Project Officer (Communications and Outreach)

Background

Bangladesh is undergoing a pivotal electoral transition with significant reforms aimed at restoring trust in democratic processes. The newly established Bangladesh Election Commission (BEC) has requested support from UNDP and international partners to strengthen its institutional capacity and deliver credible, transparent, and inclusive elections.

In response, UNDP is implementing a multi-year project. The Democratic Reforms through Inclusive Participation in Bangladesh (DRIP) project aims to advance a more inclusive and participatory democracy by ensuring that diverse voices—particularly those of women, youth, and socially excluded groups—are effectively represented in political, governance, and decision-making processes. The project emphasizes enhancing institutional capacities, generating data-driven evidence, and fostering civic engagement to support transparent, accountable, and inclusive electoral and governance reforms.

The project is structured around two key Outcomes:

• Democratic reforms and electoral processes are more credible, inclusive, and transparent.
• Research and evidence are generated and utilized to empower citizens in advocating for transparency, accountability, and inclusive electoral processes.

The DRIP project will be jointly implemented by UNDP and UN Women in collaboration with academia, think tanks, media, and a broad spectrum of state and civil society actors, including Women Rights Organizations (WROs) and Women-Led Organizations (WLOs). 
 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Officer (Communications and Outreach) will report to the Chief Technical Electoral Advisor (CTA) with dotted line management to the UNDP and UN Women Communications team and in close cooperation with other Project staff, will be responsible for managing the successful implementation of Communications and outreach activities of the Project.

Under the overall guidance of the Chief Technical Electoral Advisor (CTA), the Project Officer (Communications and Outreach) will provide high-quality professional communication expertise for the DRIP project.  

The Officer is expected to strengthen knowledge production, capture, and analysis; ensure internal and external knowledge sharing; streamline knowledge management and communications activities in annual work plans and participate in the project monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and case stories collection. S/he will be a member of the UNDP Country Office Communication Team.

The incumbent will be responsible for the following tasks:

External Communications and Visibility:

• Implement the project’s communications and outreach strategy in complementarity with the UNDP Bangladesh Country Office's broader strategic priorities as well as its External Communications Action Plan. 
• Undertake period review and updates of the project’s communications and outreach strategy in consultation with the project team to ensure its relevance to emerging priorities and needs on the ground.
•  Responding to requests for information from donor, media, government and general public regarding the development activity of the project by providing them with the document and/or facilitate their access to relevant information sources
• Monitoring local and international media and prepare clippings/records of project related news 
• Conceptualize and assist production of visibility materials
• Developing and maintaining a list of key journalists and other individuals in the prime target group to ensure wide and targeted distribution of information
• Providing stories and photographs for the UNDP Bulletin. 
• Developing concept notes, ToRs, budgets etc. for  organizing dialogues, workshops, seminars, study tours and other policy advocacy related events
• As a team member, organise regional and national policy dialogues, seminars, workshops, project missions and study tours 
• Prepare detailed reports on events including workshops, seminars, conferences, study tours etc
• Rapid translation from Bangla into English of the gist of key articles/documents that appear in the media or from stakeholders 
• Develop advocacy, visibility and promotional material that are necessary for the project in compliant with UNDP cooperate guidelines and donor visibility policies and procedures where appropriate.  
• Lead the design and development of necessary communications and awareness material/ documentation for wider dissemination and information sharing in coordination with government implementing partners. 
• Build partnerships and collaborate & engage with the media to improve the project’s external communications and visibility corresponding to its external communications and visibility strategy.  
• Draft press- releases,  case studies/ human stories, policy briefs, and video/ documentary scripts/ capture lesson learned to highlight and improve the project’s visibility on its achievements/ activities while also ensuring wider dissemination of these materials amongst like-minded audiences within Bangladesh and beyond.  
• Maintain and regularly update the project’s repository/archive of all communications material including photos, videos and audio. 
• Act as the project focal point for day-to-day coordination and collaboration with the UNDP Bangladesh Country Office Communications team and programme teams where appropriate.

Internal Communications:

• Develop/prepare content material for the UNDP Bangladesh Country Office website in close coordination with the project team and the Country Office Communications Team.
• Develop/prepare content for social media platforms relevant to the project activities in close consultation with the project team and the Country Office Communications Team.
• Draft and prepare internal communications material including blogs, newsletters, and related activities in close consultation with the project team and the Country Office Communications Team.
• Act as the project focal point for all internal communications-related tasks.

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

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Achieve Results: Level 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: Level 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements 
• Learn Continuously: Level 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: Level 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible 
• Act with Determination: Level 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: Level 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Level 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business development 

• Knowledge generation. Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication

Business Management

• Communication. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels. 

Knowledge Generation

• Business Development. Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for content, or responsive to a stated need

Communications    

• Campaign Management. Ability to produce and implement communications and outreach campaigns which lead to impactful change
• Creative direction and copywriting. Ability to creatively communicate concepts in an engaging and simple way
• Media Relations. Ability to develop media relations across all aspects of media work including relationships with media and preparing media materials such as messages 
• Multimedia writing/editing. Ability to create and/or edit written content for multimedia

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master´s Degree or equivalent) in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or relevant related field is required, OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Applicants with Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience.
• Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience at the national or international level in in Communication and Outreach/Branding. 
• Proven Ability to run communication campaigns and prepare visibility, and communication for development/social and behavior change.
• Experience of working with international/donor agency agencies in Bangladesh is preferred.
• Experience in managing media relations, digital campaigns, and public engagement strategies. 
• Technical knowledge on Adobe or any other design related software and previous experience in similar positions will be an advantage.
• Experience is social media management, including analytics and should have basic graphic design and multimedia skills using tools like Canva or Adobe Creative. 
• Ability to craft advocacy messages that resonate with different stakeholders, including policymakers, civil society, and marginalized communities. 

Required languages:

• Fluency in English and Bangla, both verbal and written is required. 

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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