UNOPS helps its partners in the United Nations system meet the world’s needs for building peace, recovering from disaster, and creating sustainable development. UNOPS is known for its ability to implement complex projects in all types of environments around the globe. In an effort to promote organizational excellence, UNOPS seeks highly qualified individuals for the following position: Vacancy Details Vacancy Code
VA/2012/CLME/61655/ CA/02
Post Title
CLME Communications Assistant (CA)
Post Level
LICA-4(Support)
Project Title
CLME - Sustainable Management of the shared Living Marine Resources of the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem and Adjacent Regions
Org Unit
EMO IWC
Duty Station
CLME Project Coordination Unit, Cartagena, Colombia
Duration
01/08/2012 through 30/04/2013
Closing Date
15/06/2012
I. Background The GEF co-funded UNDP/IOC UNESCO/UNOPS Project “Sustainable Management of the shared Living Marine Resources of the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem and Adjacent Regions” (“CLME”) assists 20+ countries belonging to the Wider Caribbean Region in improving the management of their shared Living Marine Resources (sLMR), by creating the enabling conditions for improved regional governance and fisheries/natural resources management, using an ecosystem-based approach. The start of the CLME project activities on May 1st 2009 represented the culmination of over a decade of preparatory work: the project was created to respond to the serious challenges posed by the over-exploitation of fish-stocks, habitat degradation, increasing pollution levels and potentially negative impacts from climate change on the Caribbean Marine Ecosystem. The CLME Project has helped to assess and understand key problems and threats, as well as their causes, through the preparation of the “CLME Transboundary Diagnostic Analyses” (TDA). Preliminary TDAs elaborated during the project preparation phase identified three priority Transboundary problems affecting the CLME: (1) unsustainable exploitation of fish and other living resources, (2) habitat degradation and community modification, and (3) pollution. Updated TDAs were prepared during the first half of the CLME project, using a fishery ecosystem-based approach. In combination with key results from seven pilot projects and case studies, these updated TDAs now provide the basis for the development of a Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the sustainable governance and management of reef, pelagic and continental shelf ecosystems in the CLME. Upon its completion, the CLME SAP is to be endorsed by all participating countries, and will reflect a region-wide shared vision and action programme for the sustainable management of the CLME’s Living Marine Resources. It will describe priority interventions, reforms and investments which have been jointly identified and agreed upon by the countries, and which are to be executed during the (post-project) implementation of the SAP.
Within the Wider Caribbean Region, a total of 23 GEF-eligible countries, 2 associated states, several dependent territories, numerous national, regional or global organizations, and many sectors of civil society all have a stake in the Project’s field of work. For this reason, an urgent need has been identified to implement an effective communications strategy during the Project’s SAP development phase. The CLME Project Coordination Unit is therefore seeking to strengthen its operations through the incorporation in the regional Project Coordination Unit of a bilingual (English/Spanish) CLME Communications Assistant.
II. General scope of the assignment As a member of the CLME Project Coordination Unit (PCU), the Communications Assistant (CA) shall be responsible for the successful implementation of the CLME Project Communications Strategy. A targeted, realistic and effective CLME Communications Strategy, tailored to the available project budget, will be developed by the CA, in close coordination with key project partners. The developed strategy will be subject to formal approval by the CLME Regional Project Coordinator (RPC). The CLME CA will be based in the offices of the CLME PCU, located in Cartagena, Colombia, and shall report directly to the CLME Regional Project Coordinator (RPC) and/or Senior Project Officer (SPO). Through the Communications Strategy, key messages and important information on project progress and key outcomes will be: 1. collected from all key partners involved in the Project execution, such as: •
the CLME Project Coordination Unit (PCU);
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the CLME Strategic Action Programme Core Development Team (SAP CDT);
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the CLME Pilot Project and Case Study Implementing Agencies;
2. formatted “fit-for-purpose”, and shared in a timely manner with key project stakeholders, such as: •
the CLME National Focal Points (NFPs) and National Inter-sectoral Committees (NICs), and relevant high-level politicians and decision makers in all participating countries;
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relevant (regional/global) Inter-Governmental Organizations (IGOs) and or bi/multilateral agencies;
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the broader public having a stake in the topics covered by the CLME Project;
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others, as instructed by the CLME RPC and/or SPO
III. Specific Responsibilities •
Development and implementation of the CLME Communications Strategy, incl. the identification of key target groups and the development of adequate dissemination and exchange mechanisms for key CLME Project messages and info;
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Contributions to the ongoing improvement (as applicable: layout, functionality, content,…) of a revised, high-quality and well-structured CLME project website, to be based on the current CLME website (www.clmeproject.org);
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Periodic updating of the content of the CLME project website; proactive identification and/or contributions to the solution of website technical issues;
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Design and development of quality dissemination and/or consultation materials, such as briefing paper(s)/sheet(s) and/or brochures/newsletters/bulletins/experience notes (“How To…” guides), questionnaires, glossy executive summaries;
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Identification and collection of news relevant to the topics covered by the CLME Project; dissemination of relevant news to the CLME stakeholders;
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Development and maintenance of a database with all relevant CLME Project Key Partners & Stakeholders (incl. contact details);
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Ensuring the timely and adequate dissemination of the produced communication materials;
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(Supporting the PCU in) Liaising with CLME Pilot Project/Case Study implementing partners, participating countries and stakeholders, and with organizations running other CLME-related regional and global initiatives;
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(Providing assistance with the) Preparation of Terms of Reference (ToRs) for Consultants and Contractors, in those cases in which it is decided to contract external services for the implementation of specific parts of the Communications Strategy;
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(Minor) translation tasks, as deemed necessary;
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Formatting and style editing of project deliverables;
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Other related, ad hoc Projects activities, as instructed by the RPC and/or SPO;
IV. Qualifications Education and Work Experience
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Bachelor degree in one or several fields relevant to the position, such as: communication/social sciences, graphical design/editing, marketing and/or environmental sciences, or a combination of formal education and equivalent practical work experiences;
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Proven experience in the development and/or implementation of communications strategies, and the production and design of high-quality dissemination materials;
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Previous work experience in one or more of the CLME participating countries, and previous work experience in the region and/or on issues related to the Project and the position of Communications Assistant;
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Familiarity with the GEF, in particular its’ “International Waters” Focal Area and the concept of “Large Marine Ecosystems”, familiarity with regional organizations related to the CLME Project, and/or familiarity with the goals and procedures of international organizations such UNDP, IOC of UNESCO, etc., will be considered an asset
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Proven experience in the design, implementation, maintenance and periodic updating of websites will be considered an important asset;
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Knowledge of Image Editing/Design software packages (e.g. Photoshop) and user-level knowledge of HTML, XHTML, CSS, java, jquery and/or webpage development platforms such as Habitat, Plone, Joomla,…as well will all be considered as assets
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Experience in the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and web-based mapping/dynamic map visualization tools (e.g. google maps, others,…) will be considered an asset
Key competencies •
Fluency in spoken and written Spanish and English is an important requirement
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Knowledge of other regionally relevant languages will be considered an additional asset
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Adherence to UN Core Values: commitment to teamwork, accountability, creativity, client
orientation, continuous learning, technological awareness, openness to change and ability to manage complex situations, respect for diversity •
Good organizational, interpersonal and communication skills
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Ability to work under pressure and against tight deadlines
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Focus on results, and responding positively to feedback
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Consistently approaching work with energy and a positive, constructive spirit
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Good editing skills, with sense for detail
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Ability to work both collaboratively, as a members of a team, as well as to work independently within the assigned areas of responsibility (as applicable)
Submission of Applications • •
Interested and qualified candidates are invited to apply through the UNOPS online “GPRS” recruitment system: http://www.unops.org/english/whoweneed/Pages/Vacancies.aspx Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Additional Considerations • •
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for a telephone interview UNOPS reserves itself the right to appoint a candidate at a level different than the level advertised for the post
For more information on the CLME Project, please visit: http://www.clmeproject.org