Communications Specialist

Mission and objectives

UNODC's Border Management Branch (BMB) delivers collaborative and comprehensive border management technical assistance to Member States.

Context

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is the global leader in the fight against illicit drugs, organized crime, corruption and terrorism with widely recognised expertise and specialization on issues about international cooperation in a variety of criminal matters. A number of conventions, treaties, and international instruments guide UNODC’s work such as; including the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), Convention against the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988), the Compendium of UN standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice, International legal framework against terrorism, including 19 international legal instruments. UNODC supports the implementation of global commitments such as the Global AIDS Strategy 2021 – 2026 and its Unified Budget, Results and Accountability Framework (UBRAF), 2021 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS’ as related to HIV among these key population groups, focusing on ending inequalities that drive the AIDS epidemic and prioritising people who are not yet accessing life-saving HIV services. The work of UNODC supports countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3.3 to end AIDS by 2030, SDG 5 to ensure gender equality, SDG 10 to reduce inequalities, SDG 16 to ensure access to justice, and SDG 17 to foster partnerships across sectors, including enhancing cooperation and engagement with civil society and community-based organizations. UNODC Programme Office in Ukraine (POUKR) works on countering organised crime, corruption, drug control, firearms control programmes, border and container control programmes, cybercrime prevention programmes, and criminal justice reform. Effective visibility ensures that stakeholders, including the government, law enforcement, civil society, and the public, are aware of these efforts. It helps in advocating for policies and reforms that align with international standards. Many of UNODC POUKR activities rely on donor funding; thus, good visibility showcases progress and impact, reinforcing donor confidence and encouraging sustained financial support, highlighting transparency and accountability in how resources are used. Improved visibility will foster stronger partnerships with national and international actors, government agencies, NGOs, and private sector stakeholders, and ensure alignment with broader UN and EU initiatives in Ukraine. Engaging the public through media, reports, and events increases trust in UNODC’s mission, delivers proper information and shapes public understanding of UNODC’s achievements and ambitions. Taking into account the war, humanitarian concerns and related worsening in criminal and social spheres, good understanding and transparency are crucial to communicating urgent needs, mobilising resources, and ensuring coordinated actions of UNODC POUKR with other international and national partners.

Task description

The assignment aims to provide services to the UNODC team and to manage all types of communication to raise the visibility and presence over social media and other similar information-sharing platforms, websites, news feeds, etc. and apply other communication and partnerships for both national and international users of the UNODC office in Ukraine. UNODC uses external communication and public relations to strengthen its visibility, resource mobilization and to enhance the efficiency of the UNODC’s support to national counterparts within responses in line with its mandate. The role of external communication and public relations communications is to promote effective work in line with the SDGs and UNSDCF priorities, as well as to address the needs that may arise. Under the supervision Head of Office, in coordination with national personnel of UNODC POUKR, the guidance of Advocacy Section in UNODC HQ and technical staff in UNODC, the UNV expert will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Update the design of the UNODC Ukraine website in line with UNODC HQ guidance and standards, including Ukrainian language version.

• Manage and keep working on the UNODC POUKR account on the platforms, upload and manage information materials, communicate with the platform visitors, and reply/keep on comments/feedback.

• Following UNODC communication rules, develop the plan including

- the list of platforms/web resources and other online/web-based sources that will be used;

- the rationale for their selection;

- what audience is expected to be reached out to,

- timeframe,

- effectiveness evaluation criteria (platforms/web resources inbuilt analytic tools).

- describe how the data will be collected and crosschecked, analyzed, and reported.

- Create step-by-step guideline on the platform use

• Develop and design short films, podcasts, web stories, leaflets, banners, visuals, tweets, posts, any other communication material for the UNODC Programme Office in Ukraine.

• Develop communication/information strategy advice/concept notes/plans and similar products upon request of UNODC POUKR responsible staff.

• Take preparatory/coordination sessions with related POUKR personnel before/during communication/information sessions and other activities towards external users, propose/accept inputs from the POUKR team

• Advise/create/share/support and manage any online or offline information materials/training/presentations/leaflets/visuals, posts, tweets and so on, and propose the most effective forms of communication

• Collect data and report on the social media effectiveness/dynamics, and propose its effectiveness improvement

• Familiarize oneself with the materials to be shared

• Maintain contact with the visitors of websites, platforms, and other UNODC POUKR sources

• Assist in developing project proposals, concept notes, and reports for stakeholders, ensuring that financial projections and grant monitoring processes are accurately followed and reported

• Assist in the strategy development and resource mobilization efforts within UNODC’s partnerships portfolio

• Contribute to the development of engagement strategies and donor mapping/partner profiles within the POUKR portfolio, ensuring a cohesive and strategic approach to partnership engagement.

Qualification Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in communications, website design, public relations, social media management, social science or another relevant field.
• Fluency in Ukrainian and English
• At least seven years of professional work in respective spheres (public relations, social media management, international relations, communications, social science, or other relevant field)
• Good skills in video shooting and editing, photography shooting and editing, strong user of MS Office media set, Adobe Photoshop and similar applications.
• Strong communication and coordination skills, analytical capacities, and the ability to provide coherent support is required.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.); familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.
• Proven ability to deliver a substantial part of capacity building training on communication and social media management will be an advantage.
• National experience is mandatory, international experience, preferably in low- and middle-income countries, is desirable.
• Practical experience of creating communication messages/campaigns/visuals/promotions targeting decision-makers, families, people, and youth affected by drug use disorders is desirable.

Allowances:

• Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): A Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) USD 2076 (equivalent in UAH) is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities, and normal cost of living expenses. This includes Well-Being Differentials for the period, while the ICSC applies hardship classification to duty stations in Ukraine as “E”.

• USD 400 entry lump sum, one-time payment. Medical and life insurance:

• Medical insurance: The UN Volunteer and eligible PFU dependents will receive UNV-provided medical insurance coverage. Coverage for UN Volunteers begins from the Commencement of Service and normally ceases one month after the last day of the UN Volunteer Contract date.

• Life Insurance: UN Volunteers are covered by life insurance for the duration of the UN Volunteer assignment. If a UN Volunteer dies during the UN Volunteer assignment, the eligible designated beneficiaries will be entitled to receive a life insurance lump sum.