NATIONAL POST: Programme Associate on Communication and Social Norm Change (G7)

Job Description

The Position:

The Programme Associate on Communication and social norm changes will provide significant input into strengthening of strategic partnership, addressing gender norms, advocacy, communication and visibility of UNFPA country office.

You will report directly to the Programme Analyst, Gender equality and social norm changes.
 

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

In the frame of fifth UNFPA Country programme for the period of 2023-2026, strengthening the partnership, social norms change, advocacy, visibility and communication is one of the main areas.

The Programme Associate on communication and social norm changes will substantially contribute to development and implementation of the country office communication strategy and specific work plans on social norm changes and advocacy through analyzing overall political and communication environment, needs and opportunities of the country, as well as UNFPA communication strategy to ensure the most effective implementation of Country Programme and the achievement of desired results. 

The Programme Associate applies established systems and procedures and assists country office in the creation of substantive knowledge by compiling, synthesizing and analyzing information relevant to sexual reproductive health and rights, adolescence and youth health, gender equality and social norms and population and development

You would be responsible for:

• Monitoring and analyzing the environment relevant to UNFPA’s work, as well as the public perception of UNFPA in the media and general public; identifying opportunities for strategic communications interventions and recommending appropriate action to seize opportunities for increasing visibility for UNFPA, its work and ICPD issues, and to maintain a positive image for the organization.
• Assist Country office with development of country office communication and social norm change strategy and action plan.
• Guiding internal and external communications aimed at informing and engaging staff and public around the corporate strategic goals and results and the high-level goals of the country programme.
• Maintaining relationships with key national partners to strengthen the overall effectiveness of UNFPA public information activities and supporting them in preparation and dissemination of press-releases and building their capacity. 
• Ensuring developing and maintaining close collaboration with traditional and social media, national TVs and radio programmes as well as with civil society groups and organizations essential to achieving UNFPA’s advocacy and communication objectives on three transformative results, engaging them into social norms change initiatives.
• Prepare press releases, articles and human-interest stories, best practices for local press and HQ/RO communication platforms in three languages (English, Tajik and Russian).
• Coordinating the establishment and content maintenance of the UNFPA/Tajikistan website and social media accounts.  
• Establishing/maintaining an up-to-date documentation center for publications, press releases and clippings, as well as photographic and audio-visual materials; Monitoring press coverage of UNFPA work and ICPD issues and contributing press clippings to the weekly regional media monitoring report.
• Coordinating with concerned programme teams to prepare background communication and promotional materials for briefings and visits of journalists, donors, senior government officials and other groups. 
• Helping to organize and generate public support for UNFPA special events and campaigns by liaising with mass media and national partners. Drafting speeches for Representative, Country Director, Head of Office and Programme Analysts.
• Leading on the production of advocacy and communication materials for national, regional and global campaigns, and overseeing the qualitative aspects of production to ensure highest standards and compliance with UNFPA style and policies.
• Assisting in appropriate and timely dissemination of advocacy and communication materials to target audiences. 
• Participating in the UN Communications Group functioning under the auspices of the UN CT in Tajikistan and contributing to planning and implementation of the joint UN Communication Strategy for Tajikistan.
• Manage CO Programme Coordination Assistance Project, develop, implement, monitor and report Annual work plans in consultation with Head of Office (HoO) and programme team. 
• Contributing to the development and effective implementation of CO’s Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Strategy by i) identifying opportunities for UNFPA’s strategic engagement with donors and partners; and (ii) developing outreach efforts to the donors and partners.
• Contribute to CO Management Plan development, implementation, monitoring and reporting in communications and social norms changes outputs and resource mobilization.
• In close cooperation with Head of Office and Programme Analysts, conducts regular environmental scanning and prepares monthly briefs for the Representative and the staff on the political and socio-economic developments in the country relevant to UNFPA country programme.
• Performing any other duties as assigned by the UNFPA Head of Office.
   

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

University degree in communications, journalism, public relations or related social sciences field.
 

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least 7 years of professional experience in programme/project management.  
• Clear understanding of advocacy and communication concepts. Good knowledge in media and public relations;
• Minimum 2 years of experience in preparing informational documents, communication, advocacy. Social norm change and coordination between a large number of partners;
• Practical experience in design, implementation and monitoring of communications and social norm change programmes/strategies.
• Clear understanding of advocacy and communication concepts. Good knowledge in media and public relations.
• Familiarity with population issues, sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, social norm changes would be an asset.
• Experience in managing websites as well as social media content.
• Proficiency in current office and communication/publishing software applications and social media.

Languages: 

Fluency in English, Tajik and Russian is required
 

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change
   

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact
   

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilisation
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Ability to analyze, evaluate and synthesize information 
• Networking and influencing
• Knowledge of computer systems and applications (Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
• Delivering results-oriented programmes

Compensation and Benefits

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus cost of living adjustment, rental subsidy, education grant, home leave, health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

Disclaimer 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm

In accordance with the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.