Communications Consultant
WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, color, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status, physical or mental disability
Job Title: Communication Officer
Type of Contract: CST II
Unit/Division: Joint UNHCR and WFP Programme Excellence and Targeting Hub
Duty Station (City, Country): Home-based (+/- 3 CET) with significant travel
Duration: 6 months (with possibility of renewal)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
In line with global commitments, agreements, strategies and principles on increased interagency collaboration, UNHCR and WFP have launched the Joint Programme Excellence and Targeting Hub in April 2020. The established framework for collaboration provides a strong basis for the two agencies to provide strategic and operational support at country-level, with the objective of improving outcomes for refugees and other forcibly displaced people. This will be achieved through a new way of working, ensuring effective use of limited resources by targeting the right people with the right assistance, including support towards longer-term self-reliance.
Through a joint team of roving experts, the hub provides support to country offices throughout the programme cycle: i) Joint situation and context analysis; ii) Integrated programme design, iii) Targeting strategy, iv) Implementation, and v) Monitoring, learning and feedback. Experts will be recruited and ready to provide remote and/or in-country support, building on existing structures and capacities.
The Joint Programme Excellence and Targeting Hub is currently supporting twelve countries (Niger, Rwanda, Cameroon, Jordan, Mauritania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Mozambique, Sudan, Tanzania, Djibouti and Zambia) covering selected phases of the programme cycle. The Hub will consider providing support to additional countries capacity allowing. The Hub will be led by a Joint Coordinator, reporting to the project leads governed by the Strategic Advisory Group (StAG), consisting of senior UNHCR and WFP staff from relevant units.
The Joint Hub requires a skilled communication professional to conceive and execute a range of activities that help raise the profile of the work of the Joint Hub while generating enthusiasm for new ways of working and mobilizing action. This body of work spans, but is not limited to, communications strategy and coordination, multimedia content production, reporting, information management, fundraising, analytics and brand development. In addition, the incumbent will support the design and application of innovative methods to improve communication with refugees and other persons of concern in Hub supported countries.
To support the activities under the Joint Programme Excellence and Targeting Hub, UNHCR and WFP are jointly recruiting a communications consultant.
Working arrangements for this position will be remote in the country of residence of the candidate with frequent travel.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the supervision of the Joint Coordinator and in close collaboration with other members of the Hub and technical counterparts in UNHCR and WFP, the Communications Consultant will:
- Develop (and lead the implementation of) a short, medium and long-term communications strategy for the Joint Hub and the countries it supports, while identifying thematic priorities and target audiences to meet the Joint Hub’s communications objectives.
- Research, prepare, fact-check, edit and produce professional multimedia and communications materials for target audiences and ensure their timely dissemination via Joint Hub, WFP and UNHCR communications channels, ensuring highest quality standards.
- Ensure content created reaches maximum impact by developing strategies for distribution from the outset, boosting the visibility of content on relevant Joint Hub, WFP and UNHCR channels and placing it on external channels.
- Liaise with and assist colleagues in the Joint Hub, regional bureaux and country operations to better identify, develop, and tell stories to a broad internal audience.
- Support the Joint Hub Protection/AAP Officer in the development and implementation of joint strategies and plans to improve engagement, outreach and communications with communities.
- Forge strategic partnerships with individuals and organizations who can help produce and promote the Joint Hub, activities and messaging.
- Update and publish content on the WFP and UNHCR Intranet.
- Maintain, update and publish content on the Joint Hub website.
- Manage Joint Hub social media accounts, producing and curating content that reflects communications priorities and key messages and speaks effectively to the audience.
- Provide information management support to the Joint Hub, including ensuring that information platforms are up to date and functional.
- Support the reporting and presentation of analytical results using digital visualization (e.g. dashboards).
- Support drafting and finalisation of Joint Hub products and documentation, including reporting and fundraising for the Joint Hub.
- Preparation of key messages/talking points/speeches/presentations.
- Develop quarterly activity reports for the Joint Hub team to monitor performance, track trends, and enable adjustments to improve impact.
- Closely monitor the implementation of communications projects and adjust accordingly. Benchmark the results of communications projects against set success indicators; build on communications successes.
- Regularly provide ideas for communications initiatives and considered professional communications advice to the Joint Hub team.
- Undertake missions and field trips in support of the Joint Hub and its work.
- Any other tasks as agreed with the Joint Coordinator.
DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:
- A clear, actionable and costed, short, medium and long-term communications strategy is developed and approved by the Joint Coordinator and the StAG.
- Various edited films and stories that help promote the work of the Joint Hub and the country operations it supports both internally and externally.
- An increase in social media output and engagement.
- WFP and UNHCR communications platforms are populated with Joint Hub stories and materials.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
- University degree in one or more of the following disciplines: journalism, international relations, history, film studies, social sciences, management, communications, or others relevant to communications and/or humanitarian assistance.
Experience:
- At least 5 years of experience in communications, journalism or some communications related field. Prior experience of working in WFP and UNHCR communications desirable.
- Experience in editing videos is essential. Experience of filming and photography highly desirable.
- Experience of gathering communications materials from the field desirable.
Knowledge & Skills:
- Excellent ability to effectively communicate orally, in writing and visually.
- Proficiency in Adobe Premiere is requested. Knowledge of Photoshop and Lightroom is also desirable.
- Experience using social media channels preferable.
- Demonstrated information management skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook).
- Previous experience in fundraising, donor reporting and proposal writing preferable.
- Prior work experience in refugee or IDP settings preferable.
- Familiarity with the humanitarian sector of advantage.
- Experience working in dynamic and innovative environments.
- Team player with a demonstrated ability to work independently.
- Willingness to travel extensively to support Hub projects in-country
Languages:
- Strong written and oral English and fluency in written and spoken French (proficiency/level C) is preferred. Another UN working language is a plus.
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1] People-centred programming is a standard of programming with any objective or activity that places affected people, communities, and their lived realities at the centre of decision making at every stage of the programme cycle, with their unique risks identified and meaningfully addressed.
Deadline for applications: 6 September 2022
Ref: VA 171825
