Project Communications Associate at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

• To strengthen projects visibility, UNDP in Kenya is looking for a competent Project Communications Associate

Duties And Responsibilities
Summary of Key Functions:

• Planning and design of internal and external project strategies for communications, advocacy and outreach
• Assessing the impact of the country office project communications strategy and adjusting accordingly as informed by trends, media and audience analysis;
• Fostering outreach partnerships with innovators, creatives and social influencers who can help UNDP projects achieve visibility;
• In collaboration with Team Leaders, and based on their insight, guide the production of results- based project communications products that enhance accountability and appreciation of UNDP programmatic offer by various constituents;
• Ensuring project communication activities and products foster gender quality.
• Elaboration and implementation of the project knowledge management strategy and plan
• Identifying and developing storylines for publications and substantive articles contributing to debates on key development issues;
• Developing and updating project repository with all communication materials (e.g., photos, videos, brochures, flyers etc.);
• Coordinating project publication activities, including content management, norms for publishing, design, liaison with printers and other suppliers to oversee production and supervision of publications dissemination;
• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to country programme, projects goals and activities;
• Provision of trainings and clinics for UNDP staff on internal and external communications for development, with a focus on photography, video, blogging, vlogging, managing social media, working with press, etc.
• Updating of the projects digital platforms (web site, intranet, social media and projects web- based management system)
• Preparation of the project content for the websites ensuring consistency of the materials;
• Leading the development and overseeing the implementation of project communications plans for all unit to feed into the Country Office annual work plan;
• Ensuring projects media engagement;
• Delivering substantive oversight and quality assurance of projects communication products, including external websites and social media platforms by strengthening their utility for public engagement.
• Graphics Design
• Support the development of publications, web articles, flyers, event banners, posters, project factsheets, brochures, social media share graphics/infographics, presentations, and other communication products to raise the visibility of what UNDP Kenya is doing;
• Create and develop branded products for high-visibility campaigns and outreach;
• In liaison with the Communications Associate and Associate Project Officers, create social media infographics during each key moment as per the events calendar;
• Assist in planning, promoting, and organizing meetings by preparing substantive presentations while assisting in the day-to-day operations and the preparation of special events of the Communications Unit;
• Perform any other tasks or duties as assigned by the Team Leader of the Communications Unit and the Project Manager.
• Video Production
• Produce project videos including short and long broadcast features for global and local audiences, social media audiences, multimedia content, promotional video content and other video content as requested by the supervisor;
• Assist with editorial supervision of all video products, including drafting and text editing video feature scripts, participating in editorial meetings and deciding editorial lines according to UN priorities and needs; suggest approaches to video projects by writing treatments or by evaluating treatments proposed by others;
• Other responsibilities include but are not limited to planning productions (including budgets), overseeing editorial content and production of stories and videos, directing in the field, conducting interviews, as well as shooting, writing scripts, and editing video content. This will also involve but is not exclusive to feeding material from the field and writing news stories while in the field.
• Podcast Production
• Editing raw audio content and producing final podcast episodes using Adobe Audition (software);
• Creating graphic designs and other communication material to communicate the podcast;
• Contributing ideas and working to improve the layout and design of promotional materials;
• Assisting in research activities, such as background research and scripting of episodes;
• Dissemination, marketing and promotion of podcasts;
• Assisting the team with technical aspects of recording episodes.

Institutional Arrangement

• The Project Communications Associate works under the general supervision of the Head of Communications, Project Manager and collaborates closely with the Senior Project Associates, Team Leader Governance and Inclusive Growth (GiG), Programme Analyst, M&E Hub and the Project Management Unit (PMU).

Competencies
Core

• 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
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.

Knowledge Facilitation

• Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly Externally.

Project Management

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Partnerships Management

• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

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.

Monitoring

• Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results.

Effectiveness

• Programming (PPM) policies and procedures.

Education
Required Skills and Experience

• Secondary Education is required or:
• University degree in either Multi-media Production, Mass Communication, Public Relations, Marketing, or any related field will be given due consideration but is not a requirement.

Experience

• Minimum 7 years (with secondary education) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in Multi-media Production, Mass Communication, Public Relations, Marketing, or any other related field, at the national level in a similar position, providing multi- media production and communication support to promote development project activities of international development organizations and the public sector;
• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages;
• Proficient in the use of Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Audition, Photoshop, and Premiere Pro);
• Good networking abilities and partnership development;
• Excellent writing and analytical skill in drafting concept notes and reports;
• Experience writing donor reports and working within the Development agencies preferably with CSOs;
• Experience in the development of quality. communication products for external influencing.

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in English and Swahili is required.