Communications Specialist

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands was designated by the UN Secretary-General as his Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA) in 2009 and since then has been an active global voice on the importance of financial inclusion in support of positive development outcomes and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Building on this work, in September 2024 the UN Secretary-General designated Queen Máxima as his Special Advocate for Financial Health. As part of this renewed mission the UNSGSA will catalyze and promote the design, delivery, governance and provision of financial solutions that help mainly households and individuals to manage daily expenses, withstand financial shocks, achieve their financial goals, and gain confidence in their financial lives. The renewed mission further highlights the importance of financial health in achieving positive development outcomes and the SDGs in an increasingly digital economy and the in the face of multiple crises (e.g.: climate, FCV).

The UNSGSA is the Honorary Patron of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) and Global Agenda Trustee of the World Economic Forum. The UNSGSA also engages with the financial standard setting bodies (SSBs) so that their work takes into account the advancement of Financial Health around the world. She also convenes a Group of Friends of the UNSGSA composed of UN Permanent Representatives of key countries (co-chaired by Indonesia, Peru, Tanzania) who helped promote financial inclusion in the context of UN processes at UN headquarters in New York.

The UNSGSA collaborates closely with an advisory Reference Group of leading international organizations including the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Better Than Cash Alliance, the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), The World Bank Group (including the International Finance Corporation), the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Flourish Ventures. 

The UNSGSA works in partnership with leaders from governments, regulatory agencies, international organizations, the private sector, including financial service providers around the world. The UNSGSA regularly meets clients of financial service providers, the ultimate beneficiaries of UNSGSA advocacy. The UNSGSA actively participates in high-level global meetings and events, undertakes country and regional visits, holds bilateral meetings, supports or takes part in key convenings (such as delivering speeches, messages, or quotes), facilitates strategic working groups, and engages through various communication channels (including interviews, op-eds, and podcasts). By doing so, the UNSGSA has gained a unique and strategic position as a preeminent global advocate of financial inclusion and financial health. The UNSGSA calls attention to the necessary public goods and infrastructure, the enabling policies, and regulations, and required action on the part of both private and public sector to promote inclusive financial systems and financial health. Though financial inclusion and financial health are global agendas, the UNSGSA places special attention to underserved segments such as women, smallholder farmers, low-income households, and microentrepreneurs. The UNSGSA’s supports evidence-based decision making through tools such as World Bank Global Findex and the IMF Financial Access Survey which provide key statistics to inform action and monitor progress of financial inclusion.  The UNSGSA will continue to support such efforts in order to provide a robust analytical and quantitative underpinning to the new financial health agenda. 

An Office of the UNSGSA was established at UNDP headquarters in New York to support Her Majesty in her outreach, communications, advocacy and representation functions. The Office is hosted and administered by UNDP’s Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA). Under the strategic guidance of UNSGSA and oversight of the BERA Assistant Secretary- General and Director of BERA, the Director manages the Office of the UNSGSA and its staff to support the UNSGSA’s functions.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Director, the Communications Specialist designs, manages and facilitates the implementation of the communications and publication strategies to raise awareness of the activities of the UNSGSA and her office. The incumbent will carry out their functions in collaboration with the Dutch Royal House staff in The Hague, particularly the press office and the private secretary to Her Majesty.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
 

• Determining strategic direction and objectives of UNSGSA communications work in coordination with the Office Director and Programme Specialists, and the Royal House.
• Develop and keep updated annual work plan, annual event and editorial calendar.
• Reviewing and executing communications procedures ahead of all UNSGSA engagements. 
• Regularly assessing the Office’s communications needs and priorities and adjusting the overall communications strategy with the objective to maximize the appropriate visibility and effectiveness of UNSGSA advocacy.
• Track communication outreach analytics and adjust communication strategy and tools accordingly.
• Keep up to date with key trends in the Financial Health eco-system.

Lead the creation and dissemination of content:

• Oversee and populate content across all communications platforms (e.g.: X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube) ahead of, during, and after UNSGSA engagement.
• Draft press releases announcing UNSGSA engagements (in coordination with The Hague).
• Support Programme Specialists and Office Director with drafting and editing speeches and high-level talking points for the UNSGSA.
• Write or contribute to news stories, speeches, talking points, briefs, press releases, letters, and any written content needed by UNSGSA office. 
• Oversee and manage the UNSGSA social media accounts with guidance and input from the Director of the Office of the UNSGSA and in coordination with the Programme Specialists.
• Seek opportunities for strategic media engagements (e.g., interviews, special coverage) with international journalists/media outlets for the UNSGSA. This includes project management (including outreach, managing dialogue with publication, logistical considerations) and developing talking points (in close coordination with Programme Specialists).
• Lead the production of the UNSGSA’s annual report, including coordinating content, photography, design and printing. Develop and implement dissemination plan for Annual Report, including email and social media outreach. 
• Manage editorial quality assurance—accuracy, clarity, consistency, tone, visual presentation, timeliness—of print and online content, including fact-checking, copy editing, proofreading as needed. Ensure consistency of messaging and branding in line with communications strategy.
• Oversee all aspects of UNSGSA website: e.g. update content, include overviews of country visits, speeches, appearances, and other activities. Manage any needed structural or design updates, working with external website designers; take lead on adding written and visual content to website using content management system. Seeking input and guidance from the Director of the UNSGSA and in coordination with the Programme Specialists.
• Guide and manage external communications consultants, including web and print designers, photographers.

Advise and enhance partner engagement and strengthen awareness of Financial Health and of UNSGSA brand.

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with partner organizations supporting the UNSGSA’s advocacy efforts and leverage those communications connections to help expand awareness and amplify the UNSGSA’s messages.
• Share information with team and external stakeholders and coordinate with partners to disseminate news where appropriate.
• Track stakeholder engagement and partner activities and share information internally on events and media coverage relevant to the office.
• Collaborate with The Hague on media outreach. 
• Collaborate with UNDP and other UN partners to strengthen media opportunities and coverage, especially during country visits.
• Supervise database and help expand contacts list, as appropriate.

Other functions:

• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: 

• None

Achieve Results

• LEVEL 3:  Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.

Think Innovatively

• LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.   

Learn Continuously

• LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.

Adapt with Agility

• LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands. 

 Act with Determination

• LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.    

Engage and Partner

• LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.  

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

• LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

People Management:

• UNDP People: Management Competencies can be found on the dedicated site. 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Communications - Advocacy, Strategy and Implementation        

• Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change

Communications - Brand and quality management          

• Ability to position the UNSGSA brand and uphold it to a high level of quality

Business Direction and Strategy - System Thinking           

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Management - Communication              

• Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience: 
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Partnership Management - Relationship management  

• Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

Digital - Data storytelling and communications  

• Skilled in building a narrative around a set of data and its accompanying visualizations to help convey the meaning of that data in a powerful and compelling fashion.

Business Management - Portfolio Management 

• Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity 
• Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.