Background

Under the overall guidance and supervision of Country Director and close cooperation with DCD (P) and  Assistant Country Director/Head of Planning and Partnership Unit, the External Relations Specialist will support the CO to design, implement, manage and monitor its External Relations strategy. S/he will focus on enhancing the effectiveness of UNDP communications to the general public, both Somali and external and will engage with all key stakeholders and strategic partners on UNDP programme, partnership and image.

UNDP Somalia External Relation strategy is tightly linked to program priorities which helps position the Country Office in key development areas as a thought leader in ways that boost demand for various services and increase overall business opportunities.

The incumbent will work in close collaboration with Programme and Operations teams, staff of other UN agencies, UNSOM, UNDP HQs, Government, Media, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful UNDP communication strategy implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensures  effective support to designing and implemetation of internal and external Communications Strategy of CO, focusing on achieving the following results:

• Effective management of the External relations team and relevant consultants;
• Planning and designing of internal and external strategies for communications and outreach;
• Elaboration and implementation of the CO publications strategy and plan;
• Supervision of the design and maintenance of the UNDP web site, intranet, CO web-based knowledge management system;
• Delivery of creative graphic and technical solutions for use of new media;
• Maintenance of a client-oriented approach that ensures communications unit provides high-quality information products and services;
• Generation, preparation and editing of content for the web sites to ensure material consistent and up to date.
• Contributions to the development of multimedia products for web and social networking platforms, including video and photos projects illustrating joint programmes initiatives.
• Development and enhancement of  strong partnerships with community groups and civil society;
• Participate in business development through campaigning and other promotional activities;
• Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing;
• Contribute to and lead the design process of reports and presentations for printing, electronic distribution and live delivery;
• Preparation of report layouts weekly, monthly and other recurring reports in close collaboration with communications Unit;
• Management of designing templates for new publications and products in line with UNDP communication guidelines;
• Maintenance of  infographics templates (in adobe and other graphical software);
• Creation, improvement and editing  of art-works, photos, charts and other graphic elements;
• Establishment and maintenance of photo archive, streamlining the use and availability of photos.

Support positioning UNDP as a valued contributor in UNSOM and UNCT in its areas of comparative advantage, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Implementation of CO strategy for partnering with UNSOM and UN Agencies around ISF, PSGs, SDGs, compact and joint programmes;
• Provision of constructive and timely advice on inclusion of communications components in joint programme formulations to integrate advocacy and communication strategies.
• Monitoring and analyzing of trends by reviewing relevant documentation and reports on relevant issues in order to advise senior management on appropriate policy measures and positions.
• Ensure knowledge building and management with UNSOM and UNCT;
• Identification of best practices and lessons learned from the CO on partnerships with UNSOM,  UN Agencies,  government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society etc;
• Ensure CO effectively communicates key messages to the public audience aligned with UNSOM messaging;
• Participate in the planning of  joint external relations activities and promote achievements on joint programmes.

Ensure contribution  to the formulation and implementation of CO external relations activities in support of resource mobilization initiatives with development partners, by focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Identification  of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, and identification of opportunities for partnerships;
• Establishment of parnterships with donor Governments, UN agencies, Inter-Governmental institutions, non-governmental organizations and selected Foundations;
• Contribute to  the fomulation and implementaiton of  Resource Mobilization strategies;
• Undertake external and internal analysis for assessing CO opportunities for resource mobilization;
• Identification of opportunities in the country based on partner-specific intelligence and the competitive landscape; identification where the CO competency strengths overlap with partner/client needs;
• Actively participate in the analysis of key development and sectoral policies currently being discussed and implemented in the country and key donors willing to support policies;
• Contribute to the development and implementation of a donor intelligence strategy (partners, needs and priorities, perception of UNDP by its current and potential future partners, and projection of UNDP’ added value and potential role);
• Maintenance of  up to date information on donor organization and income trends, analyze development assistance policies and prepare donor profiles and UNDP donor briefing notes.

Ensure facilitation of knowledge and information sharing on UNDP's work, using the global knowledge network to strengthen capacities of CO units to support the partnership and resource mobilization, focusing on achieving the following results:

• Identification and formulation of lessons learned and recommendations to be integrated into broader CO knowledge management efforts;
• Contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Organization and conduct of trainings on RM and communication in the Country Office;
• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to joint programmes, country goals and activities;
• Maintenance of good working relationship with UNSOM communication unit, UN Somalia Country Team Information Group and contribute to joint initiatives as required;
• Identification of storylines for publications and articles contributing to debates on key issues related to joint programmes;
• Oversee the organization of joint media coverage press packages for joint programme, projects, events as deemed necessary and planning dissemination to strategic target audiencesl;
• Ensure better-quality relations with donors, UNSOM and UN agencies;
• Ensure optimal working relations between UNSOM, UNCT and Regional and Country offices;
• Maintenance of  strong and regular internal and external communications, including public relations, speeches, website management, news bulletins, and achieving high visibility among peer organizations;
• Ensure strong linkages between partnership/business development, strategic policy positioning, and knowledge management, and drive coordinated outreach and positioning messaging and approaches inter alia in inter-governmental and inter-agency fora;
• Ensure development of key joint position papers with donors, UNSOM and UN agencies;
• Identification of outreach activities representing UNDP in meetings, seminars, launches, training workshops on assigned topics/activities.

Impact of Results

The impact of results will be manifested through the following:

• Establishment of a long-term sustainable external relation for the CO and CO image as source of knowledge and expertise on Somali development;
• Effective communications and dissemination of information on UNDP as UN’s global development network;
• Greater programme coverage in terms of beneficiaries reached;
• Increased support for UNDP's work in the country, as a result of increased and strengthened partnerships with UNSOM and UNCT and other strategic partners;
• Impact on implementation of UNDP communications and publication strategies, as well as reaching resource mobilization targets.     

Competencies

Functional competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda

• Creates effective advocacy strategies;
• Contributes to the elaboration of advocacy strategies by identifying and prioritizing audiences and communication means;
• Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses;
• Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for advocacy work.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

• Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work;
• Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration;
• Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
• Analyzes country situation to identify opportunities for project development;
• Participates in the formulation of project proposals and ensures substantive rigor in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly.

Building Strategic Partnerships

• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UN/UNCT’s strategic agenda;
• Sensitizes UN Partners, donors and other international organizations to the UN/UNCT’sstrategic agenda, identifying areas for joint efforts;
• Develops positive ties with civil society to build/strengthen UN/UNCT’s mandate;
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
• Displays initiative, sets challenging outputs for him/herself and willingly accepts new work assignments;
• Takes responsibility for achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and strives until successful outputs are achieved.
• Effectively attentive to programmatic synergies in inter-agency meetings

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

• Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals;
• Generates for regional and innovative ideas and effective solutions to problems;
• Looks at experience critically, drawing lessons, and building them into the design of new approaches;
• Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
• Documents successes and uses them to project a positive image;
• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
• Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor.

Resource Mobilization

• Develops detailed knowledge and understanding of key donors, their priorities and areas of interest and adapts content and approach of resource mobilization activities to their requirements;
• Builds and maintains relationships with donors demonstrating professionalism in providing advice and information on UN activities and sensitivity to donor concerns;
• Develops, reviews and monitors agreements and trust funds which reflect the outcomes of negotiations with donors and meet the reporting requirements of UN;
• Uses knowledge of donors and successful programmes and projects to contribute to fund raising and resource mobilization strategies.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
• Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms;
• Develops and/or participates in the development of tools and mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organizational learning and knowledge sharing using formal and informal methodologies.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments;
• Ability to facilitate the implementation of joint UN programme activities and strengthen strategic partnerships for effective implementation.
• Ability to build and sustain effective partnerships with UN Agencies and main constituents, advocate effectively, communicate sensitively across different constituencies;
• In providing advice, has the capacity to gather comprehensive information on complex problems or situations; evaluates information accurately and identifies key issues required to resolve problems.

Client Orientation

• Anticipates client needs;
• Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
• Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective.

Core Competencies:

• Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
• Building support and political acumen;
• Building staff competence,  creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
• Building and promoting effective teams;
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards;
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
• Fair and transparent  decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:          

• Master's Degree in Social Sciences, Public Administration, International Relations, Economics or any related field.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience in media/ communications /advocacy/International relations;
• Experience in lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Experience in leading formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programs and projects and mobilizing resources;
• Experience working in Somalia is desirable or a demonstrable knowledge/understanding of the current political and development context;
•  Advanced skills in the usage of computer software packages and web based management.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in spoken and written English required;
• Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.