Advocacy and Communication Officer

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is leading the global effort to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Since the first cases of HIV were reported more than 35 years ago, 78 million people have become infected with HIV and 35 million have died from AIDS-related illnesses. Since it started operations in 1996, UNAIDS has led and inspired global, regional, national and local leadership, innovation and partnership to ultimately consign HIV to history.

UNAIDS is a problem-solver. It places people living with HIV and people affected by the virus at the decision-making table and at the centre of designing, delivering and monitoring the AIDS response. It charts paths for countries and communities to get on the Fast-Track to ending AIDS and is a bold advocate for addressing the legal and policy barriers to the AIDS response.

UNAIDS provides the strategic direction, advocacy, coordination and technical support needed to catalyse and connect leadership from governments, the private sector and communities to deliver life-saving HIV services. Without UNAIDS, there would be no strategic vision for the AIDS response. The UNAIDS 2016–2021 Strategy aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals sets the framework for global development policy over the next 15 years, including ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

The Advocacy and Communication Officer will work under the direct supervision of the UNAIDS Country Director (UCD) in Zimbabwe and is expected to work within the UN system and externally with all partners to ensure effective internal and external communication on the work of UNAIDS in Zimbabwe and its links to regional and global dynamics in the HIV and AIDS response. The Officer is expected to interface with her/his equivalent focal point persons in UN agencies, Government partners, Civil Society partners, development partners and the media in this respect and to do so in line with clearly laid out UNAID

Under the direct supervision of UNAIDS Country Director (UCD) and as a member of the UN Joint Team on AIDS, the Advocacy and Communication Officer will support UNAIDS to implement the advocacy and communication agenda on HIV. The Advocacy and Communication Officer will specifically undertake the following tasks (keeping an HIV/SRHR integration angle in all activities):

1. Develop and implement an HIV/sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) advocacy strategy and action plan to lobby critical leaders and amplifiers, including the Office of the First Lady and other HIV, women and girls’ champions.

2. In collaboration with the UNAIDS Country Office (UCO) team, support the preparation of advocacy materials, including policy briefs, position papers, key messages, statements and any other material relevant to ongoing campaigns and programs on SRHR and HIV.

3. Assist the UCD, in collaboration with other UCO staff, to prepare for visiting regional and global missions and events by preparing and coordinating briefing packs, speeches and talking points; arranging meetings and organizing site visits as required; and preparing feature stories and web updates on related key issues and events.

4. Act as the UNAIDS Zimbabwe media liaison officer in coordination with UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Eastern and Southern Africa and headquarters on a wide range of advocacy and communication issues. This entails monitoring national media; initiating and responding to media contacts and inquiries with required speed and skill; developing and disseminating press kits on important events; organizing media outreach and arranging all media contacts, press briefings and interviews; liaising with local and locally based international media to encourage and facilitate coverage of activities and events on SRHR and HIV in the country.

5. Develop and/or manage social media platforms, including but not limited to email lists, Facebook and Twitter, to maximise the use of UNAIDS

Communication, Leadership, Planning and Organizing

Information, Communication and Journalism; or in Social Sciences, Public Health or other related field with extensive professional experience in advocacy, information and communication

·Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in advocacy, communication, social work, public information, journalism and /or public health or related area.

· Strong background in the field of advocacy, communication and public information; and the ability to address a range of issues related to information requirements, including taking a lead on major public HIV information campaigns.

· Experience and/or ability to conceptualize, design and implement advocacy and communication plans and successful campaigns.

Zimbabwe is located in Southern Africa and has three seasons, cool and dry from May-Aug, hot and dry from Sep-Nov, warm and wet from Dec-Apr. The capital Harare lies at an altitude of 1450m above sea level. The middle plateau is Malaria free and prophylaxis is highly recommended in low lying and hot areas. The currency in use is USD and all basic food and accessories are available. There are public and private health facilities as well as many social amenities available in Harare.