Background

UNDP Afghanistan Mission statement:

UNDP supports stabilization, state building, governance and development priorities in Afghanistan. UNDP support, in partnership with the Government, the United Nations system, the donor community and other development stakeholders, has contributed to institutional development efforts leading to positive impact on the lives of Afghan citizens. Over the years UNDP support has spanned such milestone efforts as the adoption of the Constitution; Presidential, Parliamentary and Provincial Council elections; institutional development through capacity-building to the legislative, the judicial and executive arms of the state, and key ministries, Government agencies and commissions at the national and subnational levels. UNDP has played a key role in the management of the Law and Order Trust Fund, which supports the Government in developing and maintaining the national police force and in efforts to stabilize the internal security environment. Major demobilization, disarmament and rehabilitation and area-based livelihoods and reconstruction programmes have taken place nationwide. UNDP Programmes in Afghanistan have benefited from the very active support of donors. UNDP Afghanistan is committed to the highest standards of transparency and accountability and works in close coordination with the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan and the UN system as a whole to maximize the impact of its development efforts on the ground.

Organizational Context:

The UNDP office in Afghanistan manages the largest UNDP country programme in the world, and communication and advocacy about this programme is therefore a corporate priority both at the national, regional and global levels for the organization.

The guiding principles for the UNDP Country Office in Afghanistan are focus, strategy, results and accountability. The key programmatic focus areas are:

• Inclusive and legitimate politics;
• Sub-national governance and development;
• Justice, human rights, and rule of law;
• Gender;
• Capacity development;
• Poverty and the environment.

Promoting the organization’s coherent approach to programming and messaging is a major priority for the Country Office. It seeks to position UNDP as a trusted, credible and coherent partner vis a vis national and international partners, media, and general audiences in donor countries, as well as in Afghanistan.

• UNDP positioned as a coherent, credible and trusted development partner in Afghanistan by developing and implementing a well thought out communications strategy, in line with corporate guidelines;
• All communications products are well presented, results focused, informative, clear and concise;
• Regular contact with international and national media established and effective use of electronic social media ensured;
• CO’s website updated regularly with relevant and current project-related information;
• UNDP Afghanistan established as an active user of social media tools, reaching out to a wide audience;
• UNDP Afghanistan fully integrated into the global UN/DP communication network, taking advantage of communication resources at HQ and at the Regional Centre.

Note:

UNDP Afghanistan reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP Afghanistan at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and education requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the UNDP Senior Deputy Country Director and in close collaboration with partnership team, programme unit heads, and project managers the Communication Specialist develops and implements the Country Office’s Communication Strategy--based on UNDP’s global communication strategy--aiming at positioning UNDP as a coherent, credible, transparent and trusted development partner.

• He/she manages the UNDP communication team in the Country Office and coordinates all outreach through regular meetings with members of the Communication Cluster--an extensive internal network of project-based communication and reporting focal points--ensuring coherent UNDP outreach to both national and international audiences;
• Works closely with the Partnerships Adviser in order to ensure synergy in donor/partner outreach and communication needs.
• Ensures that all UNDP communication products are well presented, results focused, informative, clear and concise, as well as compliant with corporate guidelines and formats;
• As a key member of the UN Communications Group, positions UNDP strategically within the UN System;
• Maintains regular contact with international and national media and proactively ensures strategic and timely outreach to media.
• Plays an instrumental role in reputation management whenever required, in close cooperation with senior management both at HQ and in the Country Office;
• Oversees the CO’s website and makes sure it contains relevant and current project-related information;
• Ensures effective use of social media, especially Facebook and Twitter;
• Maintains a close working relationship with the Regional Communication Adviser for mentoring, guidance and support to achieve key communications goals. When necessary, consults with HQ on high-profile issues, and regularly shares information with UNDP Representation Offices in Brussels, Geneva, the Nordic countries, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. to facilitate outreach in donor countries;
• He/she is responsible for the efficient use of the funds allocated for communication purposes. Serves as Atlas level 2 approving manager.

Competencies

Functional competencies:

• Understanding of development issues and ability to work across the range of issues covered by UNDP. Ability to hold high-level meetings and speak on behalf of the organization on issues relevant to development in the country;
• Managerial skills: Communication Adviser should effectively manage the in-house communication team, as well as the network of project-related communication and reporting focal points, the Communication Cluster. 
• Ability to draft concise and informative documentation in English for a range of uses from detailed progress reports to media releases;
• Ability to analyze complex information and to draw out the key points and issues and to present these in a way that can be easily understood;
• Ability to work with minimum supervision to identify information and knowledge sharing opportunities and to engage a wide range of colleagues in realizing these opportunities;
• Planning and organizing ability to develop clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently;
• Uses Information Technology effectively as a tool and resource;
• Communication skills and ability to speak and write clearly and effectively; listens to others, tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed;
• Demonstrates integrity and discretion in all actions of the work. Uses good judgment in applying expertise to complex and/or sensitive issues;
• Conceptual and creative thinking to focus on impact and results and to develop practical approaches to overcome challenging situations;
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; builds and sustains relationships with key constituents.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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 favoritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in communication, social science, economics, development or related field.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in journalism or in corporate communication;
• Solid understanding of development issues. Experience from a conflict, or post-conflict context would be an asset.
• Managerial skills;
• Excellent English writing and editing skills and a demonstrated ability to clearly communicate development ideas and experiences.
• Experience in conceptualizing and managing the production of printed materials, including detailed reports;
• Experience in developing video materials in-house and in commissioning films;
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing communication and/or media outreach plans in support of overall corporate goals;
• Demonstrated experience in developing content that clearly communicates development ideas and experiences for media, web, print production, and audio-visual productions;
• Experience in overseeing translations work;
• Competent with office software packages, including power-point, excel, basic design software.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required for the post;
• Knowledge of another UN language an asset.

Interested and qualified international candidates should apply on-line through the UNDP Jobs site at http://www.undp.org.af/Jobs/index.htm and please ensure that to fill up and upload Personal History Form-P.11 which is available at http://www.undp.org.af/Jobs/index.htm  in the relevant field of the on-line application.

Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration. Please note that only applications who are short-listed will be contacted.

For more detailed information about UNDP Afghanistan please visit our website at www.undp.org.af     

Successful candidates must be prepared to start work within 6 weeks of the offer of appointment.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.