Electoral Communications and Capacity Building Expert

Mission and objectivesThe United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges to help empower lives and build resilient nations. As a trusted, long-term partner of The Global Fund (GF), UNDP’s value proposition lies in providing an integrated package of development solutions to strengthen institutions to deliver health services. Through its contributions as interim Principal Recipient (PR) and provider of technical assistance in over 53 countries since 2003, UNDP’s provision of integrated policy, implementation and capacity development support to countries has yielded significant health and development results in challenging operating environments. Proactive risk management and investing in sustainability are the cornerstones of UNDP’s portfolio management approach and providing technical assistance to national counterparts during all phases of implementation, strengthening legislation, policies and regulatory frameworks, and building capacities across key functional areas, including financial management, health information systems, procurement and supply chain management.

ContextAfter the passage of a comprehensive electoral and political reform in 2023, followed by a National Referendum in May 2024, Vanuatu has entered into new phase of implementing these reforms, which provide for greater independence to electoral management bodies, introduces more modern and inclusive electoral management, regulation and registration of political parties. The Vanuatu Electoral Environment Project (VEEP) has been providing technical assistance to Electoral Commission, Vanuatu Electoral Office and Civil Registration and Identity Management (CRIM) Department since 2016. The third phase of the project “VEEP III” builds on previous electoral assistance to Vanuatu with the objectives of consolidating the achievements of previous electoral assistance and to further the democratic development of Vanuatu. The project will do this by further strengthening the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Vanuatu Electoral Office (VEO) to more effectively implement their newly independent mandate, and ensure inclusive, transparent, and credible electoral processes and by improving the institutional environment and practice of democracy. The project strategy is twofold: (i) to support the positive growth of the institutional environment: the laws, rules, and regulations of the democratic processes; and (ii) to empower the agency of stakeholders: notably the Electoral Commission / VEO on one hand and individual citizens and civil society organizations on the other. In this regard, VEEP III will support to the EC/VEO, to work in partnership with key stakeholders, including with civil society organizations, to improve voter education and to maintain trust in the electoral and broader democratic system. The VEEP III project has the following objectives: 1. Provide services to support all citizens, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups, to be increasingly aware of elections and the importance of democratic practices and processes 2. Voter register kept accurate and updated with every eligible voter registered 3. Political parties operate within the legislated regulatory environment 4. Effective and efficient electoral governance with less reliance on external assistance

Task DescriptionElectoral Communications and Capacity Building Specialist will report to Chief Technical Specialist (CTS). Following the programmatic lead of Chief Technical Specialist (CTS), Electoral Communications and Capacity Building Specialist will perform the following functions: 1. Strategic Communications • Support the Electoral Commission and Vanuatu Electoral Office in designing and implementing of a comprehensive Communications Strategy, including strategies for internal and external communications, outreach, social media engagement, and regular production of communications and information material; • Recommend and develop strategies for Vanuatu Electoral Commission and Vanuatu Electoral Office to enhance and maintain communication with stakeholders including political parties, the media, civil society and donor partners; • Support the VEO in creating strong partnership with the NGOs and CSOs that are involved in voter and civic education and election observation, and in strengthening collaboration with the political parties and the media; • Support EC and VEO in undertaking civic and voter education activities in the communities in collaboration with stakeholders. • Organize planning, designing, printing and distribution of media and civic and voter education materials on behalf of the project and support the VEO in undertaking similar initiatives and delivery of products; • Ensure that human interest stories of beneficiaries, including vulnerable groups (women, PwDs, and youth), are developed, disseminated, and communicated on a regular and priority basis; • Support the project in promoting coverage of all the elections related events and field visits; • Support the project team to develop donor communication plans and conduct activities to strengthen partnerships with donors and ensure visibility. 2. Capacity building and knowledge programmes • Prepare a capacity development plan for Electoral Commission and Vanuatu Electoral Office, taking into consideration the need of the potential candidates, political parties, and others as appropriate; • Contribute to, capacity-building of national counterparts and strengthening of national institutions working in electoral realm; • Strengthen VEO capacity to effectively manage decentralization and institutional growth; Ensure project support in establishing a portfolio of inter-regional activities, including study-tours and participation in international electoral observation; • Advise and support the VEO in the development of plans for the training of electoral personnel and the strategic of capacity buildings of its members at the central and provincial levels, budgeting and implementation in collaboration with partners; • Support the VEO in creating a Documentation and Resource Archive (DRA) and to subsequent enrichment of the DRA; • Advise and assist the VEO in the process of developing and updating the content of the training materials of the different levels, (cascade training) of election staff members, supervise the quality of training provided, and the drafting of final reports on training, support the organization of evaluation seminars and the evaluation of quality and impact of training, including the development of indicators on methodology. 3. Gender Mainstreaming and Inclusion • Develop plans to engage women, youth and people with disabilities and others who have been traditionally underrepresented to encourage and empower them to seek political participation, including through political party nominations; • Develop baselines and targets for enlarged participation (candidates for nominations); • Develop training of trainer’s strategies, approaches and methodologies focusing on engagement and empowerment of potential women, youth and PWD candidates; • Recommend and ensure the application of national and international best-practice in the subject areas and generate knowledge-based products, drawing on global, regional and thematic policy and advisory support resources within the UN, UN Women and UNDP, iKnow Politics and others; • Monitor and document the experiences and achievements of capacity development initiatives in supporting women, youth and PWD nomination through political parties’ structures and processes as well as through other partnerships; • Lead the development of high quality knowledge products on women’s political participation. Ensure the substantive quality of all knowledge products, reports and services, and ensure effective integration and compatibility with other practice areas.

Competencies and values• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

Living conditions and remarksVanuatu is a beautiful island with well security situation, with access to air travel, medical facilities, banking facilities, communications infrastructure. Vanuatu is a unique country with a unique (humanitarian) operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential. You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator . The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.\"