Communications and Outreach Consultant

Background 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’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan. Working in support of the Regional Bureaus, the GPN also aims to provide rapid and integrated support to UNDP country offices, combining policy advice, technical expertise, financial resources, agile tools and procedures, and partnerships. Within the GPN, the Crisis Bureau guides UNDP’s corporate crisis and fragility-related strategies and vision for crisis prevention, response and recovery and lead corporate support in response to crisis. Support to country operations is coordinated by the Country Support Management Team (CSMT), working closely within the GPN, with the GPN Crisis and Fragility Policy and Engagement Team, the GPN SDG Integrator Team and GPN technical teams. The overall goal of the CSMT is to ensure strong, coherent and coordinated support to country offices (COs), as it relates to crisis and fragility, within the full spectrum of the GPN’s service offer. The CSMT steers the effective interaction of GPN Teams, Regional Bureau/Regional Hub and CO counterparts for integrated country support. It ensures that UNDP corporate support is provided before, during and after crises (in line with UNDP Standard Operating Procedures during the response phase). The CSMT aims to provide regular analytical updates in consultation with Regional Bureaus to support early warning and early action. It also supports and coordinates the GPN crisis response capacity and takes the lead in a UNDP-wide approach to strengthen UNDP capacity in preventing, preparing for, responding to and recovering from crisis. Within the CSMT, the deployment of technical and operations experts through the SURGE (UNDP Staff), GPN/ExpRes (Consultants), and Standby Partnerships mechanisms are a key component of UNDP’s response to the immediate crisis and technical support to Country Offices. One of the major challenges of the Crisis Bureau’s deployment mechanism is to ensure that both internal and external rosters have the required capacity and availability of this capacity to support UNDP Country Offices in times of need. The Crisis Bureau is systematically developing outreach plans and efforts to reach out to potential experts through both online and off-line initiatives. Linked to this work, the Crisis Bureau is undertaking the Consolidation of all technical Rosters within UNDP under the umbrella of the GPN, which is now called the GPN/ExpRes Deployment Mechanism and the launch of a new intelligent rostering platform. Furthermore, in order to consciously and consistently attract, develop, support and recognize the most suitable internal crisis personnel, the Crisis Bureau is developing a SURGE Academy, as a dedicated set-up with a structure, personnel and resources, within the existing SURGE system. Within the larger CSMT, the communications and outreach consultant will develop material to inform regional bureaus and the rest of the organization of support that is provided through the deployment mechanism to country offices for crisis response and recovery and progress on the consolidation of rosters. The consultant will also seek innovative ways to leverage social media and online platforms to create both internal and external talent communities where experts can interact, exchange ideas and be linked to upcoming opportunities within UNDP. Under the overall supervision of the head of CSMT and the day-to-day supervision of Programme Specialist (Deployments), the Communications and Outreach Consultant will promote the work of the GPN/ExpRes and SURGE mechanisms and develop communication and outreach strategies for the initiatives mentioned above. The consultant will also work closely with the SURGE Academy Project Manager and the Programme Specialist (tools and systems). Duties and Responsibilities The Communications and Outreach Consultant will:

Develop and implement a communication strategy for the Consolidation of technical rosters initiative 15th October and implementation ongoing;
Leverage social media and online platforms to build talent communities and networks and promote the SURGE Academy; ongoing
Develop and enhance the presence of UNDP’s deployment mechanism online; ongoing
Identify and facilitate the addition of new candidates for the GPN/ExpRes roster; ongoing

Develop and implement a communication and outreach strategy for the Consolidation of technical rosters initiative;

Develop a communication and outreach strategy and a workplan identifying timelines, activities and deliverables for the consolidation of technical rosters initiative and the COVID-19 Capacity Mapping component;
Design a coherent branding package (visual identity) consisting of illustrations and graphic design layouts for the GPN/ExpRes roster (such as but not limited to logo, banners, flyers, newsletters, infographics, infomercials, etc.). The end product must be of high quality and in publishable form.
Design and launch a campaign for the new platform;
Design 2 pagers for internal and external audience, on the consolidation of rosters and the capacity mapping;
Design quarterly Newsletters to showcase the work of the GPN/ExpRes consultants and SURGE advisors
Facilitate the development of an annual deployments report highlighting the interventions of the team to support country offices and the larger GPN. Facilitate the development of the relevant infographics.

Leverage social media and online platforms to build talent communities and networks and promote the SURGE Academy

Enhance the presence of the GPN ExpRes mechanism online through social media and other relevant platforms
Enhance the Twitter presence of the GPN ExpRes Mechanism to incorporate both internal and external talent of the organization
Assist in the development of networks for both crisis and non-crisis experts across the GPN, using online portals and social media outlets.
Establish operational linkages between the GPN talent management (GPN/ExpRes ONE Roster) portal and social media networks
Organize events such as online interviews, webinars, chats, trainings etc. to share the GPN/ExpRes stories, engage with the community and identify new expertise and to gain valuable knowledge of other external deployment mechanism;
Manage all communications related to the SURGE Academy
Develop and coordinate the communications and outreach sections of the SURGE Academy

Develop and enhance the presence of UNDP’s deployment mechanism online

Develop a work plan and a social media/online strategy to elevate the online presence of the deployment mechanism; identifying timelines, activities, and Deliverables
Establish the GPN ExpRes deployment mechanism as a brand both internally within the organization and externally among development and humanitarian networks.
Manage and update the deployments component of the internet page
Develop highly visual and impactful social media materials to elevate the reach on the existing social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, MS Teams, UNDP intranet, UNDP corporate website and others; in order to create better visibility for the Crisis Bureau deployment mechanism
Update the CB deployments section on www.undp.org; use UNDP’s website to attract new talent for the consultant’s roster and facilitate the review and addition of new experts
Manage the SURGE portal on the UNDP intranet and keep SURGE Advisors updated on development and opportunities
Update the Deployment Capacity intranet pages to offer the Country Offices a user-friendly experience in accessing the deployment capacities;

Identify and facilitate the addition of new candidates for the GPN/ExpRes roster;

Leverage the existing pools in other UN Agencies, regional organizations, networks, and thinks tanks, and facilitate the identification of experts from these organizations for the roster
Support the implementation of the enhancement plan for Crisis Bureau rosters including expansion, trainings, vetting processes and quality control
Liaise with GPN colleagues to facilitate addition of new staff members and new consultants in collaboration with Country Offices and Regional Hubs to the SURGE and GPN/ExpRes rosters
Leverage social media platform and online recruitment sites for calls for applications and recruitment campaigns;
Identify and contract a social media and talent search company to enhance the composition of CB rosters
Put in place initiatives to have greater language diversity on UNDP rosters, focusing on experts speaking French, Arabic, and Spanish
Proactively seek regional expertise to ensure that the rosters have geographical diversity
Ensure that both the composition and usage of UNDP rosters approaches gender parity

Deliverables: The following deliverables/actions will be provided on an ongoing basis:

Communities and networks of talent built and facilitated through social media and other relevant platforms
Communication and Outreach Strategy designed and initiated; communication products delivered within set deadlines;
SURGE Academy brand developed and promoted
The Deployments’ online and social media presence developed to attract new expertise to the roster
UNDP’s rosters composition enhanced with systematic campaigns within and outside the organization
Social media and talent search company identified and contracted
Rosters to be made more gender, geographic, and language compatible

Competencies

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
Diplomacy and tact.

Required Skills and Experience Qualifications: Education

At least bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, media, public policy, business or another relevant field, required.
Master’s degree in communications, journalism or other relevant field an advantage.

Experience

At least 5 years of professional experience working on different aspects of communications such as outreach, media relations, content production, and social media management. (required)
Experience in digital communications; required
Expertise in leveraging social media to enhance and build brands (required)
Understanding of crisis response, the humanitarian system and development (desirable)
Demonstrated experience in using the MS Office 365 Suite and the Adobe Creative and Design products or any other similar applications; (required)
Demonstrated experience in developing, producing, and editing videos, infographics, informercials, interviews, and other similar communications products; (desired)
Demonstrated experience in social media management platforms; (desired)
Networking and partnership development skills; (desirable)

Languages