Communications Associate, NPSA7 – Mine Аction Programme – National Position

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Today Ukraine is facing its most serious challenges since achieving independence in 1991. The ongoing war has already resulted in significant loss of life, unprecedented displacement, internally and towards neighboring countries, and devastating destruction of infrastructure. The UN Ukraine Flash Appeal shows that at least 15.7 million people are in immediate need of emergency assistance and protection. Early projections indicate that if the war should continue in the medium to long term, up to 90% of the Ukrainian population could face poverty and extreme economic vulnerability, and the country’s socio-economic progress could be set-back by almost 20 years. In the short-term, 62% of the population is at high risk of falling into poverty. Ukraine’s economy is set to shrink by 45% this year due to the war and even with a moderate recovery in the next few years, by 2025 the GDP would still only be two-thirds of the pre-war GDP in 2021.

In addition, the country faces losses of many people’s lives and devastative destruction of infrastructures and economic bases. Currently, more than 50% of the energy infrastructure damaged, causing the massive disruption of energy supply nationwide with millions of people experiencing power outages and challenges in heating. Extensive scale of destruction of infrastructure, rehabilitating or constructing infrastructures and installing equipment with necessary supply of the materials is urgently required to restore or maintain life-line and key basic services, followed by removal or mines and explosives as well as debris.

The widespread presence of landmines, cluster munitions, and other explosive remnants of war (ERW) in Ukraine pose a considerable and mounting threat. To address the emergency needs in the country, and meet long-term goals for Ukraine, UNDP is scaling-up Mine Action interventions through its a multi-donor funded Mine Action project which enhances the national capacity of Mine Action authorities and emergency service responders, establishes normative frameworks and links Mine Action with sustainable development outcomes.

The incumbent will prioritize gender equality and women’s empowerment within all implementations and promote UNDPs mandate as a gender-responsive organization with zero tolerance to any kind of discriminatory and abusive behaviour, including sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Ensure effective project communication: 

• In consultation with the Project Manager, develop a project communications strategy / plan (for internal and external communications, defining target audiences, purpose and objectives of communications, methods, timeframes, resources, and responsibilities), incorporate it with the annual work plans and update it annually in consultation with project stakeholders;
• Under the supervision of Project Manager, coordinate the implementation of the project communications strategy;
• Coordinate and oversee the implementation of public awareness activities across all project components;
• Under the supervision of operations, work with the project manager and programmatic team, UNDP CO communications, and global UNDP communications teams to support key partnerships with Government, пon-government and implementing partners to ensure effective communication and collaboration across a broad spectrum of stakeholders to maximize the impact of the project initiatives.

2 Facilitate knowledge building/ sharing:

• Support and coordinate the development of knowledge management outputs of the project.
• Ensure that the project is a leader in generating and providing knowledge management products on strengthening nationally owned mine action capacity through improved governance and coordination, integration of mine action with humanitarian and development plans, facilitation of access to safe and productive land to improved livelihoods and basic services, reduced risk of harm to affected populations, improved quality of life for EO victims, and measurable progress towards international treaty compliance.
• Support in training relevant staff in communications and branding guidelines.
• Facilitate the design and maintenance of the project website/webpages and ensure it is up-to-date and dynamic;
• Facilitate learning and sharing of knowledge and experiences relevant to the project.

3. The incumbent of the position should avoid any kind of discriminatory behavior including gender discrimination and ensure that: 

• Human rights and gender equality is prioritized as an ethical principle within all actions; 
• Activities are designed and implemented in accordance with “Social and Environmental Standards of UNDP”; 
• Any kind of diversities based on ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, class, gender are respected within all implementations including data production; 
• Differentiated needs of women and men are considered; 
• Inclusive approach is reflected within all actions and implementations, in that sense an enabling and accessible setup in various senses such as disability gender language barrier is created; 
• Necessary arrangements to provide gender parity within all committees, meetings, trainings etc. introduced.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization

4. Institutional Arrangement

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Project Manager, the Communications Associate is fully responsible for ensuring smooth functioning and overall effectiveness of project communication strategy. In particular, the incumbent of the position will facilitate the creation of effective communications and dissemination of information on UNDPs Mine Action Project in Ukraine.

Core Competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

Cross-Functional Competencies

• Business Management: Digital Awareness and Literacy: Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skillfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed.
   
• Business Management: Customer Satisfaction/Client Management: Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs. Provide inputs to the development of
  customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.
   
• Business Development: Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.
   
• Business Management: Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts, and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
   
• Business Management: Communication: 
  • Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
  • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
   
• 2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness: Crisis and Fragility Policy and Engagement: Humanitarian-Development Peace (HDP) Nexus.
   
• 2030 Agenda: Peace: Governance: Inclusion and Participation.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary Education is required. OR
• A university degree in the field of Communications, Public Relations, Community Development, Social Sciences or other relevant field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years (with Secondary Education) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of practical, progressively responsible experience in Public Relations, Media, Communications, Journalism or other relevant fields.

Required Skills:

• Experience in the usage of office software packages;

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

• Strong professional working capacity to use information and communications technology, specifically including website design and desk top publishing software is desired.
• Proven previous experience in developing and implementing communications strategies for organizations or projects. Extensive contacts within mass media outlets would be an asset. 
• Extensive experience of cooperation with international, governmental and non-governmental organizations would be considered as an asset.

Required Language(s) (at working level):

• Fluency in English is required. 
• Fluency in Ukrainian is required for local personnel.

Disclaimer

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP 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 at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status. 

Scam warning

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DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS 01 August, 2024.

If you wish to apply for this or other positions, please visit UNDP in Ukraine website, section Jobs and apply:

https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/19490

UNDP will use a transparent and competitive screening process, though will only contact those applicants in whom there is further interest. Applications may only be submitted for specific vacancy.

Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.