I. Background Information on the Project:

The EU-UNDP Parliamentary Reform Project (PRP) is aimed at strengthening the functioning of the Ukrainian Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, its working bodies, MPs and Secretariat (VRU), to become a progressively more effective, accountable and transparent institution in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities of legislation, oversight, and representation with positive influence on the overall process of EU-Ukraine Association Agreement implementation. The project strategy is aligned with the priorities of the EU’s Single Support Framework for Ukraine 2018 – 2020, the Government of Ukraine – UN Partnership Framework 2018–2022, and the UNDP Country Programme Document 2018 – 2022. It is built on achievements and lessons learnt of the EU-UNDP Rada for Europe project (2016-2018) and will continue to support parliamentary reform, including through promoting the implementation of the recommendations of the 2016 Needs Assessment Mission (NAM). For the continuation of parliamentary reform, top level leadership and political ownership is key, which will be assured through continuous high-level consultations with relevant stakeholders and full transparency of project implementation.

The project is an EU-funded initiative strongly connected to UNDP’s Democratic Governance Programme and comprises of three components. Component One, #Rada4Reforms, will focus on fostering the parliament’s role in the overall reform process with a particular emphasis on improvement of the legislative process and parliamentary oversight, by providing comprehensive expert support to the implementation of the VRU Roadmap for Internal Reform and Capacity Building, improving the quality draft law expertise and impact assessment, and enhancing parliamentary monitoring.

Component Two, #RadaPro, will support the professional modernization of the parliamentary Secretariat, through the finalisation and implementation of its strategic development plan and comprehensive human resource development, including in the Committee Secretariats, along the lines of broader public administration reform (PAR) and the law “On Civil Service”.

Component Three, #Transparent&Service-OrientedRada, by making use of new technologies for communications, civic education and participation in coherence will build stronger transparency and accountability links between parliament and citizens with special focus of increasing public trust to the Ukrainian Parliament.

To provide more targeted support to parliamentary reforms the Parliamentary Reform Office (PRO) is established within the EU-UNDP Parliamentary Reform Project, serving as an advisory group to the Leadership and Secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (VRU) under the general supervision of the VRU Chairperson. PRO operates based on the Resolution of the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine “On Parliamentary Reform Office” and provides support to parliamentary reforms aimed at strengthening the functioning of the Ukrainian Parliament, including its Secretariat , as a progressively more effective, accountable and transparent institution in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities of legislation, oversight, and representation with positive influence on the overall process of EU-Ukraine Association Agreement implementation.

In this context, the United Nations Development Programme is recruiting an Expert on development VRU external communications with relevant experience and track record.

The Expert on development VRU external communications will be directly responsible for establishment of the VRU Press Centre, daily coordination of its work, relations with media based on tasks and principles of the Verkhovna Rada Communication Strategy. S/he will ensure that the information policies for parliamentary communications are well-coordinated among all parliamentary communication channels, such as the parliament’s media, the official website of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the website of the Chairperson and Deputy Chairpersons, the websites of committees, and pages in social media. S/he will contribute to enhancing capacities of the Press Centre to serve as a focal point in such communications and place for comfortable and operative work of journalists.

II. Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the coordination and supervision of the E-Governance and Transparency Specialist, as well as in close cooperation with appointed officials of the VRU Secretariat, the incumbent will perform the following functions:

• Provide assistance to relevant VRU Secretariat departments in developing and implementing the communications content plan for legislative activity of the VRU;
• Support to establishment and running of the VRU Press Centre;
• Provide assistance to relevant VRU Secretariat departments in managing a comprehensive open dialogue between key media and VRU leadership, Heads of VRU Committees; Heads of factions; experts and MPs;
• Expert support on official opening of the renovated VRU Press Center;
• Support to VRU in development and implementation of the annual work plan of the new VRU Press Centre;
• Develop draft legislation/regulations with  unified requirements for external communication by the VRU Committees, in close cooperation with VRU committee secretariats, the Information Department, VRU Press Service, and MPs;
• Support to VRU committees on external communication, based on the recommendations for unified communication requirements of VRU Committees;
• Develop recommendations for the draft VRU Communication strategy 2022-2026;
• Contribute to the preparation of the project’s progress reports and related monitoring meetings.

III. Measurable outputs of the work assignment:

PRO deliverables on development and implementation of VRU communications strategy in digital channels are timely achieved, with an emphasis on measurable results and quality, and properly reported, namely:

• Methodological and expert support to the launch of the VRU Press Centre provided – June 2021;
• Expert support to the VRU Secretariat on functional of the Press Centre in operational mode provided – May - August 2021;
• Expert support on official opening of the renovated VRU Press Center provided – June 2021;
• Work plan of the new VRU Press Centre for 2021 developed – June 2021;
• Draft legislation/regulations with unified requirements for external communication by the VRU Committees prepared – July 2021;
• Recommendations for the draft VRU Communication strategy 2022-2026 developed– August 2021;
• Communication plans for VRU committees, based on the recommendations for unified communication requirements of VRU Committees developed, and advisory support provided to the VRU committees regarding their implementation – July 2021.

IV. Performance Indicators for evaluation of results:

• PRO deliverables on development and implementation of VRU communications strategy through the Press Centre and VRU committees’ communications are timely achieved, with an emphasis on measurable results and quality, and properly reported;
• Number of press-briefings and other events for press themed on legislative process agenda arranged with direct engagement of the incumbent in the new VRU Press Centre;
• Coverage of major VRU activities by Media (number of articles, columns, etc. as the result of press-briefings and round tables organized by the Press Centre – minimum 3 per event);  
• Timely submission of the regular performance reports.

V.  Monitoring / reporting requirements:

Work-progress reporting/monitoring meetings will be held with the consultant on a regular basis. UNDP will be the final authority to control the quality and evaluate the work. No reports or documents should be published or distributed to third parties without approval of UNDP.

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the E-Governance and Transparency Specialist.

The consultant will interact with UNDP Programme Coordinator and CO staff to receive any clarifications and guidance that may be needed. He/she will also receive all necessary informational and logistical support from UNDP Country Office and the Project. On a day-to-day basis, consultant’s work will be supervised by the E-Governance and Transparency Specialist.

The satisfactory completion of each of the deliverables shall be subject to endorsement of the Programme Coordinator.

The Consultant will duly inform UNDP of any problems, issues or delays arising in the course of implementation of assignment and take necessary steps to address them.

All reports and results are to be submitted to the UNDP in electronic form (*.docx, *.xlsx, *.pptx, and *.pdf or other formats accepted by UNDP).

VI. Experience and qualification requirements

Education

• Master’s degree in journalism, political science, public administration, law, international relations, social sciences or related field;

Experience

• A minimum of three years of professional work experience in public and/or government relations and/or communications;
• Have proven experience (minimum 2 projects) in conducting similar works/projects relevant to the scope and size of the current project (drafting concept notes, development of strategies, communication plans etc with focus on cooperation with media);
• Experience in launching a press-office/press centre would be an asset.

Languages

• Fluency in Ukrainian and working level of English is required

Skills

• Excellent writing, communication and organization skills;
• Strong organizational and time management skills;
• Ability to work in team;
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Corporate competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

To view full vacancy description and to apply, please follow the link 

https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=98574