The World Food Programme is hiring a Communications Officer, International Regular Consultant Level – I

UN Jobs SpecialistFebruary 1, 2024

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About World Food Programme

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger. WFP’s strategies are to save lives and protect livelihoods in emergencies, prepare for crises, restore and rebuild lives after disasters, reduce chronic hunger and malnutrition, and strengthen the capacity of countries to reduce hunger.

Background about the Assignment

WFP Mozambique has significantly expanded its operations over the last few years. The scale-up of its operations was due to two major tropical cyclones and a long drought that occurred in 2019, the escalation of violence and insecurity in the north of the country, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 onwards. As of March 2021, WFP has maintained the corporate attention emergency category for Mozambique. In 2022, WFP Mozambique has transitioned from its first Country Strategic Plan (2017-2021) to the second-generation Country Strategic Plan (2022-2026). The main challenges that WFP is facing in the country remain the security issues in the north, logistics bottlenecks and the limited availability of resources for responding to increasing needs.

WFP Mozambique’s External Relations Unit is responsible for the coordination and liaison with various donors and partners at country level, corporate reporting and producing internal and external communication material.

Career 2

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Develop a new communications and advocacy strategy and related year work plan, including objectives, target audiences, messaging, tools, products, and monitoring of performance.

2. Effectively address media enquiries, support designated spokespeople and act as spokesperson for WFP when required.

3. Strategic monitoring of national and international key media, identifying trends for developing stories related to WFP/food security in Mozambique, and advocacy opportunities.

4. Swiftly identify reputational risks and address them in a coordinated manner, minimizing the negative impacts for WFP.

5. Ensure that WFP’s branding and public messaging about its mandate and programmes, including the new Country Strategy Plan for Mozambique (CSP), is consistent across the organization and reflects corporate communications and advocacy priorities.

6. Plan and lead the production of quality multimedia content in Portuguese and English (writing, video, photo storytelling), as well as translating programmatic data into compelling stories for advocacy purposes, ensuring alignment and support to the communications strategy, regional and global priorities and resource mobilization efforts.

7. Define and implement a social media plan which leverages Government partners, donors and other cooperation partners as well as provide strategic support for WFP’s activities.

8. Develop Management’s public speeches and media messages considering key political developments and trends.

9. Edit draft publications and recommend revisions or changes in approaches, scope, format, as needed to ensure WFP’s high-quality standards are reflected.

10. Ensure that strategic donor communication plans and products are developed, implemented, and documented.

11. Supervise the planning, procurement, storage and inventory of WFP visibility material, ensuring distribution across field offices and staff needs are met.

12. Lead and supervise the production of WFP internal communications products, such as newsletter, information videos, and handouts, as well as to provide strategic guidance and branding guidelines to other units’ visibility materials.

13. Ensure WFP’s active coordination with the UNRCO and other agencies, and active participation in the UN Communications Group and other interagency fora.

14. Provide close supervision, coach and guidance to staff and interns as required by the head of unit and CD.

15. Support other tasks related to reporting and partnerships as needed.

Eligibility Criteria

Education:

Advanced University degree in Journalism, International Relations, Communications, Marketing and/or other relevant field, First University with additional years of relevant professional level work experience.

Experience:
3-5 years of work experience.

Knowledge & Skills: Well organized and detail-oriented with strong judgment/decision-making skills. Strong communication and negotiation skills. Ability to understand what audiences need and how they want to consume it. Ability to plan and organize work and communicate effectively. Ability to handle a large volume of work and meet strict deadlines. Experience in managing, supervising, and coaching staff and interns.

Languages:

Fluency (level C) in English and Portuguese languages. Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.

Technical Skills and Knowledge

1. The new communications and advocacy strategy, related year work plan and social media plan are designed, validated and is being implemented.

2. All media queries are addressed, documented and key materials are made available for knowledge management, corporate use and learning.

3. All key reputational risks were identified and addressed in a timely manner with minimal impacts for WFP’s image and reputation, key strategic material is made available.

4. Quality multimedia content is produced for external audiences ensuring key corporate advocacy messages are disseminated.

5. Tailored content is produced for donors in a timely manner, ensuring donor visibility is enhanced and donor’s criteria met. Internal communications products and activities are delivered and available for all staff increasing staff cohesion and internal knowledge of WFP’s activities as well as key corporate messages are assimilated internally.

Leadership Framework

Leads by Example with Integrity

Lives WFP values and shows humanity and integrity by role role-modelling for others.

Drives Results and Delivers on Commitments

Delivers on commitments and adapts readily to change.

Fosters Inclusive and Collaborative Teamwork

Is inclusive and collaborative, and contributes to a culture of learning and personal growth.

Applies Strategic Thinking

Demonstrates commitment to gather perspectives, analyze options and risks, and propose new ways of doing things.

Builds and Maintains Sustainable Partnerships

Builds and nurtures external partnerships & collaborates with partners to deliver common objectives.