Background

Instructions to Applicants: Click on the "Apply now" button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

Office/Unit/Project Description
The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 46 least developed countries. With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development. These models work through two channels: firstly through financial inclusion that expands the opportunities for individuals, households, and small businesses to participate in the local economy, providing them with the tools they need to climb out of poverty and manage their financial lives; and secondly, by showing how localized investments can drive public and private funding that underpins local economic expansion and sustainable development by strengthening how finance works for poor people at the household, small enterprise, and local infrastructure levels.

Policy Accelerator
UNCDF has been working with national governments to improve access to financial services for over 25 years. The UNCDF Policy Accelerator has deep and broad experience enabling policy change that can lead to financial and digital inclusion. We collaborate with governments to create the conditions where digital financial services can benefit everyone. However, we are not making the case for why smart regulations are critical for governments and decision-makers. We focus on how they can be achieved for the benefits of societies. Our practical policymaking process is the cornerstone of both our direct technical assistance and our free resources for policymakers, regulators, and development partners. The infrastructure we have built around our policy tools is now an advocacy asset. Our path to policy change begins with data, evidence and global best practice. Before developing a custom advocacy strategy to achieve policy goals, we start with the facts, and look carefully at the policy, regulatory and media context. Our advocacy approach includes stakeholder mapping, regulatory analysis, strong partnerships and strategic communications. We leverage our global network and technical knowledge in our interactions with policy makers wherever appropriate, while favoring transparent technical dialogues with all stakeholders.

Institutional Arrangement
The position will directly report to the Global Policy Lead and will receive additional oversight and guidance from Gender Lead of the Policy Accelerator (PA) Programme.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work
UNCDF is looking for an Advocacy and Strategic Communications Specialist to support our work on advocacy work by designing and supporting the dissemination of messaging on inclusive policies for digital and financial inclusion, with strong emphasis on gender and consumer protection, for different audiences, including policymakers, private sector and civil society. The Advocacy and Strategic Communications will need to have significant experience in stakeholder engagement, media relations, communications, and campaign coordination. He/she will support UNCDF’s advocacy work, proactively engaging with multiple internal and external stakeholders, influencing decision-makers, and delivering a communications campaign that is relevant to the country context.

Partnership building:
• Implement the Policy Accelerator’s advocacy approach by identifying, onboarding, and managing new strategic relationships with continental, regional and national organisations, supporting UNCDF to act as a bridge-builder between diverse actors, with a particular focus on bringing country-level advocates’ perspectives on a global stage and building sustainable connections.
• Create a systematic, process-driven approach to partner outreach and relationship management with governments, development partners, industry, civil society organizations, consumer organizations in line with the advocacy strategy including all stages of the policy development process - from discovery to design to implementation.
• Collaborate with the different thematic and regional leads to conceptualise, implement and report the results of various projects with partners with a focus on communications and advocacy, including joint initiatives, multi-stakeholder dialogues, co-branded content, event partnerships

Advocacy and stakeholder engagement:
• Work closely with the gender, research and consumer protection leads, to develop evidence-based advocacy activities aligned with the mission of the Policy Accelerator.
• Support the organisation of events and consultation meetings in key markets, including assisting with procurement and drafting specifications for third parties (e.g. public relations agencies, media outlets, videographers, etc.) where needed.
• Provide support in donor and ad hoc engagements on gender, consumer protection and other relevant topics for the Policy Accelerator
• Create update and support the dissemination of messaging on inclusive policies for digital and financial inclusion, with strong emphasis on gender and consumer protection, for different audiences, including policymakers, private sector and civil society
• Build and maintain relationships with local media outlets and journalists to advocate, increase visibility of, and disseminate information on the Policy Accelerator’s work

Advocacy & research:

• Support the assessment of the policy and regulatory environment in key markets by providing advice on
o Identification of key stakeholders
o Evaluation of stakeholders needs, interests and advocacy windows
o Conceptualisation of policy engagement events
• Map relevant events and advocacy opportunities aligned to the issues of WDFI and consumer protection
• Develop Policy Accelerator’s advocacy toolkits

Competencies

Required Skills and Experience