Background Information
Closing date: 31 May 2022
The purpose of the UNFPA’s Global Emergency (Surge) Roster contains the various profiles of staff members needed in emergency and humanitarian situations. In the event of an onset of an emergency or humanitarian crisis, staff members who are on the Roster will be deployed to the affected country (or countries) within 48 - 72 hours. Staff members selected for the Surge Roster will be invited to attend a workshop and simulation exercise in September 2022 and will be given access to training to augment the effectiveness of the Surge team members.
Under the overall supervision of the UNFPA County Office Representative and/or Head of Office, the incumbent will be responsible for helping to enhance the information flow and visibility of UNFPA emergency assistance while highlighting sexual and reproductive health, gender and gender-based violence in humanitarian response. Specifically, the incumbent will place UNFPA stories in digital and print media, support national efforts and local campaigns, and advise the UNFPA Representative on available opportunities to strengthen UNFPA’s media presence.
Main Tasks & Responsibilities
Background
Under the overall supervision of the UNFPA Country Office Representative and/or Head of Office, the incumbent will be responsible for helping to enhance the information flow and visibility of UNFPA emergency assistance while highlighting sexual and reproductive health, gender and gender-based violence in humanitarian response. Specifically, the incumbent will seek stories and photos/videos of affected women and young people, place UNFPA stories in digital and print media, ensure UNFPA visibility in UNOCHA situation reports, contribute to the UNFPA social media platforms, contribute to the UNFPA situation report support national efforts and local campaigns, and advise the UNFPA Representative on available opportunities to strengthen UNFPA’s media presence.
The scope of the activities listed below may vary, depending on the length of the assignment and phase of the crisis.
Engage with electronic and print media sources
● Identify UNFPA stories of interest to the media and proactively pitch them to national, regional and global press corps.
● Provide timely and field-driven content, such as print and video stories, for UNFPA’s regional and global websites and Voices.
● Provide UNFPA’s regional and country social media platforms with relevant updates and work closely with the Headquarters social media teams to integrate the humanitarian response into UNFPA’s social media outreach. Draft press releases, fact sheets and other rapid response information materials for use by UNFPA Headquarters and Regional and Country Offices.
● Assist in UNFPA advocacy activities, including support to public events, visits of senior UN officials, field visits and other UN and UNFPA initiatives.
● Scan the international and local media for stories about or relevant to UNFPA’s work in-country and find ways to connect to these stories.
Provide Public Information Support to Country Office: (report to Country Rep and RCA as needed)
● Assist the UNFPA Representative and Regional Communication Adviser in preparing written materials, including talking points, articles, press releases, responses to coverage about the UNFPA in the media, etc.
● Establish close working relationships with the United Nations Country Team, senior UN staff and communication officers to identify communication synergies and ‘one UN’ opportunities
● Cultivate and maintain effective working relationships with local, regional and global media and other relevant partners and identify opportunities for advocacy and communication partnerships
Serve as the UNFPA focal point for the Communication to Disaster Affected Community (CDAC)
● Liaise with CDAC partners on on-going activities
● Work with country team to ensure gender and GBV related information are incorporated through CDAC
● Provide information on CDAC projects to HQ based media team, which can be pitched to international journalists
Capacity Development
● Provide coaching to newly recruited communications staff and consultants, where appropriate;
● Coach and build communications capacity of staff members and staff of implementing partners responding to emergency/humanitarian crisis, as needed.
Any Other Duties
● Perform any other duties as required by the Representative and/or Head of Office, Regional and Sub-regional Offices and Headquarters.
Qualifications and Experience
● Advanced degree in communications, public relations, journalism, advertising or related field.
● 3-7 years of experience in communications, public relations, journalism or advertising; preferably some experience with public relations or information campaigns.
● Experience in or familiarity with a humanitarian setting a major asset.
● Fluency in English. Depending on the duty station, another UN language such as French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese or Russian may be required.
We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
