Project Title: UNDP Crimea Integration and Development Programme (CIDP)

Post Title: Communications Associate

Duration: Until 31 December 2007, with a 3-months probation period and the possibility of yearly extensions

Duty Station: Simferopol, Crimea, with travel to project sites in the districts

Introduction:

The main goal of UNDP’s Crimea Integration and Development Programme (CIDP) is to foster sustainable human development in a manner that contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability in Crimea through initiatives aimed at preventing interethnic violence and enhancing peaceful coexistence among different ethnic groups.

This includes the following five sub-goals:

· Promote good governance and integration by encouraging citizens of multi-ethnic communities to actively participate in improving living conditions in partnership with local authorities

· Reduce marked economic disparities between underprivileged groups and the rest of the population by promoting income and employment creation with special emphasis on entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprise development

· Increase tolerance and social cohesion through education and culture

· Improve quality and accessibility of basic infrastructure and social services in needy areas

· Increase responsiveness to potential conflict areas through the setting up of a Human Security Monitoring System

CIDP’s communication measures have to serve several functions, including:

• promoting the values of the programme: interethnic tolerance; improved state-citizen relations; citizens participation and self- initiative; balanced regional development; innovative approaches to public service delivery; modern, open and transparent Government; etc.
• promoting CIDP as a programme that responds to the needs of all people living in Crimea independently of their ethnic background;
• knowledge sharing;
• marketing the new approaches of CIDP’s fourth phase;
• using communication as a tool that goes beyond informing about what CIDP does to using communication as part of CIDP’s programme strategy to promote development changes, especially as CIDP’s new programme strategy is moving from the community to the policy level;
• promoting CIDP’s brand as the programme is increasingly working through sub-contractors, experts, partners or in collaboration with other organizations;
• strategically positioning CIDP as new development actors are coming to Crimea;
• keeping the knowledge about CIDP’s previous interventions, i.e. those that have graduated from the programme, alive;
• supporting resource mobilization: emphasizing programme effectiveness, efficiency of implementation, added value for the donor etc.;
• responding to the visibility needs of the donors while keeping the CIDP brand; keeping the donors interested in contributing to a joint programme.

The main targets of CIDP’s communications strategy are the local, national and international media, the general public in Crimea, including CIDP’s target communities, the Crimean and Ukrainian Government, current and potential CIDP donors, the national and international development community and UNDP internally.

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Communications Associate will be responsible for supporting CIDP’s communications and public relations work, in particular promoting a positive image of CIDP, supporting resource mobilization and improving programme results through effective use of communications. The incumbent works in close collaboration with the Regional Development Advisor, programme staff, the UNDP Country Office, UNDP headquarters, Government officials and the media to successfully deliver communications and public relations services to the programme thereby supporting the achievement of the programme’s objectives as specified in the CIDP Programme Strategy. The incumbent ensures that information about CIDP activities and issues related to United Nations activities in general are widely disseminated to the appropriate target groups and that information about issues relevant to CIDP and the United Nations in general is properly collected, recorded and processed.

Specifically, the Communications Associate will be responsible for:

1. Contributing to the strategic direction of CIDP communication and public relations activities, including

· assisting in the further development and implementation of CIDP’s communications strategy and in the preparation of the work plan of the communications unit;

· regularly reviewing and further developing the tools for the implementation of CIDP’s communication strategy, such as quarterly and annual reports, public website, newsletters, events, promotion materials, video-clips/films, design formats for reports, presentations, boards, letterheads etc.;

· developing and advocating CIDP’s main communications messages that properly reflect CIDP’s objectives and strategies, that sell with the media and other communication targets and that are based on CIDP’s comparative advantage;

· advising CIDP management on all communications and public relations matters.

2. Supporting CIDP media relations, including

· organizing and preparing press conferences, press visits to project sites, official opening ceremonies, interviews, TV and radio broadcasts and high quality articles;

· ensuring regular presence of CIDP in the media, public service announcements, production of videos, films etc.,

· preparing regular ARC news summary and clippings service for IPC, UNDP senior management and programme partners;

· preparing press releases and press statements.

3. Provide communications services by

· maintaining and updating the CIDP website and the UN Ukraine Intranet CIDP page regularly in coordination with the CIDP LAN Manager;

· supporting the IPC and programme staff in the preparation of reports, publications and other documents, including CIDP progress reports to UNDP and donors; provide final editing for documents and publications in English, Ukrainian and Russian;

· develop, produce and distribute CIDP communication materials, including brochures, posters, calendars, reports, flyers, videos, presentations etc.

· organize and maintain CIDP photo exhibitions and other promotional events, including special events based on key UN days or themes;

· organize (project site) visits and prepare information packages for UN, UNDP, donor and other relevant officials;

· collect relevant UN, UNDP and other publications and maintain information centers/displays at the CIDP office and the Regional Integration and Development Centers;

· collect and compile information on CIDP, UNDP and the UN as well as on issues of relevance to CIDP and circulate this information to other CIDP staff.

4. Building and maintaining strategic partnerships and cooperation with

· Crimean, national and international media;

· current and potential donors, including their communications staff to support visibility strategies in relation to their contributions;

· communication / information staff of UNDP.

5. Documenting CIDP progress and best practices and collecting/disseminating relevant UN, UNDP and CIDP information and materials; converting these into articles and other media for publication/dissemination.

6. Liaising with the UNDP country office, in particular the communications team, on all communication matters.

7. Providing occasional interpretation and translation in English, Ukrainian and Russian.

8. Supporting the management of the communications unit by

· handling correspondence and reply to inquiries for public information materials;

· maintaining a contact database of representatives of the mass media, both local and national;

· maintaining photo, video and information files on CIDP activities;

· maintaining proper electronic and paper filing systems;

· ensuring that all equipment designated to the communications unit is kept in good order and under strict control.

9. Performing other duties as requested by CIDP Management.

Experience & Qualifications:

1. Maters degree in communications, public relations or related field; specialized training on communications / public relations would be an asset.

2. Education / work experience abroad would be a strong asset.

3. Knowledge and understanding of development cooperation issues.

4. Excellent English and Russian language skills (written and oral). Ability to speak, write and translate from and into Ukrainian and/or Crimean Tatar or other relevant languages would be an advantage.

5. At least three years of practical experience in public relations, communications and / or related field.

6. Excellent writing, presentation, networking and communication skills, high level of creativity, initiative and ability to work in a team.

7. Ability to work effectively in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural environment.

8. Advanced computer skills, including word processing, spreadsheet and desktop publishing programmes. Experience with web-page design, professional photography, video and other media would be an asset.

9. Affinity with United Nations’ mandate and principles.

Application submitting procedure:

Applications (most recent CVs) in English language are to be submitted to the e-mail address: vacancy@undp.crimea.ua, or fax +(380)(652) 248-011 by not later then February 18, 2007.

Applications are to be submitted separately for each vacancy announcement. Please indicate "Communication Associate" in the Subject line of your message. Please also mention the minimal salary level expected in your application/CV.

UNDP will use a transparent and competitive screening process, though will only contact those applicants in whom there is further interest. Applications may only be submitted for specific vacancies. We regret that we will not be able to acknowledge all unsolicited general applications for employment.

Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

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