Communications Analyst at UNDP

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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.

Background and organizational context

UNDP Malawi Communications Unit provides the tools in enhancing public knowledge on development aspirations. The unit is crosscutting and supports the Malawi Country Programme Document and UNDP’s contributions to the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF).

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative, the Communications Analyst will participate in the implementation of all communications activities – including the designing, management, and implementation of the Country Office communications and publication strategies. The Communications Analyst will work in close collaboration with all Programme and Operations teams, UN Communications Group staff and the Regional Communications groups, with the support of 2 Communications Officers, under the Young Professional Programme.

Position Purpose:

Management of the overall corporate Communications and Visibility Strategy for UNDP Malawi and ensures that relevant knowledge materials are designed and printed to enhance the UNDP knowledge products Library. Ensures all UNDP’s focus areas (projects) are adequately supported with their communications needs. Consolidating all the project communications needs and key messages into a master strategy.

Key Duties and Accountabilities 

1. Enhanced public knowledge, information and understanding of UNDP’s work in Malawi:

• Management of the overall corporate Communications and Visibility Strategy for UNDP Malawi and ensures that relevant knowledge materials are designed and disseminated;
• Production of one UNDP Malawi overview video;
• Production and editing of project factsheets, brochures, press releases, speeches, and posters highlighting the work of UNDP in Malawi;
• Write one human interest story per month shared with RBA, HQ and other platforms;
• Draft one opinion piece written by RR on UNDP’s work in Malawi to be featured;
• Arrange media coverage for high profile UNDP events, i.e., high level donor visits, project launches, UN International Days;
• Produce 1 quarterly readers digest for Jan – July 2022;
• Manage and approvals of content for UNDP corporate website, weekly social media posts and display announcements.

2. Strengthened partnership with the media:

• Facilitate training on Telling better stories to all programmes, operations staff and selected implementing partners;
• Facilitate training on How to draft Press releases and Speech writing guidelines for Programme Analysts and Young Professionals;
• Engage a media trainer on Media interviews 101 for senior management and programme Analysts.

4. Strengthened UN communication in Malawi:

• Represent UNDP Malawi at UNCG meetings;
• Share monthly stories with UN RCO for publication on Results Update, UN Malawi website and social media platforms;
• Facilitate commemoration of International UN Day (as an action under the UNCG Workplan).

Competencies

Core Competencies

• Achieve Result: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work;
• Think Innovatively: 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.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Direction & Strategy

• System Thinking
  • Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDPs objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks, and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions;
  • Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.
• Effective Decision Making
  • Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.

Business Development

• Knowledge Generation
  • Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.
• UNDP Representation
  • Ability to represent UNDP and productively share UNDP knowledge and activities; advocate for UNDP, its values, mission and work with various constituencies.

Communication

• Digital Strategy
  • Ability to plan the use of resources through digital channels to reach and engage target audiences effectively and to achieve particular objectives.
• Media Relations
  • Ability to develop media relations across all aspects of media work including relationships with media and preparing media materials such as messages.
• Multimedia Production
  • Ability to create and combine images, text and audio-visuals to produce multimedia content.

Requirements:

Minimum education requirements:

• Master’s degree in communications, media studies journalism or any relevant postgraduate studies or:
• Bachelors degree in the above related areas with additional 2 years’ experience will be accepted in lieu of the masters degree.

• At least 2 years of relevant experience for masters degree holders and 4 years for those with bachelors degree, at the national or international level in public relations, communications, or advocacy;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, good knowledge and experience in handling of web-based management systems;
• Hand on experience in production and editing of project fact-sheets, brochures, press releases, speeches, and posters;
• Advanced knowledge and experience with photography and video production;
• Advanced knowledge and experience with blogging and social media;
• Advanced user level with computers and office software packages;
• Good knowledge and experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Language

• Fluency in English and Chichewa.

Disclaimer

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.

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.