Співробітник/ця з комунікацій

The Communications Associate is expected to support the UNDP “Strengthening MSME Business Membership Organizations in Ukraine” project within the Inclusive Development, Recovery and Peacebuilding Portfolio.

Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) have a major role to play both in enhancing Ukraine’s economic competitiveness and restoring sustainable growth since they largely dominate Ukraine’s economy in terms of a number of entities, employment and value added. According to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, in 2018, the country had only 446 large enterprises and 1,839,147 MSMEs, which constituted over 99.9 percent of all operating entrepreneurship. In 2020, the number of MSMEs increased to 1,973,065 with the share of about 99 percent of micro- and small enterprises among them.

In 2018, the MSME sector in Ukraine accounted for more than 81 percent of all employment creating 77.4 percent of jobs. The share of value added increased from 64.3 percent in 2018 to 70.2 percent in 2020 meaning that MSMEs must have a voice in shaping the business environment in Ukraine.

Yet MSMEs are those that are mostly affected by incomplete reforms and fluid frameworks. In the context of the “Strengthening MSME Business Membership Organizations in Ukraine: Phase II (2019-2023)” Project, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is intervening for 48 months to design and deliver tailored capacity development support to selected BMOs representing different macroregions and sectors of Ukraine to help strengthen their institutional/organizational/financial capacities to represent interests of the private sector and facilitate a more active, responsive, professional and policy-oriented dialogue between public and private sectors. The Project is also addressing important cross-cutting challenges for economic development in Ukraine such as women’s economic empowerment and promoting sustainable practices among MSMEs.

On 24 February 2022 Russia launched a full-scale and unprecedented war against Ukraine, causing disruption in business activity, damage to people, cities and infrastructure, and having a devastating impact on Ukraine’s economy. Results of the surveys conducted among Ukrainian MSMEs during spring 2022 show that about 50 percent of enterprises operated at only 10-60 percent capacity of the pre-war level as of mid-April 2022. They also confirm that MSMEs are more susceptible to the shocks caused by the war than large enterprises (only 14 percent of MSMEs operated at full capacity versus 41 percent of large enterprises as of mid-April 2022.

The Project is viewed as a continuation of Phase I implemented by UNDP in Ukraine in 2015-2018, incorporating relevant lessons learnt and introducing adjustments that will enhance the overall positive influence on the MSME sector. The Project is being implemented by connecting three components targeting improvement of organizational capacity of BMOs, better MSMEs’ access to BDS through BMOs and engagement in an effective public-private dialogue between the private sector and government side.

Communications Associate (CA) recruited for the “Strengthening MSME Business Membership Organizations in Ukraine” project will be responsible for all aspects of communications and advocacy activities within the project. S/he works in close collaboration with the Project team and the UNDP Ukraine CO.

Under the guidance of the Project Manager, the incumbent will perform the following functions to provide communications and outreach support to the “Strengthening MSME Business Membership Organizations in Ukraine” project.

• The CA will assist Project Manager in the proposal development stage to identify appropriate communication activities for the project;
• The CA will ensure that relevant advocacy/information materials such as Press releases, Articles, Interviews, Human Interest Stories, project reports, factsheets, infographics, videos etc. are developed and disseminated to target groups through relevant media and network channels;
• Logistical support to the organization of publicity/outreach for the knowledge-sharing events and promotional opportunities related to project implementation;
• Establish good collaboration with the media by sharing communication materials, facilitating photo coverage and utilizing both web-based and traditional media as appropriate;
• Monitor and evaluate the use and effectiveness of media materials. Maintain a library of media coverage, clippings etc. related to the projects;
• The CA will develop and archive communication materials, including digital, such as publications, press releases and clippings, photographs, audio-visual materials, web resources etc.;
• Collection of information, preparation of content for UNDP CO website and digital media platforms in two (2) languages (English and Ukrainian);
• Preparation of Media coverage for the projects’ activities;
• The CA will provide support to the preparation of briefings and regular meetings with the national and international partners, UN Agencies and media;
• Administrative and logistical support to the CO communications team, including for initiatives such as media workshops, press briefings, project visits, report launches, etc.;
• Production of printed communication and advocacy products related to projects’ implementation;
• Participation in training for the CO staff and project personnel on effective communications and advocacy;
• The CA will provide support to advocacy efforts and campaigns by organizing public events and drafting briefing materials and press releases;
• The CA will design terms of reference for and supervise work of consultants and commercial companies designing awareness-raising products.

• 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

• Data Storytelling and communication: Skilled in building a narrative around a set of data and its accompanying visualizations to help convey the meaning of that data in a powerful and compelling fashion.
• Behaviour change communication/communication for development: Knowledge of appropriate digital communication methodologies for development and behaviour change, and ability to apply them practically
• Event planning and execution: Ability to plan, manage and execute of public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP’s overall brand and mandate.
• Public relations: Ability to build and maintain an overall positive public image for the organization, its mandate and its brand, while ensuring that individual campaigns and other communications and advocacy initiatives are supported in reaching the public
• Graphic design: Ability to communicate visually and create appealing UNDP graphic products
• Media Relations: Ability to develop media relations across all aspects of media work including relationships with media and preparing media materials such as messages
• Social Media management: Ability to represent and promote the UNDP brand in virtual communities and networks

• Secondary Education.
• Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Advocacy, Public Affairs and other related fields would be desired.

• Minimum 7 years (with Secondary education) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in communications, public relations and administration.

Required Skills:

• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.).
• Experience in handling of web-based management systems;
• Experience in social media management (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.). 
• Basic knowledge in graphic design.

Desired Skills:

• Experience in organizing the social media campaigns or similar.
• Basic knowledge of the Adobe software packages, including Adobe InDesign, Adobe Premier, Adobe Illustrator (CorelDraw), Adobe Photoshop, etc., will be an asset.
• Experience in communications targeting private sector.
• Familiarity with UNDP rules and regulations will be considered as an advantage.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and Ukrainian (written and spoken). 

Institutional Arrangement

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Communications Associate supports the implementation of the communications and advocacy activities related to projects’ implementation. The Communications Associate promotes a client-oriented approach in UNDP. The Communications Associate works in close collaboration with the Programme, Operations and Project staff of the Country Office, as required.

Required Documents

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
• A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
• Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.