Communication and Data Officer - UNV

Mission and objectives

With the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at its core, and in response to the General Assembly resolution 71/243 on the quadrennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system, the UN Secretary General’s report (December 2017) “Repositioning the United Nations development system to deliver on the 2030 Agenda: our promise for dignity, prosperity and peace on a healthy planet” puts forward a comprehensive proposal on further improvements to the Resident Coordinator system to ensure more coherent, accountable and effective support for the 2030 Agenda. This was further reinforced by General Assembly resolution 72/729 of 1 June 2018, which gave the Secretary-General the mandate to implement the repositioning.  A reinvigorated resident coordinator system is at the centre of a repositioned United Nations development system, and while the system has been instrumental in driving coherence on the ground over the past four decades, it is now insufficiently robust to respond to the needs of the 2030 Agenda. The report stresses that Resident Coordinator Offices will need to be adequately staffed to ensure sufficient substantive capacities to lead United Nations country teams. The core capacity will include expertise in coordination and strategic planning, economics, tailored policy support, results monitoring and evaluation, and strategic partnerships, plus a robust standing communications capacity within the United Nations country team.  This post is part of this new generation of resident coordinator office, with the new skillset and competencies required to deliver on the 2030 Agenda. The United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) in Belize seeks to recruit a dynamic and passionate individual as a Communication and Data Officer.

Context

This post is part of the Resident Coordinator offices with new skillsets and competencies such as agility, communications and problem-solving in a multicultural, client-oriented workplace. The UNV will be at the forefront of our development work to help create innovative and exciting development solutions for the people and the Government of Belize.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Strategic Planner and Team Leader in the UNRCO the UNV Communication and Data Officer will undertake the following tasks:

a) Participates in strategic advocacy and programme communications in support of the UN Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF) in the Caribbean 2022-2026 and global, regional and national communication initiatives.

i. Assists the Resident Coordinator (RC) and UN Country Team (UNCT) in designing, implementing and monitoring assigned elements of the UN joint advocacy and communication strategy, promoting the UNMSDCF as the primary instrument for the planning and implementation of UN development activities in the country, in support of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;

ii. Support the adaptation and localization of global communications and advocacy priorities of the United Nations Department of Global Communications in promoting the work of the United Nations in key thematic areas.

iii. Prepares and drafts assigned inputs for the RC and UNCT on strategic advocacy and programme communications including public messaging and media outreach for the 2030 Agenda and to boost impact of programmatic objectives;

iv. Monitors and analyzes the media in the areas related to the UN’s mandates and programmes in the country, as well as other issues relevant to the UN brand and positioning;

v. Drafts inputs for the RC and UNCT, Programme Management Team (or equivalent) and Results Groups on potential issues, concerns and risks related to communications and advocacy;

vi. Prepares official briefing materials, talking points, speeches, statements, op-eds and presentations as assigned, as well as assists in managing reputational risks or crises around sensitive issues;

vii. Supports the evaluation of results and impact of communications and advocacy initiatives promoting the work of the United Nations in key thematic areas other than development, reporting the outcome to the Resident Coordinator, the UN country team and the United Nations Department of Global Communications.

b) Assists in partnership building and media relations

i. Assists in the identification and engagement of key traditional and non-traditional target audiences, including government, civil society, private sector, development partners and other new as well as traditional actors on the collective 2030 Agenda and the related role and impact of the UN’s work in country;

ii. Participates in public engagement on the UN’s role and work in country, including through programme visits showcasing the UN’s development impact;

iii. Assists in maintaining close working relationships with the media, including editors and journalists in key national and international news outlets; develops, maintains and updates media relations contact list/database;

iv. Assists with preparation of educational outreach activities, including conferences and public-speaking engagements supporting the RC, RCO staff and/or the UN country team.

c) Contributes to digital communications and brand management

i. In collaboration with the UN Communications Group (or equivalent), and in coordination with the RCO Data Management and Results Reporting officer and Partnership and Development Finance Officer, assists in the preparation of the annual communication plan to publicize and communicate results with a focus on the UN’s development impact;

ii. Coordinate with UNIC Caribbean in maintaining and updating external and internal digital communication platforms such as the UN country team website, official UN country team social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc.), Intranet and on-line collaboration platforms, etc.;

iii. Develop and implement a digital content strategy and key communications and advocacy products and content (e.g. human-interest stories, multilingual and multimedia content, etc.).

iv. Assists the RC and UNCT in the preparation and launch of joint UN publications, Results/expected outputs: As an active Resident Coordinator Office team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to the Resident Coordinator Office and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

a. Develop and/or update UN joint advocacy and communication strategy for promoting the UNMSDCF as the primary instrument for the planning and implementation of UN activities in Belize and in support of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

b. In coordination with RCO Data Management and Results Reporting Officer, support with the design, formatting and editing of the Annual Country Results Report and other publications by the RCO.

c. In coordination with RCO Data Management and Results Reporting Officer, support with the population and review of UN agencies, funds and programmes sub-outputs into the UN INFO platform. This includes the data entry using the excel files submitted by agencies, particularly those without an identified Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning focal point.

d. Elaborate periodic media monitoring tool for assessing coverage of UN work in Belize and prepare communication materials for facing emergencies and reputational risks as needed.

e. The annual communication plan to publicize and communicate results with a focus on the UN’s development impact is prepared in coordination with RCO Data Management and Results Reporting officer and RCO Partnership and Development Finance Officer and with the UN Communications Group.

f. Visibility materials for presenting a UN image and for promoting SDGs are developed.

g. Communication experiences have been compiled, analyzed, categorized and summarized for use in sharing findings with country, regional and HQ communication colleagues.

h. An updated directory of media and journalists contacts is produced.

i. Official information materials, talking points, speeches, statements, opinion articles and presentations are produced.

j. External and internal digital communication platforms such as the UN country team website, official UN country team social media accounts have been updated with relevant reports, analyses, stories, events etc.

k. A digital content strategy is developed and implemented as well as key communications and advocacy products (e.g. human-interest stories, multilingual and multimedia content, etc.).

l. The UNCT is advised on the development of joint UN publications, maintaining high quality standards and the correct application of the UN branding guidelines and the UN publishing standards;

m. Support and coordinate the UN Communications Group also including approved work plans.