Under the overall supervision of the Director of the UNDP Resilience Hub for Africa,  and the direct supervision of the Resilience Portfolio Adviser, the Partnerships and Communications Specialist will undertake the following responsibilities:

Build Strategic Partnerships and Strategic Engagement

• Support the design and implementation of a partnership and advocacy strategy for the Resilience Hub, articulating UNDP’s value proposition to development partners, governments, regional institutions, and the private sector.
• Facilitate and strengthen strategic partnerships with UN entities, Regional Economic Communities, the African Union, international financial institutions, bilateral donors, foundations, think tanks, and civil society organizations.
• Participate in technical-level inter-agency coordination forums and partner engagements, as required, to advance UNDP’s resilience agenda.
• Promote internal coordination across UNDP units, including Country Offices, the Regional Bureau for Africa, the Global Policy Network, and the Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy, to ensure coherence in partnership engagement.

Provision of Resource Mobilization Support

• Support in the development and implementation of a resource mobilization strategy for the Resilience Hub, including annual action plans and other relevant documentation.
• Contribute to the identification of funding opportunities aligned with the Hub’s portfolio, including climate finance, blended finance, and impact investment instruments.
• Assist in tracking commitments, pledges, and grants supporting resilience programming and in maintaining engagement with funding partners.

Communications, Visibility, and Knowledge Management

• Support the development and implementation of a communications and visibility strategy for the Resilience Hub, including digital platforms, publications, and social media.
• Contribute to storytelling, advocacy materials, and knowledge products that showcase results, innovations, and lessons from resilience programming across Africa.
•  Coordinate with programme teams to ensure consistent branding and effective dissemination of portfolio achievements to internal and external audiences.
• Support cross-regional and Africa-wide knowledge exchange by liaising with UNDP teams in headquarters and regional hubs.

Provision of Substantive and Technical Support

• Provide substantive input to partnership and communications activities related to sustaining peace, stabilization, climate-security, and inclusive livelihoods.
• Ensure that partnership and communications outputs are gender-responsive and reflect the needs and perspectives of vulnerable and marginalized groups.
• Perform other related duties within the functional profile as required for the effective functioning of the Resilience Hub.

Strategic Positioning, Advocacy, and Executive Support

• Support the strategic positioning of the Resilience Hub as a regional and global platform for resilience programming, resilience finance, and integrated corridor-based development.
• Contribute to the preparation of high-level advocacy and positioning materials, including briefing notes, talking points, presentations, and background materials for senior UNDP leadership engagement with partners and stakeholders.
• Support the organization and coordination of strategic events, partner consultations, and high-level engagements that advance the visibility and positioning of the Resilience Hub.
• Contribute to strengthening UNDP’s institutional narrative on resilience, climate adaptation, and integrated development approaches, ensuring alignment with corporate priorities and regional programme frameworks.
• Support strategic communications related to major institutional milestones, programme launches, partnership announcements, and programme results.

Partnership Intelligence, Monitoring, and Institutional Learning

• Support the development and maintenance of partnership intelligence and tracking systems, including databases of partners, engagement pipelines, and partnership outcomes.
• Contribute to the monitoring and reporting on partnership engagement outcomes, including resource mobilization progress, partnership milestones, and strategic engagement effectiveness.
• Support the preparation of internal reports and updates related to partnerships, communications, and advocacy activities.
• Contribute to strengthening institutional learning by documenting lessons learned, good practices, and partnership models that support scaling of resilience programming.
• Support alignment between partnership strategies, communications efforts, and programme priorities to ensure coherent and effective institutional positioning.

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

Institutional Arrangement and Reporting Lines 

The Partnerships and Communications Specialist will work under the overall guidance of the Director of the UNDP Resilience Hub for Africa, with direct supervision of UNDP Resilience Portfolio Adviser and in close collaboration with the programme teams within the Hub, UNDP Country Offices, and relevant regional and global UNDP units. 

The incumbent shall also discharge duties and responsibilities in close collaboration with the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), the Bureau for External Relations (BERA) and the Crisis Bureau (CB) as well as clients of the UNDP Resilience Hub. The required qualifications and experiences are described in the sections below

Business Management

• Results-based Management - Ability to manage the implementation of partnerships and communications strategies, with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.
• 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 channel.
• Portfolio Management- Ability to select, prioritise 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

Partnership Management    Emerging Partnerships    

• Ability to engage with emerging partners, develop and manage a strategy and develop approaches
  to developing and managing these new strategic partnerships

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in International Relations, International Development, Communications, Political Science, Social Sciences, or a related field is required. 
• A first-level university degree in a relevant field, in the areas stated above, combined with two additional years of qualifying experience, will be considered in lieu of an advanced degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressive professional experience in partnerships development, communications, resource mobilization, or related functions at national, regional, or international level.