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.
The United Nations Development Program – UNDP works in more than 170 countries and territories, aiding with develop policies, leadership and association skills, institutional capacities, and resilience building, fostering development. The UNDP Strategic Plan 2022-2025 describes the future direction of UNDP, continuing to work through its six signature solutions on poverty and inequality reduction, governance, resilience, environment, energy, and gender equality.
These are where countries’ needs are greatest and where the capabilities and position of UNDP within the United Nations development system best equip the organization to work. Learning from the lessons of the last four years, the signature solutions will be adapted to better match countries’ evolving priorities. Collaborating across the strengthened United Nations system and beyond, UNDP will develop integrated approaches that apply combinations of solutions for greater impact. Powerful enablers – strategic innovation, digitalization, and development finance – will further accelerate and scale results.
UNDP is part of the 26 United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programs in Colombia, contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Cooperation Framework for Sustainable Development. The UNDP Country Program Document 2021-2024 seeks to support the efforts of the Colombian government for the transition to peace and the consolidation of its position as a medium-high income country; with three work priorities: 1) Stabilization: “Peace with Legality”; 2) Migration as a development factor; and 3) Technical assistance as an accelerator of the achievement of the catalytic Sustainable Development Goals.
Within this framework, UNDP Colombia Office covering 28 departments in 319 municipalities, works in alliance with the Government – at the national and local levels – the private sector and social organizations in prioritizing actions that allow transforming living conditions of the most vulnerable populations.
At the programmatic level, the office in Colombia is organized into two Clusters that work in an articulated manner on different development initiatives: The Inclusive Sustainable Growth Cluster groups together the Sustainable Development and Productive Inclusion and Social Protection portfolios and the Cluster of Peace Development and Inclusive Governance that brings together the Inclusive Governance, Peace Development and Recuperation and Crisis Response and Rule of Law Portfolios.
The role of the Country Office Communications Unit is to adopt UNDP’s global communication strategy to a local context and the Country Office development priorities. Through the production of high quality communication materials and innovative use of relevantly targeted communication channels (internal and external), the communications team works collaboratively to position UNDP as a leader in the development arena, promote visibility of UNDP program outcomes/development results, mobilize support for Sustainable Development Goals in the country, and practice delivery as one UN.
Position Purpose
Under the guidance and direct supervision of the DRR, the Communications Analyst in a medium size of large office implements the corporate communications strategy, as well as provides inputs to the design, management and implementation of the Country Office communications and publication strategies, which are geared to influence the development agenda, promote public and media outreach, and mobilize political and financial support for UNDP.
The Communications Analyst supervises and leads the communications staff of the country office and maintains a regular working relationship with the Regional Communications Adviser. The Communications Analyst works in close collaboration with the Programme and Operations teams, staff of other UN Agencies, UNDP Communications Region and HQ staff, government officials, international and local media, subject matter experts, donors, and civil society to ensure successful implementation of UNDP’s communication strategy in the Country Office.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
Duties and Responsibilities
1.) Implement internal/external communication strategies and outreach and contribute to their development.
- Prepare and conduct communications needs assessments for the country office (e.g., for projects, the country programme, and corporate change initiatives).
- Draft and edit the country office communications and outreach strategy based on country office strategic priorities and the UNDP External Communications Action Plan.
- Provide communication input during the project and programme formulation stage to integrate communication needs and strategies in all aspects of UNDP development program.
- Maintain increased coverage and understanding of the UNDP’s work in the country or practice area through local and global media stories as guided by the UNDP External Communications Action Plan.
2.) Implement the country office publications strategy and plan based on the corporate publications policy.
- Identify and develop storylines for publications, and draft substantive articles that contribute to and generate conversations on key development issues.
- Coordinate and manage the country office publication activities, such as content management in line with corporate guidelines.
- Liaison with and maintain a database of contact details for journalists.
3.) Provide technical support to UNDP digital communications in country office that includes social media, web site, intranet, and CO web-based knowledge management system.
- Provide support in implementing country office digital communication strategy.
- Generate content for the web site and other social media platforms to ensure consistency and better outreach.
4.) Implement UNDP’s campaign initiatives to engage different stakeholders (i.e., government, donors, media and public) and increase awareness of UNDP’s mandate and goals.
- Promote and maintain public information campaigns on UNDP activities.
- Collect and package information for donor review in collaboration with programme staff and supervisor to support campaign and advocacy initiatives.
- Organize roundtable discussions, press conferences, briefing sessions, interviews, launches to engage stakeholders.
- Support “One UN” agenda in line with UNDP’s Campaign and Advocacy agenda.
- Ensure access of journalists to subject-matter experts and UNDP spokespeople; and provide newsworthy information to the national public.
5.) Assist in leading the effort of country office’s knowledge management and dissemination.
- Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities.
- Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories.
- Provide training, consultancy, and advice to UNDP staff on internal and external knowledge management.
- Maintain UNDP’s Intranet on country office activities for internal knowledge sharing; and share relevant knowledge products with external stakeholders through corporate website.
- Work with the Programme teams to ensure all knowledge products are captured, updated, readily available and in the right order, as and when necessary.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervise the Communications personnel in the Country Office.
Competencies
Core Competencies
- ACHIEVE RESULTS – LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.
- THINK INNOVATEVELY – LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.
- LEARN CONTINUOUSLY – LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning.
- ADAPT WITH AGILITY – LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.
- ACT WITH DETERMINATION – LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously.
- ENGAGE AND PARTNER – LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships.
- ENABLE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION – LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.
People Management
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated
site.
Cross-Functional Competencies
- BUSINESS DIRECTION & STRATEGY
- SYSTEM THINKING: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
- 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.
- PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.
Technical Competencies
- COMMUNICATIONS
- DIGITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT: Ability to use digital asset management (DAM) systems to effectively store, share and organize digital assets such as images, videos and other media.
- MULTIMEDIA WRITING/EDITING: Ability to create and/or edit written content for multimedia.
- SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT: Ability to represent and promote the UNDP brand in virtual communities and networks.
- WRITING AND EDITING: Ability to create and/or edit written content in different UN languages.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, public administration, or related field is required, or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in public relations, advocacy, or communications.
- Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.). and advanced knowledge of web-based management systems such as ERP.
Other desirable profile criteria:
- Additional experience (at least 8 years) supervising comprehensive communications management is highly desirable.
- Experience dealing with local and national media is an advantage.
- Experience in internal and external communications to the organization is an advantage.
- Experience and management of Organizational Brand.
- Experience in communications management at the local and national level.
- Experience in communications with a differential and gender approach is an advantage.
- Experience working with UNDP is a distinct advantage.
Languages:
- Fluency in Spanish and working knowledge of English are required.
Disclaimer
Important applicant information
All posts in the NO categories are subject to local recruitment.
Candidates selected pursuant to this vacancy may be subject to UNDP’s policy on Probation upon assignment.
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.
Workforce diversity
UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.
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