Mission and objectives

UNDP works in more than 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience to sustain development results. UNDP has been present in Malawi since 1964. Working closely with the Government of Malawi, civil society and the private sector, UNDP' s work aims to contribute to economic growth, sustainable environmental management, and democratic governance and accountability in Malawi. UNDP’s Country Programme Document is closely aligned to the Malawi Agenda 2063 and supports Malawi’s aim to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. UNDP ‘s programme is designed to address the interlinked issues of poverty, inequality and vulnerability to shocks and is managed within two portfolios: Responsive Institutions and Citizen Engagement which works towards strengthening effective, accountable and inclusive governance that promotes civic engagement, respect for human rights, rule of law, peace and democracy. It also works towards strengthening data generation and analysis. Resilience and Sustainable Growth which focusses on enhancing economic innovation, inclusive business, job creation, and renewable energy access. It also works towards helping Malawi adapt to climate change and build resilience to disasters. In Malawi, UNDP supports democratic governance, resilience building, public sector reform, and inclusive development. The Country Office engages with communities, government, and partners and must remain informed about national narratives, public perceptions, and emerging issues reflected through the media landscape. Effective media monitoring and analysis helps UNDP Malawi track evolving public discourse, identify risk signals, evaluate programme visibility, and adjust communication and engagement strategies accordingly.

Context

The Malawian media landscape is dynamic, influenced by political developments, economic shifts, social issues, climate events, and governance reforms. The Country Office requires structured, timely, and accurate monitoring of media content—including radio, online portals, newspapers, and social media to capture trends relevant to programme work, public opinion, and reputational considerations. Online Volunteers will support the Communications and Programme teams by generating regular monitoring reports, synthesising key developments, and providing analytical insights to guide decision-making. This mirrors the approach used in other UNDP media-monitoring deployments.

Task Description

Under the supervision of the Communications Team and in close collaboration with programme staff, the Online Volunteer(s) will: A. Daily and Weekly Media Monitoring • Conduct daily monitoring of Malawian media outlets, including: o Online news platforms o Radio news summaries o Newspapers and digital publications o Verified social media accounts (as relevant) • Track issues linked to governance, development, climate, human rights, economic trends, and UNDP programme areas. B. Production of Media Monitoring Reports • Compile daily and/or weekly summaries of key media stories, similar to the reporting approach in other UNDP media-monitoring assignments. • Highlight major themes, emerging risks, misinformation flags, and opportunities for engagement. • Flag mentions of UN/UNDP Malawi, its partners, activities, or leadership. C. Analytical Insight & Thematic Mapping • Provide short analytical commentary on trends, cross-cutting issues, and narratives affecting development work. • Identify shifts in public sentiment, political developments, or sector-specific dynamics relevant to UNDP projects. • Compare weekly developments to regional or global influence when applicable. D. Collaboration with Programme Teams • Engage programme teams to understand their information needs. • Map programme-specific topics (e.g., climate resilience, elections, governance, youth, innovation) within media coverage. • Produce tailored briefs to support programme planning, advocacy, and risk identification. E. Feedback & Coordination • Join short weekly online check-ins to discuss outputs, receive feedback, and refine methodology—similar to the weekly coordination used in reference DoAs. • Adjust monitoring focus areas based on evolving priorities. F. Deliverables By the end of the assignment, the Online Volunteer(s) are expected to deliver: • Daily monitoring summaries (if requested). • Weekly comprehensive media monitoring reports (5–10 pages). • A final synthesis report highlighting patterns, narrative trajectories, reputational issues, and opportunities. • A curated list of key media sources relevant to UNDP Malawi. • All raw notes and source links used for analysis.

Competencies and values

Living conditions and remarks