Communications Associate

Office/Unit/Project Description

UNDP’s partnership with the Global Fund, in line with UNDP’s HIV and Health Strategy 2022-2025: Connecting the Dots, makes a vital contribution to UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the SDGs and the pledge to leave no one behind.

In Zimbabwe, UNDP is the Principal Recipient (PR) for the HIV grant and is also providing Support Services (Fund Administration) to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) as the continuing PR for the Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria grants. Additionally, UNDP has been designated the ‘CCM Funding Recipient’ responsible for receiving and Managing CCM funding on its behalf. The HIV grant for 2024-2026 aims to contribute towards the achievement of the vision and goals of Zimbabwe National HIV Strategic Plan, 2021-2026. For effective implementation of the Global Fund resources, UNDP Zimbabwe has established a separate Program Management Unit (PMU) within the Country Office that is responsible for the day-to-day overall programme management of the HIV grant. Under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative and Deputy Resident Representatives, the PMU is responsible for a range of functions including coordination with country stakeholders (particularly the MoHCC and the National AIDS Council (NAC),financial management and reporting, compliance with Global Fund and UNDP policies, rules and procedures, risk management, procurement of health products, other goods and services, and strengthening the national pharmaceutical and laboratory supply chain systems, including the Solar for Health (S4H) initiative. The Global Fund grant is implemented in accordance with UNDP rules, policies and procedures, the grant confirmation, corporate agreements with the Global Fund and in close coordination with the national partners, including NAC, MoHCC, national disease programmes, NatPharm, NGOs, CSOs, communities, donors, technical partners and UN entities and the Global Fund (Local Fund Agent, (LFA)) and Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM).

Key tasks and responsibilities of the Communication Associate include:

Support communication and outreach/advocacy strategies and plans as outlined in the GC7 Communications Strategy

• Support implementation of communication activities as outlined in the GC7 Communication strategy and yearly workplans.

Participates to the development and dissemination of advocacy materials with the following key responsibilities:

• Research and draft content for various communication channels, including press releases, website content, social media posts, and internal newsletters;
• Support the engagement and supervision of video producers and other strategic enablers to produce audio/ visual material on UNDP’s work;
• Support the development of brochures, factsheets, and stories from the field to inform media and the public at the regional level;
• Provide support to Country Office (CO) communication team with timely content update on the Global Fund programme;
• Together with the PMU Communications Specialist, liaise with HHD/HIST Communication focal point to ensure adequate coverage of activities and advocacy initiatives at corporate level and in connection with the Global Fund.

Actively support media relations for the CO with the following key responsibilities:

• Support relationship building with press in country; maintain and update contact database of relevant press;
• Work closely with the PMU Communications Specialist, respond timely and clearly to media inquiries and information requests; prepare related correspondence; identify topics, background information, news-related development, and coverage of interest;
• Conduct comprehensive media monitoring to track project sentiment and key message resonance. Generate monthly reports summarizing media coverage, including social media engagement (both project posts and partner mentions) across all relevant platforms;
• Support facilitation of interviews with senior managers; connect media with UNDP’s subject experts.

Operational Support and Coordination

• Manage logistics related to the PMU communications department, including checking on budget lines, communications procurement, meetings, and maintaining databases of contacts;
• Coordinate the logistics for PMU communication events, such as media briefings and knowledge-sharing workshops;
• Archive PMU communication materials, e.g photos, in a way that is easily accessible and searchable;
• Respond to all internal inquiries related to communication policies, guidelines, and best practices.

• 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

Business Development

• Knowledge generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.

Business management

• Communication
  • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
  • Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skilfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed. 
     

Digital & Innovation 

• Behavior change communication/communication for development: 
  • Knowledge of appropriate digital communication methodologies for development and behavior change, and ability to apply them practically.

External Relations & Advocacy

• Advocacy strategy and implementation: Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change.
• Media relations: Ability to develop media relations across all aspects of media work including relationships with media and preparing media materials such as messages.
• Digital strategy: Ability to plan the use of resources through digital channels to reach and engage target audiences effectively and to achieve objectives.