Associate Communications Officer, SA-TIED (P-2)

About UN University (UNU)

The United Nations University (UNU) is a global think tank and postgraduate teaching organization within the United Nations System. UNU engages in policy-relevant research, capacity development, and knowledge dissemination in furtherance of the purposes and principles of the United Nations. The work of UNU contributes to solving pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.

For the past five decades, UNU has been a source of impartial research on sustainability, human security, and economic development. With hundreds of researchers working at institutes in 12 countries, UNU's expertise spans the full breadth of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU collaborates closely with other UN entities and leading research institutions across the globe. For more information, please visit http://unu.edu

About Institute (UNU-WIDER)

UNU-WIDER is one of 13 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system. 

UNU-WIDER is a leading international development economics research institute. The Institute provides economic analysis and policy advice with the aim of promoting sustainable and equitable development for all. The Institute began operations in 1985 in Helsinki, Finland, as the first research centre of the United Nations University. Today, it is a unique blend of think tank, research institute, and UN agency — providing a range of services from policy advice to governments, as well as open-access original research. More information on UNU-WIDER and its current work programme are available at www.wider.unu.edu.

UNU-WIDER is implementing a large research, capacity development, and policy engagement programme in South Africa, called ‘Southern Africa – Towards Inclusive Economic Development (SA-TIED)’ in close collaboration with the National Treasury of South Africa and the South African Revenue Service. SA-TIED brings together world-class researchers and policymakers to address socio-economic challenges in South Africa, and across the broader southern African region. A key focus of SA‐TIED is its partnerships with the policy‐making community. The main aim of the programme is to generate robust empirical evidence and use it as a basis to encourage informed debate amongst people involved in policy processes across the participating organisations and civil society to bridge the gap between research and policy‐making. The programme played an important part in making anonymised administrative tax data available for research purposes at a Secure Data Facility at the National Treasury (NT-SDF), which is now a key asset in the programme. The availability of administrative tax data for research has enabled groundbreaking avenues of research, has provided new perspectives on the South African economy and has dramatically improved the quality and breadth of evidence used to inform policy. For more information  on SA-TIED, please visit https://sa-tied.wider.unu.edu/.

The position is based in Pretoria and requires on-site presence in this location. Some travel activity in this position is expected.

Responsibilities

The Associate Communications Officer supports the planning and implementation of communications, research uptake, and stakeholder engagement activities for the SA-TIED programme. Working closely with researchers, policymakers, and communications colleagues, the incumbent help ensure that programme evidence is translated, disseminated and used by policymakers and other target audiences to strengthen evidence-informed policymaking in South Africa and the wider region. The position combines strategic communications, knowledge translation, policy engagement, monitoring of research uptake, and support to learning and adaptive programme management.

Under the overall supervision of the UNU-WIDER Head of Partnerships and Programme, the general responsibilities of the Associate Communications Officer, SA-TIED are to:

1. Research uptake strategy and stakeholder engagement

• Contribute to the design, implementation and continuous refinement of the SA-TIED Research Uptake and Communications Strategy to maximise policy influence and programme impact;

• Map policy stakeholders, target audiences and influence pathways;

• Identify strategic windows of opportunity for policy engagement and advise researchers and programme management on timing and approaches for communicating evidence;

• Support the development of audience-specific engagement approaches;

• Advise researchers on uptake opportunities throughout the research cycle;

• Ensure communications activities support programme outcomes and policy engagement objectives;

• Coordinate uptake activities with National Treasury, SARS, universities and development partners.

2. Knowledge translation and communications

• Work closely with researchers throughout the research lifecycle to ensure communications and uptake considerations are integrated from project inception through dissemination;

• Translate complex economic research into accessible policy products;

• Coordinate and contribute to the production of policy briefs, evidence summaries, explainers and multimedia products;

• Draft speeches, talking points and messaging for senior management;

• Produce web, social media and media content;

• Support conferences, policy dialogues, learning events and dissemination activities;

• Ensure consistent branding and quality across programme outputs.

3. Monitoring research uptake, learning and adaptive management

• Support the development and maintain a research uptake monitoring framework, including indicators, evidence of influence and lessons learned;

• Monitor communications analytics and policy engagement metrics;

• Document examples of policy influence and institutional change;

• Collect stories of change and lessons learned;

• Analyse uptake data and propose improvements;

• Contribute to donor reporting on communications activities and programme impact.

4. Partnerships and policy engagement support

• Support the development and maintenance of relationships with policymakers, implementing partners, development partners, research institutions and media to strengthen the uptake of programme evidence;

• Support engagement with National Treasury, SARS and programme partners;

• Coordinate communications surrounding policy dialogues;

• Support the planning and coordination of high-level stakeholder meetings;

• Prepare briefing material;

• Coordinate engagement with media and external stakeholders.

5. Programme management support

• Contribute to the development of annual communications and research uptake work plans, monitor implementation progress, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and propose corrective actions where required;

• Coordinate communications consultants and service providers and prepare procurement documentation related to communications and research uptake activities;

• Manage communications-related expenditure and support the management of communications budgets;

• Support donor and programme partner visibility requirements.

6. Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor

Key performance indicators

• High-quality implementation of the SA-TIED Research Uptake and Communications Strategy.

• Evidence of increased policy engagement and research uptake among target audiences.

• High-quality policy dialogues, stakeholder engagement and dissemination activities delivered.

• Timely production of high-quality communications products.

• Increased visibility and recognition of SA-TIED and UNU-WIDER among stakeholders.

Competencies

Values:

• Inclusion — take action to create an environment of dignity and respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language, nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identity

• Integrity — act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or unethical behaviour, or any other breach of UN standards

• Humility — demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from others

• Humanity — act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet

Behaviours:

• Connect and collaborate — build positive relationships with others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as One UN

• Analyse and plan — seek out and use data from a wide range of sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose evidence-based solutions and plan action

• Deliver results with positive impact — hold oneself and others accountable for delivering results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that the United Nations serves

• Learn and develop — pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of others

• Adapt and innovate — demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways

Education and certification

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, public administration, or related field.

2) Required skills and experience

• A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible professional experience in communications, research uptake, knowledge mobilization, policy engagement, public affairs, or international development, including experience supporting research, policy, or capacity development programmes is required.

• Demonstrated ability to translate complex economics and development research into clear, accessible and policy-relevant communications and knowledge products for diverse audiences.

• Experience developing and implementing communications, stakeholder engagement, or research uptake strategies that strengthen the use of evidence in policymaking and public discourse.

• Demonstrated experience using a broad range of communications channels and digital platforms – including websites, social media, newsletters, multimedia, events, media engagement, and data visualization – to effectively reach target audiences and maximise research uptake.

• Experience working with government institutions, research organizations, development partners, academia, civil society, or other policy stakeholders in support of evidence-informed decision-making.

• Good understanding of South Africa's policy environment, socio-economic development priorities, and institutional landscape.

• Experience with content management systems (e.g. Drupal), customer relationship management platforms (e.g. CiviCRM), Adobe Creative Cloud, and data visualization tools is desirable.

• Excellent drafting, editing, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences.

• Strong planning, organizational, and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and deliver high-quality outputs under tight deadlines.

• Demonstrated initiative, sound judgement, creativity, and commitment to continuous learning and innovation.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to establish productive working relationships in multicultural and multidisciplinary environments, with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

3) Language Requirements

• Excellent drafting skills and fluency in both oral and written English is a requirement.

• Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset

Remuneration

UNU offers an attractive, tax exempt compensation package including an annual net salary (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), 30 days annual leave, dependency benefits, pension plan and health insurance scheme. For more information please see: https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=SAL

Duration of contract

This is a full-time, fixed-term appointment. The initial appointment will be for one (1) year with the possibility of renewal on a fixed-term appointment basis, subject to satisfactory work performance.

For academic positions, the combined duration of fixed-term appointments with UNU may not exceed six (6) years. The mandatory age of retirement for United Nations staff is 65 years.

Starting Date

As soon as possible

How to Apply

To apply to UNU, you will not need an account. Instead, we ask that you:

• Apply via the apply link;

• fill out the UNU P11 Form (please avoid using similar forms provided by other United Nations organisations);

• provide a motivation statement (in the P11 form); and

• answer a few questions that are tailored to the position.

You may wish to refer to the UN Values and Behaviours Framework for more information.

Application Deadline

10 November 2026

Submissions must be received by 23:59, UTC +2 on the deadline; late entries will not be accepted.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview, background checks and references.

Special notice

Staff members of the United Nations University are international civil servants subject to the Rector's authority. They may be assigned to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations University. The Rector reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below that advertised.

UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply and become part of the organisation. Applications from developing countries, and from women are strongly encouraged. Eligible internal applicants are also encouraged to apply.

UNU has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNU, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.

If you have supervisory function, you need to have awareness on gender related issues.

Information about UNU rosters

UNU 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 UNU.

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