The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance and supports the results of UNDP’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan, summarized in its “3x6x3” framework including, strengthening institutions to progressively deliver universal access to basic services based on Structural transformation, Building resilience and Leaving no-one behind. The HIV, Health and Development Group (HHD Group), within BPPS, is helping to contribute towards this outcome. The HIV and Health Strategy 2022-2025: ‘Connecting the Dots’ elaborates UNDP’s work on HIV and health in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

UNDP has an important role in supporting health outcomes by supporting countries to address the social, cultural, and economic determinants of HIV and health, in partnership with UN entities and other organizations. This is done through UNDP’s core work in reducing inequalities and social exclusion that drive HIV and poor health, promoting effective and inclusive governance for health, and building resilient and sustainable systems for health. UNDP also contributes through its coordinating and convening role in bringing together multiple partners and resources at national and local levels.

As a trusted, long-term partner with extensive operational experience, UNDP supports countries in the effective implementation of complex, multilateral and multi-sectoral health programmes while simultaneously investing in capacity development so that national and local partners can assume these responsibilities over time. UNDP partners with countries in crisis/post-crisis situations, those with weak institutional capacity or governance challenges, and countries under sanctions. When requested, UNDP provide support through various implementation modalities, including technical assistance, fund administration, interim Principal Recipient (PR) in these settings, working with national partners and The Global Fund (GF) to improve management, implementation, and oversight, while simultaneously developing national capacity for governments or local entities to be able to assume the PR role over time.

UNDP has been identified by the Global Fund to support the national stakeholders as the PR for the Belarus HIV and TB grant (the ‘Grant’). Under the leadership and supervision of the Programme Analyst and in close collaboration with and in guidance from the UNDP Belarus Communications Analyst the Communication Associate will provide communication support for the ‘Grant’ and position   achieved results, implementation progress, partnerships and lessons learnt. The communication work is conducted in accordance with UNDP rules, policies and procedures and corporate agreements with the GF. The Communication Associate works in close coordination with the Project management unit team. The Communication Associate shall also support national partners in communication strategies and facilitate stakeholder engagement (e.g., guidance, tools, trainings).

Communication Management

• Drafts and designs the Grant’s content for the UNDP Belarus website, ensuring information is clearly presented for public, relevant and continuously updated.
• Prepares communication and information materials in print/electronic/voice/visual formats.
• Supports drafting and disseminating of key programme reports, such as the annual results report, to internal and external audiences.
• Supports the  Programme Analyst in preparing for and organizing public speaking engagements with the preparation of background materials and talking points.
• Provides communication support and media coverage for seminars, lectures, conferences, public events on the Grant’s major issues and events.
• In coordination with the Programme Analyst, supports the stakeholders with development of engagement/communication plan.
• Supports communication for partnership with  stakeholders, including the sub-recipients, governmental institutions, UN agencies and the Global Fund.

Media relations management

•  In coordination with the Programme Analyst responds to media and public enquiries, develop and manage media outreach plans,  ensure the Grant’s information materials are available for media and comprehensive for public.
• Explores and Identifies media stories, drafts and edits media releases and briefings.
• Identifies media opportunities in printed, online media outlets, TV and radio.
• Provides communication consultancy and gives advice on media relations to the staff to ensure that the agreed communication strategies are implemented, and consistency of the Grant’s positive public image is maintained.
• Coordinates with service providers (e.g. printers, designers, photographers, writers, editors, advertising/ marketing/event coordination agencies).

Information campaigns management

• Provides advice on strategic and innovative communication approaches to position the Global Fund funded activities.
• Leads in design and implementation of the Grant’s information campaigns targeting a broad range of stakeholders.
• In line with the communication strategy, proactively advocates the Grant’s key messages in communications with partners, stakeholders, media, ensuring consistency and clarity of agreed messages.
• Crafts and designs communication materials, including power-point presentations, speeches, and press releases, and develop marketing plans for disseminating knowledge products.
• Knowledge accumulation  and management
• Supports a knowledge management strategies and plans aimed at enhancing knowledge sharing and results reporting, namely from pilot projects and studies.
• Contributes to development of new knowledge products, services and tools.
• Explores and introduces new and innovative creative multimedia approaches by which knowledge is produced, accumulated, managed and communicated.
• Ensure editorial management and content scheduling of online/web spaces and social media channels for the team and projects.

Institutional Arrangement

Under the Programme Analyst’s direction and supervision, and in close collaboration with the UNDP Communications Analyst, the Communications Associate coordinates all communications activities related to the Global Fund grant implementation and project outcomes.

• 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

• Communications  – Brand & quality management
  • Ability to position a UNDP brand and uphold it to a high level of quality
• Communications  – Campaign management
  • Ability to produce and implement communications and advocacy campaigns which lead to impactful change.
• Communications  – Creative direction and copywriting
  • Ability to creatively communicate concepts in an engaging and simple way.
• Communications  – Digital strategy
  • Ability to plan the use of resources through digital channels to reach and engage target audiences effectively and to achieve particular objectives
• Communications  – Graphic design
  • Ability to communicate visually and create appealing UNDP graphic products
• Communications  – Social Media management
  • Ability to represent and promote the UNDP brand in virtual communities and networks
• Communications  – Multimedia production
  • Ability to create and combine images, text and audio-visuals to produce multimedia content
• Communications  – Multimedia writing/editing
  • Ability to create and/or edit written content for multimedia
• Communications – Web and social media analytics
  • Ability to analyse and interpret data and statistics to measure web and social media performance
• Communications – Writing and editing
  • Ability to create and/or edit written content in different UN languages.
• Digital & Innovation – Story telling
  • Ability to empathize with people’s perceptions, motivations, feelings and mental models and craft narratives to build an emotive argument for change accordingly. Ability to present data, insights or information in compelling ways to mobilize resources, talent or action. Ability to choose media and channels that is fit for purpose to reach specific target audiences.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Knowledge of UN or UNDP rules, policies, and procedures related to internal and external communication is an asset

• Minimum 7 years (with Secondary education) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in communications at the national or international levels.

Language:

• Fluency in Russian and Belarusian.
• Proficiency in English (written and verbal).

Required Skills:

• High proficiency in research, analysis, and drafting communication and information materials.
• Solid understanding of a broad range of health and development issues.
• Experience in conceptualizing and managing the production of information printed and digital materials, including detailed reports.
• Excellent knowledge in media relations and management.
• Practical experience with designing and implementing communication and/or media outreach strategies.
• Experience in developing content that clearly communicates development ideas and experiences for media, web, print production, and audio-visual productions.
• Competency with office software packages, including PowerPoint, excel, user skills with design software.