Project Communications Analyst

Funafuti, Tuvalu
negotiable Expires in 4 months

JOB DETAIL

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 Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. The Fiji multi-country office covers ten countries including Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu as well as provides support to regional initiatives.

UNDP in the Pacific has developed its multi-country programme document (MCPD, 2023-2027) to guide its interventions in the next five years in full alignment and directly to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF, 2023–27). The Office covers 10 countries in the Pacific with an extensive portfolio which has grown over time. The UNSDCF and UNDP MCPD are designed in full alignment with the 2030 agenda, Samoa Pathway, and 2050 Blue Content Strategy, which is endorsed by the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) among others.  The UNDP Pacific Office next five-year plan strategic priorities are encapsulated under three outcome areas: (i) Planet, (ii) Prosperity, and (iii) Peace.

Resilience is one of UNDP’s six signature solutions – alongside poverty and inequality, environment, energy, governance, and gender equality – to support countries towards three directions of change: structural transformation, leaving no one behind and resilience. As per UNDP’s new Strategic Plan 2022-2025, and the new MCPD (2023-2027), UNDP Pacific office aims to supporting countries and communities in building resilience to diverse shocks and crises, including conflict, climate change, disasters and epidemics.

Tuvalu, with a land area of 26km2, is the fourth smallest nation in the world with a population of about 10,000. Due to its geographical remoteness and relatively limited size of the economy, it is one of the least developed countries. It is also one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the impact of climate change induced sea-level rise and intensifying storm events. Recent cyclones have already shown large scale population displacement, significant loss and damage of agriculture resources and infrastructure, contamination of water supplies, coastal erosion and scouring, impacting long term sustainable development of the country.

As such, in response to this climate challenge, the Government of Tuvalu has recently received funding confirmation from Government of Australia to fund an estimated 8ha of raised land protecting an additional estimated 800m of densely populated and exposed foreshore.  The project will be known as Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project, Phase 2 (TCAP2). This project aims to reduce the vulnerability of the southern lagoon shoreline of Fogafale Island the urban capital of Tuvalu to the impacts of wave inundation, shoreline erosion and inundation due by sea level rise. It follows the successful demonstration of the infrastructure work  under the Green Climate Fund (GCF) resourced TCAP Project, which has built 7.3ha of new raised safe land. TCAP2 follows closely TCAP I design, approach and established management and safeguards work and requirements. The foreshore that TCAP2 will protect and enhance is a continuation of the dysfunctional shoreline protected by TCAP and the Government of Tuvalu’s similar protection work (Queen Elizabeth II Park) and thus, the TCAP2 site starts only 50m to the south, as contiguous with TCAP and effectively an extension of TCAP project.

The project has the following 3 main outputs.

  1. Output 1: Construction of coastal protection infrastructure of the southern lagoon shoreline of Fongafale Island in Funafuti. This is expected to protect approximately 800 m of vulnerable shoreline on the capital as well as provide approximately 8 ha of new safe raised land (reclamation).
  2. Output 2: Building capacity of Tuvalu government and civil society organizations in aspects of coastal protection works, mitigation of impacts, and planning and implementation.
  3. Output 3: Undertake policy and strategic analytical studies that demonstrate the feasibility of vertical adaption (reclamation and land raising) for atoll nations like Tuvalu.

The Project desires to recruit a Project Communications Analyst  who will work under the overall guidance of the International Project Manager and International Communication Specialist and  direct supervision of the National Project Manager and in close coordination with PMU staff.

The Project Communications Analyst  will work alongside an international team to provide support on the ground and advise on opportunities to develop communications products, to raise awareness of the project and its outputs. He/she advocates for  and represents the project and  UNDP in the area of communications and is expected to maintain a network with colleagues from UNDP, UN Agencies, Government officials, donors and civil society.

The Project Communications Analyst is to identify opportunities to interview beneficiaries of the project, and develop an in-depth understanding of the project progress to update other members of the team and the public. This includes through conducting interviews, identifying moments to raise awareness about specific milestones in the project and supporting the International Communication Specialist and UNDP MCO to amplify content at the global level.

Duties and Responsibilities
The successful candidate will work directly under the overall guidance of International Project Coordinator and Intentional Communication Specialist and direct supervision of the National Project Manager. The candidate will work with PMU staff and stakeholders at local and national levels. Scope of work are as following;
  • Develop communication strategy and plan building on learning from TCAP, the project deliverables, national laws and policies, UNDP’s  MCO Communication Strategy and guidelines, DFAT/MFAT guidelines and strategies.
  • Implement the communications plan in coordination with all stakeholders by making sure that stakeholders are aware of certain milestones in the project.
  • Ongoing advice on communications activities, related to proposed projects activities including developing press releases for public awareness at certain milestones; identifying stakeholders to interview for web stories; speaking with local communities to understand their perspectives and gather interviews and photos of project developments that could be turned into web stories or social media.
  • Supporting the communications team by developing social media plans and social media content to amplify project outputs.
  • Support project staff, national project partners and contractors to identify and address internal capacity and communication needs including coordination with the UNDP MCO.
  • Produce a range of communications products – including web and social media updates, videos, photos, human interest stories, news articles and printed materials for communities – to ensure maximum exposure of the projects, GoT, UNDP and, particularly, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji;
  • Support communication goals by collecting regular photos, team updates and arranging and coordinating a shared space to store these materials so that they can be used in public outreach.
  • Prepare policy papers, fact-sheets, briefing notes, thematic reviews, success/human stories and speeches, as needed;
  • Work as media focal person and provide and facilitate the national and international media
  • In Coordination with the PMU arrange events for public awareness and visibility and representation in relevant regional/global events and preparation of the appropriate material for the events
  • Make necessary arrangements, as needed, for national and foreign media visits to the country in close collaboration with the Government of Tuvalu and global UNDP communications colleagues (where relevant);
  • Produce different visibility materials as required by the project
  • Supporting writing of the reports for donors and other stakeholders
  • Conduct surveys on the best outreach mechanisms and introduce innovative ways for communication and visibility.
  • Support in knowledge management activities
  • Establish a database of all internal and external communication materials with a corresponding file management system;
  • The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
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 & Technical competencies:

Business Management

  • Knowledge Generation; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.
  • Results-based Management; Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
  • Resource Management; Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability and integrity
  • Working with Evidence and Data; Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making

2030 Agenda: People

  • Gender; UNDP’s Gender Equality Seal Initiative

2030 Agenda: Peace

  • Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights; Impact assessment services to countries on stigma, discrimination, gender and human rights concerns / inclusive and rights-based approach to basic services and livelihoods

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.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
  • Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Communication, Journalism or other relevant field is required, Or
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

  • Minimum 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience at the national, regional or international level in public relations, communications or advocacy related to development and/or climate change.
  • Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and preferably advanced knowledge of web-based management systems such as ERP
  • Knowledge and experience in relevant thematic area
  • At least two (2) years of working experience in communication and/or  climate change adaptation in similar role
  • Experience in creating digital products is highly desirable
  • Experience in organizing capacity building trainings
  • Experience in research and policy-level analysis.
  • Experience in multiple stakeholders engagement especially community and government
  • Experience in report writing, editing, drafting, photography and video materials production will be considered as a strong asset.
  • Experience working with CSOs, UN  and DFAT/MFAT funded projects is an added advantage.

Required Languages:

  • Fluency in English and Tuvaluan is required.
Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
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.
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Tuvalu, Funafuti

location