Communications and Reporting Specialist

Description:

Devolution Trust for Community Empowerment (DTCE), a registered not-for-profit organization (for details, please visit www.dtce.org.pk) is UNDP’s implementing partner for the Flood Affected Communities Engagement for Recovery (FACER) project.  The project duration is 14 month and geographical area includes 29 worst flood affected districts of Pakistan and AJK.  The three strategically interlinked project outputs are:  Restore access of citizens to public services through One‑Window-Operation (OWO) facilities, including desks at district, tehsil and union council levels for citizens to have lost documents re-issued; support the re‑establishment of community organizations, including women’s groups, to restore social cohesion and promote citizens participation in planning and decision-making; and establish citizen protection desks at local courts and bar associations to provide legal aid.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Communications and Reporting Specialist will work under the overall guidance of Project Manager is responsible for conceptualization, planning, execution, monitoring and evaluation of an advocacy and communication strategy for the Project as well as for DTCE.  The purpose of the advocacy and communication strategy is to inform all concerned including the policy makers, development partners, general citizens about the need, achievements, challenges, lessons learned and best practices of the Project and DTCE.  Specifically, the incumbent will undertake the following tasks:

• Review project initiatives and interventions from advocacy and communications perspective and develop communications action plan/strategy.
• Keeps abreast of social and political developments in the country that affect the project, activities and principles and informs the office in a timely way.
• Prepares information materials (e.g., press releases, programme summaries, human interest stories, etc.) to facilitate advocacy and fundraising activities in support of the Project and DTCE.
• Produces various knowledge products signifying the Project’s and DTCE’s key successes, lessons learnt, best practices and their impact on the Project’s and DTCE’s target beneficiaries.
• Based on the initial survey and assessments, develops a communication plan to get flood affectees’ issues into the public domain.
• Design and prepare quantitative monthly, quarterly, annual and end-of project progress reports against the approved work plan.
• Design and prepare qualitative reports on various aspects of the project.
• Develops close collaboration with mass media through activities such as organizing visits to project sites, facilitating photo coverage and TV footage, and utilizes both web-based and traditional media, when appropriate, to generate and maintain public interest in flood affectees’ issues.
• Develops partnerships with individuals, groups and organizations whose support is essential to the achievement of advocacy and communication objectives.
• Advises the Project Manager on the effective use of tools of mass communication, including press briefings and conferences and media interviews, to achieve the Project and DTCE programme objectives.
• Works closely with the Media and Communication Unit and provide strategic advice.
• Perform any other special assignment at the request of Project Manager.
• Undertake any special work assigned by Chief Executive Officer

Qualification and Experience

• Be a Pakistani;
• He/She must have at least 5 years of progressively responsible work experience in the fields of communication/media and reporting writing in the area of development cooperation.
• Broad knowledge of relevant thematic areas, such as, social mobilization, human and legal rights/protection, gender, social exclusion, lobby and advocacy etc.
• Working knowledge of citizen entitlements under LGO 2001 will be an added advantage. Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• The suitable candidate must possess a Master Degree in Communication, Public Relations or equivalent professional work experience in the communication area combined with a Master degree in a related discipline.

Language and Other Requirements:

• He/She must have complete command over the English language and possesses impeccable verbal and written communication skills
• Must be able to communicate effectively with staff at all levels of the organisation and is outgoing and comfortable in handling external relations at all levels