Background

The peace and security situation in South Sudan remains fragile and volatile, following its independence in July 2011 as the world’s newest nation, emerging from decades of violent conflict. The effects of this conflict has posed immense challenges to the new Government of the Republic of South Sudan (GRSS) due to weak governance and rule of law institutions and systems, degraded infrastructure, and low delivery of basic social services. This situation is further compounded by growing insecurity due to traditional ethnic/tribal rivalries, driven by the high proliferation of small arms and light weapons among community members and cyclical competition over scarce resources – i.e. water, food, livestock and land – as well as ongoing conflict along the border areas with Sudan. These pose significant challenges to peacebuilding and development in South Sudan – particularly at the community level.
 
UNDP has responded to this situation through its Community Security & Arms Control (CSAC) project. The CSAC project supports the South Sudan’s Bureau for Community Security & Small Arms Control (BCSSAC) and the South Sudan Peace & Reconciliation Commission (SSPRC) through a holistic strategy that incorporates arms control, recovery, conflict-sensitive development, peacebuilding, sustained public awareness campaigns to change the mindset from gun-cow culture to alternative development and support to the local government’s rule of law and security institutions, that together aim to improve the security environment of communities and thus contribute to the consolidation of peace and security in South Sudan. The project conducts county-level consultations, which results in conflict-sensitive development projects and peacebuilding measures that aim to extend legitimate state authority and foster social cohesion.
 
UNDP CSAC Project and the South Sudan Bureau for Community Security and Small Arms Control have a harmonized work plan that seeks to jointly address the threat posed by the proliferation of small arms and community insecurity and foster an enabling environment for peace, confidence and development in South Sudan. This focuses on policy and legislation on Small Arms and Light (SALW) weapons control; stockpile management;
awareness and sensitization campaigns focused on changing the mindset of the community members both in the short and long term basis.
 
With support from UNDP, the CSAC Bureau launched a robust public awareness campaign and community outreach programme in 2012, starting with the formulation of a comprehensive national public awareness strategy; interactive radio drama series and community sensitizations, using highly participatory educational and culturally compatible/relevant approaches throughout South Sudan.
 
The public awareness and community outreach programme on SALWs and community security is now active in ten states of South Sudan, with additional public information and community awareness programming under development. This initiative requires a dedicated Technical Specialist on Public Awareness and Community Outreach to work closely with the South Sudan Bureau for Community Security and Small Arms Control staff, under the CSAC Project and UNDP South Sudan’s Crisis Prevention and Recovery Unit (CPRU) programme team, by providing technical guidance and support to the effective design, implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of national public awareness and community outreach and sensitization activities and related programming on SALW control and community security. 
 
The CSAC Project is headed by a Project Manager, under UNDP South Sudan’s CPRU. Accordingly, under the overall leadership and guidance of the Team Leader of the CPRU, the CSAC Project Manager serves as the line manager for the Community Outreach Programming Specialist position. In short, this position is responsible for (1)  Overseeing, coordinating and providing of technical support to the design and implementation of an interactive radio programme (2) Overseeing, coordinating, and providing technical support to the design and implementation of a national public awareness and community outreach strategy. (3) Monitoring and evaluating the impact of public awareness and community outreach and sensitization programming.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:
  • Oversee, coordinate and provide technical support to the design and implementation of an interactive radio programme;
  • Oversee, coordinate, and provide technical support to the design and implementation of a national public awareness and community outreach strategy, targeting remote, conflict-prone areas of South Sudan;
  • Monitor and evaluate the impact of public awareness and community outreach and sensitization programming, including documenting best practices and lessons learned;
Oversee, coordinate and provide technical support to the design and implementation of an interactive radio programme; 
  • Conduct a mapping of the radio stations and related/relevant actors across all ten states and identify radio stations through which radio programmes will be delivered;
  • Conceptualize and design the interactive radio programme, including an effective implementation modality;
  • Oversee, coordinate and provide technical support to the development of the radio drama episodes including translation in major regional languages and pre-testing / clearance of radio content through appropriate government institutions to ensure compliance with local laws and other cultural factors;
  • Provide training to key stakeholders and implementing partners and/or counterparts on the implementation of interactive radio programmes.
  • Drafting concept notes, programme/project documents, budgets, progress and other reports, presentations and/or briefs (as may be required).
Oversee, coordinate, and provide technical support to the design and implementation of a national public awareness and community outreach strategy, targeting remote, conflict-prone areas of South Sudan: 
  • Conceptualize and design a national public awareness and community outreach strategy, supporting programme documents, including effective implementation modalities;
  • Manage implementation of public awareness and community outreach campaigns/activities, while ensuring performance targets and targeted beneficiaries are reached within agreed timeframes;
  • Identify targeting criteria, both in terms of geographic scope and audience;
  • Ensure budget discipline and financial management of the public awareness and community outreach
    • project (once developed), in line with UNDP rules and regulations, under the overall oversight of the CSAC Project Manager and CPRU Finance Specialist;
  • Oversee translation of messaging into key regional languages;
  • Pre-test outreach strategy and accompanying messaging to ensure these are culturally acceptable and compatible with prevailing legal requirements/regulations;
  • Develop information, education and communication materials in support of the awareness campaign;
  • Provide logistical support in implementing community outreach and sensitization activities in target states and counties;
  • Coordinate and facilitate partnerships and engagement with States and County Authorities on the implementation of the community outreach and sensitization activities;
  • Ensure adequate linkage between the community outreach strategy and dissemination of the small arms and light weapons control legislation.
  • Coordinate implementation of national public awareness and community outreach activities with key project stakeholders, including but not limited to government counterparts at national, state and county levels, UN agencies, donors, NGOs, faith based groups, radio focal points, amongst others.
  • Drafting concept notes, programme/project documents, budgets, progress and other reports, presentations and/or briefs (as may be required).

Monitor and evaluate the impact of public awareness and community outreach and sensitization programming, including documenting best practices and lessons learned:

  • Develop monitoring and tracking tools to effectively measure the behavior change attributed to public information and community sensitization programming;
  • Coordinate and support outcome monitoring activities related to public awareness and community outreach activities;
  • Monitor access to information through radio programming as well as document and analyze typology of issues discussed and questions raised in order to inform the design of new radio programmes; and
  • Draft lessons learned, good practices and knowledge products to help disseminate key findings and enhance project delivery and impact;
  • Document and channel key thematic issues and community perceptions into broader policy and legislation related to community security and small arms control.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies: 
  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards, as well as tact and diplomacy
  • 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 favoritism
Functional Competencies:
Knowledge Management and Learning
  • Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning amongst colleagues and clients
  • Demonstrates technical expertise on Conflict Prevention, Peace-building and Stabilization policies and programming
  • Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
Development and Operational Effectiveness
  • Ability to support strategic planning, results-based programming, management, reporting as well as resource mobilization efforts;
  • Ability to support formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects;
  • Knowledgeable about UNDP’s program management/strategy regulations, systems and procedures, including execution modalities;
  • Demonstrates outstanding oral and written communication and presentation skills;
  • Strong interpersonal, negotiation and networking skills;
  • Strong IT skills. Encourages the use of new technologies and strives for high standard of professional work;
  • Strong inter-personal skills: Ability to motivate and inter-act with colleagues at all levels within the organization as well as with inter-agency partners.
Management and Leadership
  • Analyses complex problems systematically and efficiently. Focuses on critical details while managing a broad perspective. Draws accurate conclusions and makes sound decisions;
  • Results Oriented: Uses initiative to deliver required outputs and planned results in accordance with time and budget targets;
  • Demonstrates high tolerance for change, complexity and unpredictability. Focuses on impact and results for the client and responds positively to feedback;
  • Demonstrates strong conflict resolution skills;
  • Handles confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude. Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
  • Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master’s Degree in International Relations/Communication; Political Science, Development studies; Security or other related field. Concentration/focus on peace and security / peace building and participatory methodologies highly desired. 

Experience:

  • Five (5) years of relevant professional experience in Behaviour Change Communication, Public awareness, human rights, peace-building, recovery, stabilization, and security related programmes and/or projects and/or peace security  in public and/or private sector tailored for community interventions;
  • Minimum of 2 years working experience in (post) conflict countries in the East African region is required. Prior experience in South Sudan is a significant advantage;
  • Minimum 2 year’s work experience on providing technical assistance to a government institution in a post conflict setting;
  • Prior experience of implementing public awareness and community outreach programmes on community security and small arms control;
  • Proven experience in social research, results based monitoring and evaluation;
  • Extensive experience in utilizing educative and culturally relevant approaches in public awareness through participatory methodologies;
  • Sound knowledge of policy and legal frameworks on public awareness and sensitization campaigns related to conflict prevention, community security and/or small arms control in a post conflict.

Language Requirements: 

  • Fluency in English is a must. Knowledge of Arabic is an advantage