Background

The MDG Achievement Fund is a United Nations resource that finances and supports national efforts to accelerate progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Our work aims to:

  • Positively impact the status of the MDGs and tackle inequality;
  • Increase national ownership and civil society participation; and
  • Improve aid effectiveness by building on the collective strength of the United Nations

We work through the UN in support of national Governments, local authorities and civil society towards: 

  • Implementing joint programmes that strengthen public policy development and ensure measurable impact on select MDGs
  • Engaging in advocacy and mobilization efforts that keep the MDGs high on the political agenda 
  • Learning through continuous monitoring and evaluation using these to scale up and inform future action.
  • The MDG-F supports 128 joint programmes in 49 countries of five regions around the world. The main areas of work are: gender equality and women’s empowerment, child nutrition and food security, youth employment and migration, economic governance, culture and development, conflict prevention and peace building, environment and climate change and development and the private sector.
  • The MDG-F has a Secretariat based in New York that works directly with UN Country Teams in the various countries of operation.
  • The MDG-Fund has recently redesigned and launched its new global website incorporating a Content Management System as well as other design and technical features which allow it to reflect, through multimedia, its various programmes (www.mdgfund.org). Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Advocacy & Communications Advisor, the Global –English/Spanish-Web Editor will be responsible for the day to day management of the content of the MDG-F website, ensuring that the site is a dynamic space with increased web presence over time.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the MDG-F Advocacy & Communication Advisor, the Global Web Editor will be responsible for the creation of the MDG-F English, Spanish and French web content. This will require research into media stories as well as active engagement with the MDG-F Secretariat and country teams to develop a range of multilingual communication materials that can be displayed on the MDG-F website. The work of the incumbent will result in a dynamic and active website that communicates effectively to target audiences and has a demonstrated increase in web presence over time.

 
Specific Duties 
  • Maintain www.mdgfund.org ,  http://www.mdgfund.org/es and http://www.mdgfund.org/fr with written and multimedia content that is clear, concise, vivid, and conveys key messages to target audiences on the Web. Ensure that all content is timely, accurate and compelling;
  • Regularly prepare, write and edit new web content posting it to the Spanish and English website (a rate of two new substantive postings per week is expected);
  • Liaise with French translators/web editors to ensure French site reflects the same content;
  • Research and organize all media clippings on MDG-F programmes in priority countries and ensure that the material is ready to post on website in accessible manner;
  • Produce human interest stories that give a “human face” to the MDG and development work that the MDG-F is supporting in various countries;
  • Contribute and lead the implementation of the web marketing strategy
  • Research/organize a photo gallery of MDG-F photos that can be used on website and elsewhere;
  • Liaise with UN country office focal points and Joint Programme Coordinators to obtain up to date web content, news stories, human interest stories, interviews, videos, photos etc; 
  • Provide guidance to country offices on the production of multimedia materials;
  • Liaise with the MDG-F Technical Web Manager on technical issues of site
  • Regularly review website content, design and functionality to ensure updates are reflected; make recommendations to improve design and functionality and ensure quality implementation.
  • Assume the quality control function of all material that is uploaded to the MDG-F website from country teams. This is done through the content management system;
  • Respond to occasional content related requests for support from website users.
  • Develop and manage relationships with external providers of communication resources, specifically graphic designers, web designers, programmers, developers, printers, and others.
  • Analyze traffic statistics and report on a monthly basis relevant information;
Deliverables and Timelines 
  • Payments will be made on a monthly basis calculated on the basis of a maximum of 15 days (8 hour days) per month.
  • Payments will be made on the satisfactory delivery of the following products and the appropriate management of associated processes needed to achieve them:
  • 8 web programme stories in three languages posted to the MDG-F website per/month
  • One monthly tracking and production of MDG-F global media stories
  • One monthly analysis of web traffic reflecting a steady increase in visits (achieved through marketing strategy)
  • Monthly organization and selection of high quality MDG-F photos that can be used for web and other print materials
  • Monthly review and quality control of all submissions from MDG-F countries to website
Terms
 
This job will require regular interaction often face to face with the MDG-F Secretariat. This incumbent does not need to be based in New York but does need to be available for these regular interactions.  The cost of any travel will have to be borne by the incumbent not the Secretariat.

Competencies

Skills:

  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to convey messages and develop content that is creative, compelling and reflective of real life stories.
  • Demonstrated experience working with and creating content for multilingual global websites 
  • Fluency in English and Spanish mandatory, good working knowledge of French would be a strong asset. 
  • Experience using a Content Management System (preferably Drupal 6.13) 
  • Must possess working knowledge of Adobe Dreamweaver, Adobe Photoshop, basic Flash and Fireworks. 
  • Familiar with online video publishing and knowledge of online social networking desirable 
  • Interest in and familiarity with international development, the Millennium Development Goals and the work of the United Nations desirable;
  • Strong coordination skills, good time management and results oriented; 
  • Should have a good sense of design and basic page layout.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:  
  • University degree or equivalent in Communications, Journalism, International Relations, Fine Arts or related fields.
Work Experience: 
  • 3-5 years of relevant experience in communications, journalism or multimedia, including significant experience with web publishing.