting and disseminating corporate advocacy materials for launching flagship initiatives and publications such as the Human Development Report.   

Outreach:

• Maintenance of increased coverage and understanding of the UNDP’s work in the country or practice area through regular media contacts and provision of newsworthy information to national public and, where possible, donors;
• Support donor reporting, civic education and community awareness where appropriate to support project;
• Organization of roundtable discussions, press conferences, briefing sessions, interviews, launches, etc.

Public information:

• Effective responses to inquiries for public information materials.   

The key results have an impact on creation of effective communications and dissemination of information on UNDP as UN’s global development network. In particular, the key results have an impact on implementation of UNDP communications and publication strategies, as well as reaching resource mobilization targets.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Functional Competencies:    

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda:

Preparing information for advocacy

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate;
• Maintains a functioning network of contacts with a variety of stakeholders to promote a better understanding of UNDP’s mandate and to support advocacy efforts.

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;
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches.

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;
• Working knowledge of software tools including photoshop; indesign and or free online tools such as pixlr. 

Creating Visibility for UNDP/Supporting UNDP’s Capacity to Advocate:

Research and data analysis

• Promotes awareness of UNDP’s centrally to development through dissemination of information and materials;
• Maintains networks and knowledge assets for use in visibility and image activities.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals:

Preparing information for global advocacy

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for UNDP’s goals for a variety of audiences;
• Maintains a functioning network of contacts in the media and civil society, to promote a better understanding of UNDP’s mandate and to support advocacy efforts.

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;
• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients.   

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 media relations, journalism, publishing and or social sciences. 

Experience:

• 3-4 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in public relations, communications or advocacy;
• Previous experience with a multilateral or international organization is helpful but not mandatory;
• Experience in social media tools; basic design software;
• Good knowledge and experience in handling of web-based management systems;
• Experience in handling video documentation.  

Language:

• Fluency in English and Hindi.   

Remuneration package is INR 132,020.25/- per month (taxable).  UNDP also offers additional benefits which include medical insurance coverage and limited pension reimbursement for contract holder and encourages work life balance.

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 selection is on merit..