Background

Duties and Responsibilities

• Realization of the project’s communication strategy

• Development and maintenance of relations with media;
• Preparation and dissemination of information on the project experience, results and achievements;
• Keeping track of the project publications in printed and web-based media;
• Maintenance and development of new partnerships with alike initiatives, partners, stakeholders in Belarus and abroad;
• Preparation of information materials on project best practices and lessons learned;
• Provision of logistical support to the project’s public events;
• Facilitation of productive working relationships with the UNDP Country Team and UN agencies, GEF, RSPB, Ramsar Convention communication counterparts;
• Co-ordination of ecotouristic activities;
• Efficient maintenance of the project web-site;
• Participation in reporting;
• Provision of translation/interpretation from/to English/Russian in case of necessity.

• Realization of the project’s communication strategy towards stakeholders and the general public on sustainable management of the target Specially Protected Nature Areas (SPNAs) at the Belarusian Polesie region. 
• Development and maintenance of relations with Belarusian local and national media, as well as foreign and international media resources (newspapers, magazines, TVs, radios, news agencies, Web news resources) on profound and broad coverage of the project’s results and achievements in the local, national and international media spaces .
• Preparation and dissemination of information on the project experience, results and achievements at the local, national and international levels ( preparation and contribution to press-releases, articles in printed and e-media, specialised donors/partners information and promotion issues (UNDP, GEF, RSPB, Ramsar Convention).
• Development of close co-operation with mass media through organizing visits of national and foreign journalists to project sites, facilitating photo coverage and TV footage of the project events at the local and national levels.
• Keeping track of the project publications in printed and web-based media.
• Maintenance and development of new partnerships with alike initiatives in Belarus and abroad, interested state institutions, civil society groups and business organizations whose support is essential to the achievement of project’s objectives, and strengthens the project’s transfer of ownership capacity through appropriate communication exchange, access to updated information, provision of resources and equipment.
• Preparation of information materials on project best practices and lessons learned to be used by partners/donors, stake holders interested in further development of SPNAs sustainable management.
• Logistical support to public events (workshops, seminars, briefings/meetings), organized within the project’s framework.
• Facilitation of productive working relationships with the UNDP Country Team and UN agencies, GEF, RSPB, Ramsar Convention communication counterparts on the issue of the information exchange and the project’s experience dissemination on the foreign and international levels.
• Co-ordination of activities, in close collaboration with Project Manager, monitoring of ecotouristic activities within the project at the target SPNAs, among local and regional authorities, national and foreign travel agencies, stakeholders in Belarus and abroad, preparing relevant reports and recommendations.
• Efficient maintenance of the project web-site. Regular and timely posting and update of information/data on it.
• Participate in preparing reporting documents within the project.
• Participate in missions during Project’s Final Evaluation missions.
• Translation/interpretation from/to English/Russian in case of necessity.
• Performance of other duties as may be assigned by the Project Manager.

Competencies

Professionalism:

• Extensive knowledge in communications; political awareness, judgment and solid knowledge of environmental current affairs.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Good research and analytical skills.
• Knowledge of the UN System and its work.
• Knowledge of environmental issues in Belarus.
• Keen awareness of trends and developments in Belarusian and near abroad media market.
• Knowledge of digital editing technology.

Planning & Organizing:

• Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies.
• Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required.
• Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work.
• Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning.
• Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently.

Accountability:

• Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments.
• Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards.
• Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules.

Required Skills and Experience

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in linguistics, communication, international relations;
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in field of Public Relations, preferably in the framework of international initiatives/organisations;
• Excellent knowledge of Russian and English (both oral and written) is required.

• Complete the form stating their interest in and qualifications for the position (in English);
• Upload completed Personal History Form (PHF) in the required resume field. The PHF form can be downloaded from: http://un.by/vacancy/undp/form/ ;