Knowledge Management and Communications Officer
JOB TITLE: Knowledge Management and Communications Officer
TYPE OF CONTRACT: Regular Consultancy
UNIT/DIVISION: PRORF
DUTY STATION (City, Country): Rome, Italy
DURATION: 6 months
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The WFP Resilience and Food Systems Service (PROR) is comprised of two units; the Livelihoods and Asset Creation and Resilience Unit (PROR-L) and the Food Systems and Smallholder Support Unit (PRORF). The PRORF knowledge management and communications focal point works as part of the PROR Communications and Knowledge Management Team and is responsible for coordinating knowledge management and communications products focused on the PRORF work areas and partnerships.
The PRORF Unit produces normative guidance and provide technical support to WFP Country Offices and Regional Bureaux embracing food systems approaches and implementing Smallholder Agricultural Market Support programmes, Including Post-Harvest Loss (PHL) reduction initiatives. The Unit also co-leads with Supply Chain the implementation of the corporate Local and Regional Food Procurement Policy as well as partnerships such as the PHL Venture and the Mastercard Foundation Partnership
The Unit coordinates strategic partnerships and dialogues with other UN Agencies, in particular the Rome-based Agencies, and external partners, the private sector, foundations, research institutions, academia and various actors along the food value chain, entailing a mutually beneficial exchange of expertise to meet the needs of beneficiaries and to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Under the supervision of the Chief of the Food Systems and Smallholder Support Unit, and in collaboration with the PROR Service and its units, the incumbent will implement the 2022 knowledge management and communication strategy to enhance WFP‘s internal and external profile in the programme areas managed by the PRORF Unit: Food Systems, Smallholder Agricultural Market Support (SAMS), Local and regional Food Procurement {LRFP) Policy and Post-Harvest Loss (PHL). The incumbent will also manage the wealth of knowledge generated by these programme areas to foster knowledge generation and sharing within WFP, at corporate, regional and country level.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES (NOT ALL-INCLUSIVE, DELEGATE AS REQUIRED):
• Update and implement the 2022 communications and knowledge management strategy, in order to maintain and enhance the visibility of the PROR Service and its Units
• Develop the 2023 KM and communications plan in coordination with the PROR Communications Team
• Support as the knowledge management and communications focal point for the Mastercard foundation and coordinate launch events and other communication products needed for the partnership
Foster the generation and sharing of knowledge on the Unit’s programme areas, by collecting inputs from various level (HQ, Regional Bureaux and Country Offices) to inform communications products;
• Create and coordinate a dynamic PROR Service quarterly Newsletter and manage mailing lists of PRORF programmatic focal points in RBx and country offices
• Develop different communications products (e.g.. briefs, talking points, fact sheets, reports, newsletters etc.), that effectively convey the desired messages to target audience(s)
• Support the PROR Director, PRORF Chief and other staff with input for and production of strategic documents, including remarks, talking points, presentations, briefing notes, concept notes, proposals etc.;
• Support the PROR Director, PRORF Chief and other staff with inputs for the preparation of workshops, trainings and events
• Pitch articles and coordinate content for a range of different communication platforms and channels: WFPgo (Internal website), WFP.org (external website), Manuals, Communities and WFP social media accounts.
• Support the PROR communications team in the production of multimedia content and campaigns including: text, infographics, photos, videos and audio for use across a range of platforms and channels, in order to support global and country fundraising activities, ensuring consistency with corporate messages;
• Act as the PRORF Unit's focal point in the PRO Knowledge Management (KM) Working Group and contributing to the Divisional KM efforts, including the migration of the Programme Guidance Manuals, and the production of the PRO Newsletter;
• Lead on communications issues as the PRORF km and comms focal point, in collaboration and coordination with the PROR Service and relevant units and divisions;
• Monitor and analyse traditional and online media and events to identify issues and trends, and propose solutions and ideas to improve the effectiveness of communications strategy and activities;
• Provide ad-hoc support to WFP Regional Bureaux and Country Offices on communications and knowledge management Issues related to PRORF’s programme areas;
• Provide editorial and design support for publications produced by the Unit;
• Any other duties as required
DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:
1. Development of the 2023 Communications and Knowledge Management Strategy, plan and calendar 2. Development of the quarterly PROR Service newsletter and mailing lists of PRORF focal points from HQ, RBx and COs
3. Migration of existing guidance manuals to new PGM platforms
4. High quality fact sheets, articles and other content for workstreams in PRORF
5. High quality WFP Knowledge Management and donor-facing communication material.
6. Successful dissemination of new guidance to HQ, RBx and CO colleagues through existing platforms, workshops and webinars.
SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
Advanced University degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or other related fields obtained from a reputable Institution; or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.
Experience:
• Minimum of seven years of relevant post-graduate experience in communications, international relations, knowledge management and other related work
Knowledge & Skills:
• Knowledge of WFP programmatic areas and UN systems in general. Experience communicating about food systems and smallholder and value chain development
• programmes would be an asset;
• Excellent understanding of developing and managing web-based systems and working with Content Management Systems. Knowledge of WFP online platforms is desirable (WFPgo, WFP.org, Communities, GoDocs, Manuals, SPRNG etc.;
• Solid command of MS Office suite (In particular Word, Excel, Power Point, Teams, Publisher, Sway etc.) and/or other equivalent contents creation and editing software and tools;
• Excellent writing and editing skills;
• Excellent analytical skills, with ability to compile, analyse and interpret quantitative and qualitative data, prepae reports and draw conclusions and reemmendations;
• Excellent communication skills, to engage a varied range of internal and external stakeholders;
• Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor own work plan;
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to deal patiently and tacI:fully with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
• Wllllngness to travel to remote regions, If necessary, on short notice.
Languages:
Fluency in oral and written English. Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) or Portuguese is an asset.
Closing date 26.05.2023
All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.
