UNDP Hiring “Project Communications Associate” at Islamabad || July-2025
Job Opportunity at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Pakistan), Islamabad.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, working across 170 countries and territories to help build inclusive, resilient, and sustainable communities. UNDP partners with governments and citizens to develop local solutions to global challenges, promoting human development and long-term impact.
UNDP Pakistan is currently seeking applications for the position of Project Communications Associate, based in Islamabad.
Details are as follows:
Position Title: Project Communications Associate NPSA-6
Location: Islamabad
Vacancy Type: National Personnel Service Agreement
Practice Area: Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery
Contract Duration: 1 Year with Possibility for extension
Project Background:
UNDP’s country programme document for Pakistan envisions that all Pakistani people are educated and healthy, their well-being promoted and protected through economic opportunities, jobs and a climate-resilient future in a country where women and girls are safe and able to exercise their rights and to put their trust in and benefit from improved governance.
Resilience, Environment and Climate Change Unit (RECCU) is supporting projects across the country to respond to the growing threat of climate change, to mainstream environmental concerns into national development planning processes, and to expand access to environmental and energy services for the poor. In particular, UNDP has sought to ensure that the poor have stronger capacities to manage, adapt, and monitor climate change. Climate Change is a huge development challenge as well as a huge environmental challenge. It is a growing problem and is now hitting the poorest and the most vulnerable first and hardest.
The 2022 floods in Pakistan have affected 33 million people, resulted in the loss of more than 1,700 lives, displaced around 9 million men, women, and children, and inundated almost one-third of productive agricultural land in Pakistan. These downstream challenges are compounded with institutional issues whereby the Government of Pakistan requires support for developing overarching frameworks to structure its flood response activities and technical expertise to set up and develop bankable projects, establish standardised mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation, and enhance strategic communications for public outreach.
UNDP has responded to the challenge by developing and launching a flagship Flood Recovery Programme (FRP) to support the Government of Pakistan’s flood recovery and rehabilitation efforts. The Programme has four key objectives dealing with the following thematic areas:
- Restoration of housing and access to/revival of essential community services.
- Restoration of livelihoods and income-generating capacities.
- Restoration of governance and service delivery.
- Accelerated environmental clean-up with strengthened capacities for Disaster Risk Management.
Required Skills and Experience:
Education:
- Higher Secondary (12th grade) education is required. OR
- University degree (bachelor’s degree) in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Development Studies, or equivalent field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement
Experience:
- A minimum of 6 years (with high school diploma) or 3 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in communications is required.
- Experience in the use of computers and software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) as well as web-based management systems is required.
- Experience in the use and handling of social media and digital communications tools is required.
- Proven experience in translating complex technical or policy information into engaging content for diverse audiences, including the general public, donors, and local communities is desired.
- Demonstrated experience in drafting/ writing content for project reporting, press releases, policy briefs, website/ social media in a clear and concise manner is desired.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate with vendors, printers, media agencies, and creative consultants, including drafting scopes of work and managing deliverables will be an asset
- Strong organizational and stakeholder coordination skills, including experience in planning and supporting high-level meetings (e.g., project boards, donor briefings, stakeholder consultations), with demonstrated ability to prepare agendas, briefs, talking points, and event communications materials is desired
- Fluency in written and spoken English and Urdu language is required
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Project Communications Associate will support the Flood Recovery Programme’s strategic outreach, external communications, and stakeholder engagement across all workstreams. The incumbent will work closely with programme implementation teams and the Communications Unit of UNDP Pakistan to: a) develop and execute communication strategies and products; b) enhance donor visibility and media outreach; c) foster multi-level stakeholder engagement and knowledge sharing; and d) support the production and dissemination of results-driven communication outputs.
The Project Communications Associate will be directly responsible for completing the below set of tasks within allotted, agreed-upon time frames:
Coordinate the development and implementation of a comprehensive communication strategy and plans for FRP, focusing on the achievement of the following results:
- Contribute to planning and design of internal and external strategies for communications and outreach, including design and implementation of the programme Communications, Outreach and Visibility Strategy, with detailed annual plans in line with UNDP Pakistan CO Communications Strategy and donor agreements.
- Conduct programme-wide communications needs assessments, identifying potential opportunities for outreach and engagement in coordination with the programme implementation and M&E team.
- Draft annual and quarterly communication work plans in coordination with the FRP programme team.
- Coordinate the management and oversight of work plan and budget utilisation for FRP communication activities in close coordination with the programme team.
- Develop communication and advocacy materials for outreach, awareness-raising and stakeholder engagement, including briefing, media and communication materials (including press releases, talking points, project briefs and factsheets).
- Develop and apply basic tools to measure reach and effectiveness of communication products and campaigns (e.g., media coverage tracking, social media analytics, feedback loops), and suggest improvements based on data-driven insights.
- Facilitate preparation and clearance of all electronic and print products (press releases, event programmes, knowledge products, etc.) for events at national, provincial and local levels;
- Coordinate procurement requests for implementing communication activities, including drafting relevant Terms of Reference, technical specifications, and requests for quotations;
- Oversee, track and monitor the work of vendors and other suppliers to ensure timely production and high quality of communication products;.
- Coordinate with the UNDP Communications Unit to ensure adherence to Country Office requirements regarding all communication and outreach plans and products.
Facilitate reporting and effective communications on FRP activities, progress and results, focusing on the achievement of the following results:
- Prepare and/or oversee the preparation, design and production of all project communications and outreach materials.
- Ensure that all communication materials and activities meet donor visibility requirements and UNDP branding guidelines, including the placement of logos and the use of appropriate language, as specified in agreements or communication protocols.
- Ensure that information and data from the field are captured, documented, analysed and reported in a results-based and timely manner.
- Identify storylines and achievements within the FRP for online and print publications; draft success stories and learning products as needed;
- Undertake field visits as appropriate to document the implementation of programme activities with a ‘communications lens’ to ensure visibility and sharing of best practices, preparing case studies and success stories;
- Prepare and disseminate both routine and specialised outreach products that promote the strategic and timely flow of information and key messages about FRP products and results for internal and external users;
- Prepare quarterly newsletters, success stories, press reports, press briefings, and project presence in social media and UNDP corporate networks through preparation and regular review and updating of content;
- Prepare clear and concise reports and PowerPoint presentations for various meetings, workshops, and conferences, including the Project Board meeting and donor briefings.
- Collaborate with FRP M&E team to synthesise lessons learned, best practices, and field data into digestible communication formats (e.g., infographics, knowledge briefs) for internal and donor reporting;
- Contribute to content for donor reports and learning sessions, ensuring visibility of project results and impact stories.
Support FRP’s multi-level stakeholder engagement efforts, including engagement with donors, project beneficiaries, external partners and implementation teams:
- Under the guidance of the Programme Manager, support the development and rollout of FRP’s external stakeholder engagement strategy at local, provincial, and national levels in collaboration with field teams.
- Coordinate field-level community mobilisation and awareness efforts, ensuring that messaging and materials are culturally appropriate and accessible.
- Adapt communication content to diverse audiences (beneficiaries, partners, media, etc.), ensuring clarity and consistency across channels.
- Support the organization of FRP Project Board meetings and other high-level strategic engagements, including preparation of briefs, talking points, visual materials, agendas, and minutes.
- Coordinate the design and dissemination of information materials for stakeholder dialogues, learning events, donor field visits, and public campaigns.
- Liaise with provincial and district-level government counterparts, NGOs, and community groups to enhance programme understanding and uptake.
- Maintain a stakeholder contact database for targeted dissemination of newsletters, updates, and invitations to key events.
- Support visibility and branding requirements at joint events and public communications involving UNDP, government, and donors.
Support FRP knowledge building and knowledge sharing, focusing on the achievement of the following results:
- Maintain FRP library/ database of reference materials, photos, and digital assets.
- Liaise with project implementation, M&E and other relevant teams to record and consolidate data from various internal and external sources and maintain an updated information database;
- Liaise with relevant UNDP Country Office teams (such as the RECCU and the Communications Unit) to ensure smooth reporting and knowledge management of project visibility and other related materials.
- Coordinate the translation, adaptation, or rewriting of information received for the local context; disseminate materials to appropriate stakeholders.
- Upload communication products and materials to the FRP workspace at UNDP SharePoint;
- Support the development of user-friendly, visually appealing and innovative knowledge, research and communication products to highlight key features and achievements of FRP’s work; suggest further areas of improvement for overall project reporting and communication.>
Last Date to Apply: 16 July, 2025
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Note: UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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