Communications Officer (stakeholder management)

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Under the supervision of the Senior Project Manager, the Communications Officer (Stakeholder Management) will have the following responsibilities related to external and internal communications for the WERP, in full compliance with UNOPS rules, regulations and policies. Specific responsibilities and duties include but are not limited to: 

Summary of Key Functions  

1. Stakeholder management

2. Communications 

   1. Strategy and plan

   2. Content development and translation

3. Reporting/Knowledge Management

4. Partnership Development

5. Support

Stakeholder management

The WERP has multiple stakeholders that must be consulted, coordinated and kept informed. The responsibilities for this aspect include:

• updating and elaborating the stakeholder engagement plan

• Develop and maintain a database of WERP stakeholders, including the private sector companies targeted by the project, UN agencies active in solar power, irrigation and livelihoods, the DFA, relevant donors and iNGOs/NGOs

• arranging information sharing events for stakeholders

• preparing correspondence and arranging meetings with external stakeholders

• managing meetings and events, including sending invitations and arranging access for visitors, ensuring online meeting facilities are functional, presentations are projected, attendance lists maintained, attendees are welcomed, catering is arranged, IT support is arranged, reminders are sent, etc.

• preparing presentations for meetings and events

• preparing communication materials for meetings and events

• Preparing meeting notes and distributing approved notes/minutes

• Managing and tracking stakeholder engagement

• Cooperating with the community and beneficiary management teams and supporting stakeholder engagement needs of these teams.

Communications:

• Act as WERP Communications Focal Point, responsible for developing and implementing  an effective and quality communications strategy and work plan for WERP under the guidance of the Senior Project Manager.

• Monitor and follow the relevant UNOPS Communities of Practice and attend meetings.  

• Support the team leads and Project Managers, to organize audio-visual coverage (photography, videography) of project activities and achievements

• Ensure that all UNOPS communication guidelines are consistently applied across all WERP communication activities and outputs.

• Support project visibility activities.

• Brief The project manager and team regularly on ongoing communication activities and coordinate efforts to follow up on identified communications needs.

• Translate all materials for the team into Dari and Pashto.

• Manage external communications for all channels, including managing a communications content calendar. 

• Manage WERP’s social media accounts, ensuring regular updates and monitoring relevant posts and activities by key partners, including donors

• Ensure the visibility and communication requirements of donor/s are met.

Strategy and plan

• Update and elaborate WERP communication strategy and plan

• Contribute to the design and implementation of an external communications strategy for the project. The strategy should include objectives and outreach to all key stakeholders, including but not limited to the wider Interim Taliban Administration (ITA), the expected and actual beneficiaries, IDP/returnee displaced populations, the donor community, the media etc. Update and adapt the strategy as/when needed. 

Content development and translation

• Work closely with other colleagues in preparing and coordinating the production of communications materials for distribution to the media and other stakeholders, including local authorities, donors, partners, civil society organizations and the general public, as defined by the project’s communications strategy.

• Write and produce content, including  media releases/statements, press kits, Q&As, donor briefings, case studies/feature stories, photographs and videos, social media content, internal and external newsletters, etc.

• Develop brochures, posters, banners and other media for use in WERP communications, reports, meetings and events

• Work with the project team and donor in designing a logo for the project, and ensure the design is disseminated, protected and promoted by all stakeholders of the Project in representing the Program.

• Develop with relevant experts a website to house information related to the Project and keep the website up-to-date with latest content, including press releases and feature articles, for relevant WERP extra-/internet pages and social media, ensuring approvals from relevant managers and units for release and content

• Develop communication products and informative materials that meet the needs of all stakeholders, including print, radio and TV channels. Explore the outreach of the various channels and ensure contracting one with the widest coverage in the select Project coverage cities.

• Regularly update content on the Project’s social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages, ensuring they are both informative and attractive to the wider public audience and reflect the Program’s objectives, strengths and achievements.

• Prepare monthly feature stories and brief case studies of project accomplishments.

• Evaluate effectiveness and impact of the project’s external communications activities.

• Coordinate inputs from different teams and produce consolidated social media posts, factsheets, presentations and other written documents for internal and external use.  

Reporting/Knowledge Management:

• Maintain a directory of photographs, videos and audio recordings

• Produce and keep up-to-date communication materials and a photo library with project photos.

• Maintain an external communication registry for WERP project

• Contribute to communication outputs to share information about WERP projects and results achieved in liaison with relevant project and communication teams. 

• Suggest/write stories and topics from the work of WERP and its partners for publication in local and other appropriate media. 

• Prepare communication materials as required for events, mission travel and/or discussion with partners.

• Participate in relevant UN Afghanistan Working Groups or coordination mechanisms and provide necessary UNOPS inputs.

• Collaborate with relevant support services units to lead and manage the production and deployment of relevant resources, including booklets, briefing notes, posters and banners, through service providers such as audio-visual production companies, as well as printing and translation companies as required. 

Partnership Development: 

• In conjunction with the Head of the Partnerships Development Unit, develop the expression of interests, concept notes, and proposals for potential new projects and prepare budgets and costs for new project proposals.

• Support the coordination and participation in meetings with donors and partners and produce high-quality meeting minutes and action-oriented summaries.

• Conduct country-specific research and analysis on donor and partner focus areas, funding cycles, and processes and identify opportunities for AFCO project development.

• Support the Head of the Partnerships Development Unit in revisions of budgets, legal agreements, project scope and timelines as and when needed and in accordance with UNOPS internal controls and processes.

Support/Other Duties: 

• Support the participation and/or representation of the WERP at events and technical meetings as required.

• Other duties assigned by the supervisor.

a. Education

• A bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, Communications, Media, Social Studies, International relations or any related field is required.

b. Work Experience 

• A minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience working in the communications field is required. 

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and good attention to detail are highly preferred.

• Excellent planning and coordination skills are desired. 

• Experience in social media management is an asset. 

• Experience in the use of the Google Suite application is an advantage

• Experience in graphic design is desired. 

• Knowledge of the UN system is an advantage.

c. Language

• Fluency (oral and written) in English is essential. 

• Pashto and Dari languages are essential