Malawi has made significant progress towards its democracy since the introduction of multiparty elections in 1994 holding successive rounds of concurrent parliamentary and presidential elections. Local elections were, however, held only in 2000 and subsequent re-elections postponed since 2005. In November 2012 a constitutional amendment was passed by Parliament to pave the way for Malawi’s fifth round of national elections to become inaugural tripartite (Presidential, Parliamentary and Local) elections in May 2014. The decision occurs, however, following a suspension of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) in 2010/2011 and the appointment of a new Board of Commissioners and Chairperson in 2012.
UNDP and other development partners are supporting the MEC in its preparations for these landmark polls in 2014, as well as ongoing institutional development throughout the 2013 to 2016 electoral cycle. Through the 2013-2016 elections project UNDP is committed to strengthening the capacity of the MEC to organize and conduct the elections, ensure broad inclusiveness and informed participation among citizens and key stakeholders in a peaceful and fair election process with emphasis on promoting the participation and engagement of women, youth and those living with disabilities and marginalized groups. The main objectives of the project are to support the MEC to plan, conduct and supervise free and credible tripartite elections, and to develop the institutional capacity of the MEC to minimize the need for external technical assistance in future elections.
Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Resident Representative, the position reports to the Senior Elections Advisor and works closely with MEC staff as part of the UNDP Technical Advisors Team. The position reports to the Senior Elections Advisor to advise and assist the MEC on external liaison activities and public information outreach campaigns. This is a Development Project Funded Position.
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Provide technical advice and expertise on design, development, and maintenance of external liaison framework for electoral stakeholders.
- Support the MEC and advise on identifying priority objectives in developing its public outreach, including civic and voter education strategies and campaigns, underscoring the importance of broader democratic participation, inclusivity in the democratic process, as well as key election-specific information and messages;
- Facilitate MEC’s efforts to develop targeted public outreach activities through both mass media and local initiatives, including rationale, budget and other required resources, timeline and delegation of responsibilities;
- Determine appropriate media for reaching out to the public and design strategies for reaching target groups.
- Provide technical assistance on the development and elaboration of an appropriate framework of events and processes for MEC and electoral stakeholders;
- Guide the analysis, design and conceptualization of public information campaign and outreach strategies.
- Technical backstopping in the conceptualization and design of informational materials for information campaigns, as well as their associated operationalization;
- Assist and advise on the development, scheduling and management of meetings and events to support external liaison with stakeholders, such as, political parties, CSOs, media, election observer groups;
- Support the MEC in the development of protocols and materials to coordinate, inform and manage international and national election observer missions;
- Advise and assist on the integration of gender and vulnerable group issues into the MEC’s public information campaigns and external liaison activities.
Provide advice and expertise in the delivery of public information, campaigns and outreach activities.
- Assist in the coordination of external relations and outreach activities for elections;
- Provide technical support for the development of informational materials, such as, internal newsletters and fact sheets;
- Monitor the implementation of the planned outreach activities for elections, and advise on the possible solutions and intervention areas in events of emerging challenges;
- On a regular basis, evaluate the progress of planned outreach activities and compile lessons learned for future outreach activities;
- Analyze, develop and draft briefing and issue papers for public outreach activities and external liaison;
- Prepare and deliver briefings and reports, as required.
Transfer and strengthen the technical skills and capacities of MEC in the areas of external liaison and outreach activities.
- Conduct a capacity analysis of MEC in the areas of external liaison and outreach activities;
- Provide day-to-day mentoring and advice to MEC counterparts on external liaison and public outreach issues, and as required, identify capacity development needs, recommend training needs to fill gaps, and develop and deliver targeted training seminars to MEC staff where necessary;
- Ensure transfer of technical skills through the identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to elections activities;
- Monitor practices, and project-specific news and developments in order to ensure guidance to the MEC office that reflects the best and most current available information;
- Organization and provision of training, mentoring and advice to MEC staff on communications, publications and external liaison activities.
Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing between MEC, UNDP and other stakeholders.
- Sound contributions to UNDP knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories;
- Provide regular written reports on the status of the basket fund;
- Liaise with and maintain regular contact with UNDP CO staff, Development Partners, and MEC staff;
- Successes and best practices generated and communicated with MEC, UNDP, and other key stakeholders with regard to elections;
- Providing specialist advice on a timely basis to UNDP on significant policy measures;
- Support the development guidelines and methodologies for the dissemination of information to key stakeholders.
- Promotion of South-South collaboration in support for exchange of information and experience with other countries.
- Facilitate and maintains strategic partnerships for elections;
- Development of partnerships for achieving the expected outcomes and outputs of the approved elections project;
- Facilitate the coordination of partnerships with bilateral and multilateral donors, government institutions, private sector, CSOs and other stakeholders;
- Preparation of briefings on possible areas of cooperation and identification of opportunities for cost-sharing;
- Creating high-level advocacy on relevant policies and programmes in relation to the elections.
Impact of Results
The impact of results of this position is to strengthen the MEC’s capabilities to ensure robust engagement with electoral stakeholders and to deliver and manage public information campaigns in support of inaugural tripartite elections.
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Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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;
- Sensitivity to local culture, customs and traditions and excellent interpersonal skills.
Functional Competencies
Technical Knowledge
- Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the issues and challenges related to the external liaison and outreach for elections;
- Exhibits a good knowledge of institutional development and capacity building issues;
- Displays process, transparency and accountability in the country;
- Computer literacy.
Knowledge Management and Learning
- Shares knowledge and experience;
- Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.
Development and Operational Effectiveness
- Ability to mentor and transfer skills to MEC staff;
- Ability to undertake a variety of standard tasks related to external liaison and public information campaigns;
- Demonstrated knowledge of public information campaigns, media management and external liaison;
- Excellent knowledge of gender mainstreaming;
- Excellent writing and drafting skills.
Leadership and Self-Management
- Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
- Ability to effectively operate in multi-cultural environment;
- Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
- Focuses on the results of the team;
- Good communication skills.
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