Regional Communications Advisor, Dakar

Closing date: Tuesday, 10 March 2015

Job Description

Job Title: Regional Communications Advisor, WCARO, P5

Job ID: 2838

Location: West and Central Africa

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Rotation: This post is non-rotational.

Duty Station: Dakar

Duration: One year (renewable)

Closing Date: 10 MARCH 2015 (5:00 PM NYT)

ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT: West and Central Africa Regional Office

Background Information

Are you interested in helping improve the lives of women and young people? UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. We have an excellent leadership opportunity to lead the media, advocacy, and communications function in they most dynamic region in the world: West and Central Africa.

As a communications advisor, you are a fully dedicated development leader, shaping the communication, media and advocacy strategy for the West and Central Africa Region (WCAR) from our office in Dakar, Senegal. By being a conduit between our HQ professionals in New York and the 23 countries in our region, you will lead in the operationalization and customization of global strategies around the ICPD agenda (International Conference on Population Development) and sustainable development goals in the region. You will be the resident social media expert in facilitating content generation from the country offices in the region to create interest and awareness of the work UNFPA does for women and young people.

We are looking for an experienced and dynamic leader to help us explore new avenues of communication to build awareness of our results, maximize the impact of our programmes and advocate for the great work UNFPA does. You will be part of a dynamic team in the regional office where you provide co-ordination, advice and media support for Senior Leadership visits to the region; provide UNFPA Country Representatives advice on media outreach, strengthen the link between global/regional/and country level communication to ensure consistent UNFPA message; Build relationships with media/journalists: Represent the Organization, generate positive coverage by promoting newsworthy stories about UNFPA's work; Partner with government officials/NGOs/Parliamentarians: Network to ensure support and advocacy for ICPD and UNFPA; with sister UN agencies, you will ensure inter-agency collaboration and partnerships in the area of communication.

You are a strategic, creative and highly motivated leader who can collaborate between multiple parties (HQ, country offices, sister agencies) in communicating and advocating for the work that UNFPA does. You are someone who is looking towards the future, who can help build and communicate the impact of UNFPA's work in women's empowerment, youth/adolescent development and reproductive health. You will be expected to be an excellent implementer as well as a strategic thinker who does not settle for mediocrity and status quo.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

Based on the global communication framework and regional priorities, and to ensure that the UNFPA message is aligned with its branding, mission statement, strategic programme and is consistently communicated and heard outside the organization, the adviser will, inter alia: Regional Communication and Public Advocacy

• In close consultation with the WACARO management and country offices, develop, implement and manage a regional communication strategy to place ICPD issues into the public domain and strengthen political will in support of UNFPA's mission and regional goals;
• Coordinate media activities around events with a regional impact, such as visits by UNFPA senior managers, celebrity advocates, regional launches of The State of World Population report and the UNFPA response to conflicts and natural disasters;
• Undertake a range of internal writing assignments including key messages, talking points and international press events and interviews and presentations;
• Identify the need for communication materials for regional use and manage their production and distribution to target audiences to advocate and promote organizational goals;
• Oversee the UNFPA's regional web news portal, ensuring timely, accurate and comprehensive content based on information provided by regional, sub-regional and country offices;
• Promote UNFPA publications/reports to position UNFPA as a regional knowledge leader for ICPD;
• Identify feature stories and materials on good practices to support global and regional advocacy and resource mobilization;
• Periodically meet with the Regional Director to assess the state of regional communication: strategy implementation, emerging needs, progress and challenges, etc.

Support to Country Offices

Provide technical guidance and support to country offices in planning and implementing country-level public information activities that project UNFPA's branding and image accurately and effectively, including:

• Communication assessment and analysis leading to development of a communication strategy;
• Advising on media outreach strategy;
• Organizing training sessions to improve and increase media/communication skills and capacity of country office communication focal points;
• Reviewing the content of press releases and other media products;
• Offering guidance on key media event
• Facilitating information sharing among communications focal points;
• Identify and maintain a network of external technical resources to assist country offices in the development and implementation of communication activities;

Support to Global Communication Activities

• Maintain up-to-date understanding of the communication, public advocacy, and the media environment including innovations and developments in digital communication;
• Monitor relevant global, regional and national news media to identify trends in coverage priorities and perspectives to effectively position UNFPA media outreach and respond to misinformation;
• Establish and maintain close working relationships with senior representatives of the media, including editors and regional correspondents of influential news organizations with a global or regional impact, as well as editors and reporters of key programme country news organizations, to generate positive reporting on UNFPA's work;
• Expose media to UNFPA 's work and activities through journalists' trips in the region;
• Report and disseminate news and feature stories related to UNFPA's mandate and programme in countries of the region, using various media (e.g., print, the web, radio, video, news releases and documentaries) with MCB/HQ assistance to reach regional and global audiences, including constituencies in donor countries;
• Promote ICPD issues in regional networks and contribute to developing new partnerships with individuals and organizations, including in the private sector, whose support is important to UNFPA advocacy work and build their capacity through access to information;
• Maintain and develop collegial relationships with media and communication counterparts from UN agencies, NGOs and other partners to enhance cooperation and ensure coherence in public information activities and messages;
• With MCB/HQ, work to create synergies between regional communication activities and HQ-led efforts such as fundraising and global campaigns.
• Develops an annual work plan for regional communication activities, monitors compliance and provide support and guidance to ensure objectives are met.

Qualifications and Experience

Minimum Qualifications

• Advanced university degree in the field of Journalism, Communication, Marketing, International Affairs or Political Science or equivalent experience required.
• At least 10 years of experience at national level and eight years at the international level in media/communication, development work, international relations or political science, with at least a total of five years of media/communication experience.
• Fluency in English and French.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in providing expertise and advice to senior management in all matters relating to communication, media and public information.
• Solid understanding and knowledge of web/technology trends and innovative implementations in the developing world.
• Experience launching and developing new communication products using traditional and digital media, closing working with development partners to implement ground breaking communication and advocacy campaigns.
• Strong communication and organization skills and ability to comfortable interface with all levels of professionals (local staff, international staff, government partners, senior management) to communicate cross-functionally in a structured and clear manner to influence results.

Required Competencies

1. Values : Integrity, commitment, embracing cultural diversity, embracing change.
2. Core Competencies : Achieving results, accountability, developing professional expertise, analytical thinking, working in teams, communicating for impact.
3. Managerial Competencies: Providing strategic vision and focus, Engaging internal/external partners and stakeholders, Leading, developing and empowering people/creating a culture of performance, making decisions and exercising judgement.

Compensation and Benefits

This position offers an attractive remuneration package commensurate with the level of the post. The package includes a competitive net salary plus cost of living adjustment, housing allowance, home leave, health insurance and other benefits.

Closing Statement

Notice: There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the application process. UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

This is a project funded post.

Disclaimer

WARNING TO APPLICANTS

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web. Should you feel that you have received a fraudulent notice, letter or offer that makes use of the name or logo of UNFPA, you may submit a report through the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm

Notice to applicants

In accordance with the rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, are required to renounce such status upon their appointment.

Exceptions to this rule are very limited and can be made only for:

1. stateless persons;
2. newly appointed staff members who have applied for citizenship by naturalization, when such citizenship will be granted imminently;
3. acting staff members in the General Service and related categories with permanent residency status, on promotion to the Professional category;
4. staff members appointed under a temporary appointment.

Please understand that UNFPA is not in a position to provide advice on or assistance in applying for any citizenship.

For any questions or comments please contact recruiting@unfpa.org