National Specialist in Communication

Details

Mission and objectives

In support of the Government of Zimbabwe, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has embarked on the implementation of a five-year Country Programme Document (CPD) 2022-2026. UNDP focuses on areas that have a multiplier effect through a targeted build-up of capacities, policies, the creation of dialogue space, and scalable downstream interventions. Proposed downstream interventions will seek to provide platforms for citizen engagement in democratic processes and facilitate access to skills, knowledge and new technologies for increased income generation. In so doing, UNDP Zimbabwe renders its support through the following three programmatic areas: 1. Democratic Governance 2. Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Livelihoods 3. Climate Change and Resilience Building

Context

UNDP partners with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) to support national responses to the three diseases and strengthen systems for health. In Zimbabwe, UNDP is the Principal Recipient (PR) of the HIV component and is the fund administrator for the TB and Malaria component, for which the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) is the Principal Recipient. The objective is to ensure access to quality health services for all and enable all those living or affected by the diseases to live healthy and have productive lives. The partnership leverages UNDP’s mandate to strengthen institutions to deliver universal access to basic services, including through rebuilding resilient health services in crisis and post-crisis settings. UNDP is requested to serve as PR on an interim basis in countries facing a wide variety of special challenges, including serious capacity constraints, post-crisis or complex emergencies, weak governance and accountability, grant implementation difficulties and financial irregularities, or other exceptional circumstances that prevent a national entity from acting as PR. UNDP‘s management role consists of implementing grants, ensuring robust monitoring and evaluation, promoting financial accountability and risk management, and training national and international counterparts on programme and financial management. Capacity development as well as policy and technical support are core components of all grant management activities in order to strengthen systems for health and access to services, in view of facilitating the gradual transfer of the PR role to national entities when circumstances permit. Central to this work is strengthening partnerships between the ministry of health, other government agencies, affected communities, development partners and UN agencies to ensure more effective and inclusive governance of the response against the three diseases. For the implementation of the Global Fund programme, UNDP Zimbabwe has established a Programme Management Unit (PMU) that coordinates the implementation of the grant and provides general guidance of Global Fund and UNDP rules and procedures to all Sub-recipients (SRs) participating in the implementation of the projects. The PMU also ensures coordination with other initiatives funded by the Global Fund and other health programmes. This UNV assignment is based in the UNDP-GF PMU. Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Programme Manager and in close cooperation with the communication unit of the country Office (CO), the National Specialist in Communication will ensure communications strategies, media relations and organizational outreach efforts are aligned with corporate communications policies and initiatives. He/she will also collaborate with HIV, Health and Development (HHD) Group and GPN colleagues to support the coverage of the activities and special events organized for the GF funded programs.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Programme Manager or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer National Specialist in Communication will: 1. Lead the development and implementation of communication and outreach/advocacy strategies and plans, with a specific focus on media with the following key responsibilities:  Develop an annual communications work plan and budget:  Conduct communication needs assessments for the GF projects,  Design, develop, and implement communication and outreach/advocacy strategies, including media strategies;  Monitor and analyze print and social media and prepare reports; 2. Lead the development and dissemination of advocacy materials with the following key responsibilities:  Develop and produce communication and advocacy instruments and materials, including briefing materials, press releases, and articles and coordinate its dissemination through effective channels;  Support the engagement and supervision of video producers and other communication specialists to produce audio/ visual material on UNDP’s work;  Support the development of brochures, factsheets, stories from the field to inform media and general public at the national and regional level.  Provide support to CO communication team with timely content update on the GF funded programme;  Liaise with HHD/HIST Communication focal point to ensure adequate coverage of activities and advocacy initiatives at corporate level and in connection with GF. 3. Manage media relations for the CO with the following key responsibilities:  Support relationship building with press in country; maintain and update database of relevant press;  Respond timely and clearly to media inquiries and to a variety of inquiries and information requests; prepare related correspondence; identify topics, background information, news-related development and coverage of interest;  Organize roundtable discussions, press conferences, and briefing sessions with press;  Facilitate interviews with senior managers and connect media with UNDP’s subject experts; 4. Facilitate knowledge building and sharing:  Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme and activities and ensure exchange of information;  Update web-based and social media routinely on CO and GF information and initiatives  Provide training and workshops on communication and advocacy as appropriate;