Individual Contractor

Duration of the contract
- 4 to 6 months (Possibility of renewal based on performance)
- 13 April 2025
- Organizational Unit
- Multilateral Diplomacy Programme Unit (MDPU)
- Remuneration
- CHF 4,200/month
- Number of job positions
- 1
- Area of Specialization/Thematic Area

Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Multilateral Diplomacy
- Overview

The Multilateral Diplomacy Programme Unit (MDPU) of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is seeking to hire an Individual Contractor to support MDPU’s internal and external communications and outreach efforts, and to strengthen the brand of UNITAR’s activities in diplomacy.

MDPU designs and delivers the Institute’s Core Diplomatic Training (CDT), consisting primarily of orientation briefings and short, intensive skills development workshops which benefit cumulatively some 2,500 diplomats yearly at the United Nations Headquarters and other venues where the Organization maintains a significant presence.

Parallel to CDT, MDPU develops and delivers training activities at country and regional levels in close partnership with governments, universities and selected international organizations. MDPU’s activities also include e-Learning courses; special projects, advisory services related to the curriculum development of diplomatic academies; and the development of other training tools and publications.
- Background

UNITAR was created in 1963 to train and equip young diplomats from newly-independent UN Member States with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate through the diplomatic environment. Over the years, UNITAR has acquired unique expertise and experience in designing and delivering a variety of training activities. We have become a leading institute in the provision of customized and creative learning solutions to institutions and individuals from both public and private sectors. UNITAR’s mission is to develop the individual, institutional and organizational capacities of countries and other United Nations stakeholders to enhance decision making and support country-level action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

At the heart of UNITAR, MDPU aims at strengthening the intergovernmental machinery of the United Nations by providing training and capacity-building activities that address the needs of diplomats, government officials, international civil servants and private sector specialists to meet complex and global challenges. MDPU’s activities cover a wide range of policy domains including international law, multilateral negotiation, environmental and climate change diplomacy, human rights, artificial intelligence, economic diplomacy, human rights, Agenda 2030 and other related topics, as well as capacities and skills development activities such as leadership, diplomatic report writing, public speaking, media relations and negotiation techniques, among many others.
- Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Programme Officer of UNITAR’s Multilateral Diplomacy Programme Unit, the Individual Contractor will oversee the coordination of MDPU’s communications, marketing and public relations strategy.

Typical tasks assigned to Individual Contractor may include the following:

- **Public Relations Strategy**
- Develop and implement a comprehensive public relations strategy to enhance the MDPU’s reputation.
- Assess MDPU’s brand and content, benchmarking its position in the digital sphere against the learning and education field at large.
- Identify and manage key stakeholders, including media outlets, influencers, partners, and community leaders.
- Prepare press releases, media kits, and briefing documents for events, training activities or key announcements.
- Devise a digital marketing strategy, in cooperation with the Director of the Division, the Programme Officer, and in consultation with the team.
- Establish a crisis communication plan to address any potential reputational risks.
- **Branding and Messaging**
- Create and oversee the execution of a unified branding strategy to maintain consistency across all communication channels.
- Develop core messaging guidelines and visual identity standards.
- **Image Building and Campaign Development**
- Plan and execute image-building campaigns to improve public perception and strengthen stakeholder relationships.
- Conduct research to understand public sentiment and align communication efforts accordingly.
- Coordinate impactful storytelling initiatives that highlight the organization’s mission, values, and successes.
- Streamline and consolidate MDPU’s social media presence, liaising with CITSU for timely publication of organic posts; preparing, monitoring, and assessing paid campaigns; overseeing the launch and maintenance of MDPU’s LinkedIn channels and further expansion; coordinating coherent posting between UNITAR’s, the Division Director’s, and MDPU’s channels.
- Maintain and update UNITAR’s various websites and online platforms, including UNITAR’s website,