Communications Officer

The UN Resident Coordinator's Office supports the Resident Coordinator to full his function as leader of the UN Country Team (UNCT) to strengthen coordination of UN operational activities and UN assistance with national priorities. Its mission is to maximize the impact of the work of the United Nations to ensure that the UN system provides collective, coherent and integrated support to national development priorities, plans and strategies, within the framework of the 2030 Agenda and its associated Sustainable Development Goals as well as other international commitments. The RCO ensures that all UN entities engaged in a country, regardless of their physical presence, are included in UN strategic plans and analyses.

The newly established UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO)/Multi-Country Office (MCO) is based in Kolonia, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and comprises a team of national and international staff focusing on strategic planning, joint analyses, supports joint UN operations, communications as well as partnerships and development finance. The MCO Micronesia oversees five Pacific Small Island Developing States (Pacific SIDS or PSIDS), namely Palau, FSM, Marshall Islands, Nauru and Kiribati. The MCO Micronesia supports the realization of regional priorities as defined in the UN Pacific Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2023-2027) (CF) which outlines the UN’s programme in the region and is actioned at the country level through the Country Implementation Plans (CIPs). The MCO Micronesia is represented in all these countries in the form of an United Nations Country Coordination Specialist.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Head of the Resident Coordinator’s Office or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Communications Officer will:

Summary of Functions:
1. Plans and facilitates strategic advocacy and programme communications in support of the UNCF
• Provides substantive support to the Resident Coordinator (RC) and UN Country Team (UNCT) in designing, implementing and monitoring the UN joint advocacy and communication strategy, promoting the UNCF as the primary instrument for the planning and implementation of UN development activities in the country, in support of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
• Researches, analyzes and presents inputs to the RC and UNCT on strategic advocacy and programme communications for the 2030 Agenda and to boost impact of programmatic objectives under the UNCF;
• Plans and facilitates the promotion of advocacy and communications as a tool for a participatory approach to UNCF implementation and monitoring, reflecting the views and priorities of people, including those left farthest behind;
• Monitors and analyzes the media in the areas related to the UN’s mandates and programmes in the country, as well as other issues relevant to the UN brand and positioning;
• Provides substantive support to the RC and UNCT on public messaging and media outreach, and assists in managing reputational risks or crises around sensitive issues;
• Identifies and assesses potential issues, concerns and risks related to communications and advocacy, and suggests corrective actions to the RC and UNCT, UNPS Coordination Group and Results Groups;
• Plans and facilitates the work of the UN Communications Group throughout the stages of the UNCF cycle;
• In collaboration with the UN Communications Group and the UNPS Coordination Group, and in coordination with the RCO colleagues responsible for data management and results reporting, prepares the annual communication plan to publicize and communicate results with a focus on the UN’s development impact;
• Assists the RC and UNCT in projecting the UN’s image effectively and accurately as well as promoting transparency and accountability;
• Provides substantive support to ensure that communication performance indicators are identified, incorporated, monitored and reported on throughout the UNCF cycle.

2. Contributes to partnership building and media relations
• Plans and facilitates the engagement of key traditional and non-traditional partners, including government, civil society, private sector, development partners and others new as well as traditional actors on the collective 2030 Agenda and the related role and impact of the UN’s work in country;
• Provides substantive support to the RC and UNCT in significantly expanding public outreach on the 2030 Agenda and the UN’s role and impact in country;
• Plans and facilitates public engagement on the UN’s role and work in country, including through programme visits showcasing the UN’s development impact;
• Undertakes regular liaison with other partners for content development, information exchange, collaborative communication efforts, and innovative communication and advocacy tools, as assigned;
• Compiles and analyzes communication experiences and shares findings with country, regional and HQ communication colleagues so that best practices benefit the UN’s communication work;
• Develops and maintains close working relationships with the media, including editors and journalists in key national and international news outlets; develops, maintains and updates media relations contact list/database;
• Prepares official briefing materials, talking points, speeches, statements, op-eds and presentations as necessary.

3. Plans and facilitates digital communications
• Develops and maintains external and internal digital communications platforms such as the UN country team website, official UN country team social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc.), Intranet and on-line collaboration platforms, etc.;
• Plans and facilitates the development and implementation of a digital content strategy and contributes to the development of key communications and advocacy products (e.g. human-interest stories, multilingual and multimedia content, etc.).
• Conducts exercises exploring the applicability of new and emerging tools and techniques to digital communications and advocacy activities to reach a wider, younger audience.

4. Provides substantive support for publications and branding management
• Provides substantive support to the RC and UNCT on joint UN publications ensuring high quality standards and the correct application of the UN branding guidelines and the UN publishing standards.
• Prepares inputs for the RC and UNCT on the use of the UN joint brand at country level across UN content and products, both offline and online.
• Plans and organizes launch events for joint UN publications, coordinating with author entities in the UN country team and relevant local partners, including host country authorities, media representatives, members of academia, etc. to ensure high visibility and impact.

5. Plans and facilitates the local promotion of United Nations global communications and advocacy priorities on the work of the United Nations in other key thematic areas
• Provides substantive support to the United Nations Department of Global Communications in adapting and localizing global communications and advocacy priorities promoting the work of the United Nations in key thematic areas.
• Advises the Resident Coordinator on possible sources of funding and in-kind support and partnerships that could be leveraged for promoting localized global campaigns, galvanizing local, regional and global support as relevant.
• Conducts educational outreach activities, including the organization of Model United Nations conferences and public-speaking engagements at local educational institutions with support from and/or the participation of the Resident Coordinator and/or the UN country team.
• Evaluates results and impact of communications and advocacy initiatives promoting the work of the United Nations in key thematic areas other than development, reporting the outcome to the Resident Coordinator, the UN country team and the United Nations Department of Global Communications.