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Strategic Communications and Coordination Consultant
senior · Consulting
Result of Service
Effective implementation of the UNCT-HCT strategic communications and visibility approach supporting the operationalization of the joint collective outcomes, with coherent, evidence-based and field-driven communication that demonstrates measurable results, strengthens visibility and supports advocacy, accountability, donor engagement and resource mobilization. The assignment will also strengthen knowledge management and presentation of results, including through dashboards and senior-level briefing products, and provide communications-led engagement and light substantive backstopping to Area-Based Coordination (ABC) and Durable Solutions processes.
Work Location
South Sudan
Expected duration
6 Months
Duties and Responsibilities
Background The UN Secretary-General launched on 1 January 2019 a bold and new global reform which repositioned the UN Development System to deliver more effectively and efficiently with the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. As part of this reform, UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO), under the leadership of an empowered and independent UN Resident Coordinator - the highest-ranking official of the UN Development System and Representative of the UN Secretary-General at country level - support countries in the achievement of their development priorities and the attainment of the SDGs. The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) in South Sudan have established a set of collective outcomes to sharpen focus and improve coherence across humanitarian, development and peace efforts. The collective approach is centered on improving resilience, self-reliance and protection for populations in targeted areas and is operationalized through priority areas including food security, essential social services, durable solutions, rapid response and protection, and peace, governance and justice. The approach places emphasis on measurable impact, stronger Government leadership and community ownership, area-based coordination, integrated delivery, and clearer demonstration of results. In a context of increasingly constrained official development assistance and humanitarian financing, strategic communication is also important to demonstrate impact and value for money, articulate results against realistic baselines, support coherent engagement with Government and partners, and make field-level progress more visible to national and international audiences. Duties and Responsibilities Under the overall guidance of the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator, day-to-day supervision of the Senior Nexus Coordinator and the Head of Resident Coordinator's Office, the consultant will lead strategic communications, visibility and engagement support for the UNCT-HCT collective outcomes. Working as part of the Area-Based Coordination (ABC) Secretariat within the RCO, the consultant will provide communications, knowledge management, advocacy and engagement support across the ABC network, helping connect state-level priorities, results and needs with national-level UN, Government, donor and partner engagement. The consultant will also support the Government-led National Technical Committee on Durable Solutions (NTC), which works under and provides technical support to the Durable Solutions Steering Committee (DS SC), including communications and advocacy support and engagement with relevant Government line ministries and partners. The assignment requires a high degree of initiative and independence in identifying communications and knowledge-management needs, coordinating inputs across stakeholders, and translating complex policy, programme and results information into high-quality strategic products with limited day-to-day guidance. • Lead the implementation and periodic refinement of the UNCT-HCT strategic communications and visibility plan, independently identifying communications priorities, opportunities and products in support of the joint collective outcomes. • Produce high-quality, targeted strategic communication and knowledge products, including briefs, presentations, human-centred stories, case studies, infographics, videos and social media content, translating complex programme and results information into clear products for senior leadership, Government, donors, partners and external audiences. • Analyse, document and communicate field-level implementation of the joint plan, including coordination missions, ABC meetings, community consultations and integrated service delivery, working directly with ABC coordination structures and partners to identify emerging results, challenges, lessons and opportunities. • Gather and promote compelling human-centred stories and case studies highlighting progress in areas such as local food production, restoration of essential services, durable solutions and strengthened protection mechanisms, including results involving women and youth. • Ensure consistent and coherent messaging across UN agencies and partners, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP), the Durable Solutions Strategy and humanitarian–development–peace nexus principles. • Lead the development and maintenance of relevant digital and knowledge-management products, including dashboards, senior-level presentations, visual reporting and a knowledge hub that consolidate, track and communicate progress across the UNCT-HCT collective priorities, including Area-Based Coordination and Durable Solutions. • Provide substantive communications support for key events, workshops, launches, high-level engagements, NTC and DS SC processes and field visits, including preparation of briefing packages, presentations, key messages, meeting materials and follow-up products. • Coordinate closely with the UN Communications Group and agency communications focal points to support joint messaging, media engagement and amplification of results at national and subnational levels. • Support local visibility and community outreach through appropriate channels, including radio, local media and community-based communication mechanisms, to strengthen awareness, accountability and trust in joint UN efforts. • Contribute to monitoring and reporting by developing communication metrics, consolidating inputs from UN agencies, ABCs and partners, and translating results data into accessible dashboards, visual products and lessons learned to inform adaptive messaging, advocacy and senior-level decision-making. • Strengthen communications partnerships with local authorities, civil society organizations and community networks so that messaging is context appropriate, culturally sensitive and supportive of localization. • Develop tailored communication materials and field-driven visibility packages that clearly articulate progress, challenges and impact across the collective priority areas and are accessible, evidence-based and suitable for national and international audiences. Maintain an overview of key developments across ABC and Durable Solutions processes and proactively identify results and issues requiring communications, advocacy or senior-level attention. • Serve as the ABC Secretariat focal point for strategic communications, visibility, advocacy and engagement across the ABC network, working with UNCT entities hosting and leading ABCs, NGO alternates and state-level coordination structures to identify communications, advocacy, external engagement and resource mobilization needs and provide tailored support to elevate state-level priorities, results and funding gaps through national-level Government, UN, donor and partner engagement. • Support the Government-led National Technical Committee on Durable Solutions (NTC), working under and in support of the Durable Solutions Steering Committee (DS SC), recognizing Durable Solutions as a cross-cutting priority across the ABC architecture. Support strategic communications and advocacy, engagement with relevant Government line ministries and partners, and preparation of dashboards, presentations, briefing packages and meeting inputs; coordinate relevant UN and partner contributions; and help communicate and follow up agreed priorities and actions. Work across UNCT ABC hosts/leads and NGO alternates to consolidate state-level results, priorities, implementation challenges and advocacy needs and strengthen the flow of information from state-level ABC processes through the NTC to inform the work of the DS SC. • Independently analyse complex information and coordinate multi-agency and ABC inputs to develop strategic products that support senior decision-making, advocacy, resource mobilization and external engagement with Government, donors and partners. • Lead communications support for donor engagement and resource mobilization across the UNCT-HCT, ABC and Durable Solutions portfolio, translating collective and state-level priorities, results and financing needs into compelling, evidence-based materials for donors and financing partners, including presentations, briefs, concept materials, results packages and other tailored products. • Support compliance with relevant donor communications and visibility requirements, working with RCO colleagues and partners to ensure funded activities are appropriately documented and communicated and that visibility and reporting products meet applicable requirements. • Provide substantive backstopping and continuity support to the Senior HDP Nexus Coordinator, maintaining an overview of key ABC, Durable Solutions and related UNCT-HCT workstreams and, during periods of absence or as requested, supporting continuity of routine coordination, partner engagement, meetings and agreed follow-up. This may include representing ongoing workstreams in established technical and coordination fora, while referring matters requiring management or policy decisions to the appropriate RCO leadership.
Qualifications/special skills
An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in communications, journalism, public relations, international relations, development studies, political or social sciences, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in strategic communications, public information, advocacy, journalism, external relations or a related field is required. Demonstrated experience producing high-quality communications products for complex humanitarian, development, peacebuilding or fragile-context programming is required. Experience translating technical and programmatic results into clear, compelling content for diverse audiences, including senior-level presentations, dashboards or other data-visualization and knowledge-management products, is required. Demonstrated ability to independently analyse complex information, coordinate multi-stakeholder inputs and produce strategic communications, briefing and presentation products for senior decision-makers and external audiences is required. Experience with multimedia content, digital communications and social media is desirable. Experience working with the United Nations, international organizations, NGOs, Government counterparts and/or donor partners, including coordinating inputs across multiple stakeholders with a high degree of independence, is desirable. Experience in South Sudan or a comparable fragile and conflict-affected context is highly desirable.
Languages
Fluency in both oral and written English is required.
Additional Information
Not available.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.