Required Tajik, English and Russian:

Background

The UNDP Country Office in Tajikistan, together with Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, is launching a large-scale project “An integrated landscape approach to enhancing the climate resilience of small-scale farmers and pastoralists in Tajikistan” funded by Adaptation Fund.

The objective of the project is to enhance the livelihoods of the small-scale farmers and pastoralists living in the Kofirnighan River Basin (KRB) under future climate change conditions. Such conditions are expected to include increased frequencies and intensities of extreme climate events such as intense rainfall, rise in air temperatures, and accelerated glacial melting. As a result, hydrometeorological disasters such as droughts, floods, mudflows and landslides are more frequent and rates of soil erosion across the country are increasing. The socio-economic impacts of these changes are considerable: livelihoods, agricultural productivity, water availability and hydroelectricity production are all compromised.  

The overarching approach of the project is to employ integrated catchment management approaches within KRB. To this end, a climate-resilient catchment management strategy will be designed for the basin which will enable national rural development planners, local government and local communities to manage a wide range of climate risks. Three interrelated outcomes within the project will contribute to achieving this objective, namely: i) catchment management strategy to manage climate risks operationalised at raion and jamoat levels in the KRB; ii) an integrated approach to building the climate resilience of agro-ecological landscapes operationalised at village level; and iii) existing knowledge management platforms supported for integrated catchment management and ecosystem-based adaptation.

The project will be nationally implemented (NIM) by the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan with support from the UNDP, in line with the Standard Basic Assistance Agreement (SBAA, 1993), the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2016-2021 signed between the UN and the Government of Tajikistan, and the UNDP Country Programme Document 2016-2021 signed between UNDP and the Government of Tajikistan.

The Project Safeguard Officer will report directly to the Project Manager (PM) and will work under an overall guidance of the UNDP Team Leader/Climate Change, DRR, Energy and Environment. He/she will support the PM in delivering on the envisaged project results and activities as defined in the Annual Work Plan in accordance with partnerships, quality criteria, budget levels and timeline in the project documents.

The Project Communication Officer will work in close collaboration with the Committee for Environmental Protection along with UNDP Programme, Operations, Communications and other project teams in the UNDP Country Office (CO) for effective achievement of results, anticipating and resolving complex project related issues. The incumbent is expected to exercise full compliance with UNDP programming, and administrative rules, regulations, policies and strategies.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Project Manager, the Communications Officer will have the responsibility for leading knowledge management outputs in Component 4 and developing the project communications strategy at the project outset and coordinating its implementation across all project components. The Communications Officer will work closely with the M&E Officer on knowledge management aspects of the project. Specific responsibilities will include:

·        Develop a project communications strategy/plan, incorporate it with the annual work plans and update it annually in consultation with project stakeholders; coordinate its implementation

·        Coordinate the implementation of knowledge management outputs of the project;

·        Coordinate and oversee the implementation of public awareness activities across all project components;

·        Facilitate the design and maintenance of the project website/webpages and ensure it is up-to-date and dynamic;

·        Facilitate learning and sharing of knowledge and experiences relevant to the project;

·        Communications strategy overview, goals, methodology, targeted audience and approach;

·        Communications measures and specific communications activities based on project components and its activities;

·        M&E table highlighting indicators for evaluating each activity;

·        Perform other related duties and activities as required, etc

Competencies

                                                                                                                                                       People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)

Delivery

Ability to get things done

Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)

Technical/Functional

Results-Based Programme Development and Management; Contributing to results through provision of information

• Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation
• Provides background information to identify opportunities for project development and helps drafting proposals

Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)

Building Strategic Partnerships; Maintaining information and databases

• Analyzes general information and selects materials in support of partnership building initiatives
• Maintains databases of donor information
• Tracks and reports on mobilized resources

Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position;
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
• Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools, and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)

Client Orientation; Maintains effective client relationships:

• Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion;
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;
• Responds to client needs promptly.

Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

·        University degree in a relevant subject area;

Experience:

·        Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience of communications work for project or programme implementation, ideally involving international donors. Previous experience with UN projects will be a definite asset;

·        Previous experience in developing and implementing communications strategies for organizations or projects;

·        Strong professional working capacity to use information and communications technology, specifically including website design and desk top publishing software;

·        Understanding of climate change adaptation, sustainable natural resource management, environmentally sustainable livelihoods and associated issues;

·        Very good inter-personal skills

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in Tajik, Russian and English languages mandatory. 

IT skills:                                                                                                                                 

·        Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages. Experience in handling of web-based management systems is a strong advantage.

Other:

• Strong sense of integrity is essential;
• Strong communication and reporting skills and ability to work in a team.