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.

WHO has been providing technical support to Government of Sudan in all issues related to health and development, with the main goal of improving the health status of the Sudanese people. WHO works to reduce mortality, morbidity and disability, and to improve health, especially of vulnerable populations. To achieve this goal, WHO focuses on the following strategic approaches:

• Ensuring adequate preparedness and timely response to health hazards and emergencies through a well-coordinated multi-sectoral approach; • Addressing inequity in the delivery of priority health services across the country by targeting the most under-served areas and filling service gaps; • Supporting and strengthening the resilient health system to attain Universal Health Coverage and other related Sustainable Development Goals, while sustaining the institutional capacity of ministries of at national and sub-national levels. http://www.emro.who.int/countries/sdn/index.html

Under the supervision of Coordinator, Health Systems Development Unit and as part of a team the youth volunteer will support Directorate General of Global Health in Federal Ministry of Health to perform the following assignments:

1. Co-plan and co-design internal and external communications strategies and outreach activities, in cooperation with concerned stakeholders; provide technical guidance to integrate communications components and advocacy on the technical programmes at country level.
2. Design and perform communications need assessments for Country Office projects and programs, develop promotional activities based on monitoring/evaluation of information and identifying areas requiring higher visibility.
3. Organize and implement joint public information campaigns, press conferences, briefing sessions, interviews pertaining to WHO activities in association with other staff from the technical team.
4. Identify and develop communications materials, storylines and substantive articles pertaining to the Country office various activities including: a. Briefing materials and press releases, in coordination with the supervisor. b. Draft regular newsletter/ situation reports to partners, donor reports, talking points, key messages, and updates where appropriate to support the organization’s developmental and crisis response projects. c. Maintain and update information database and photo library. d. Coordinate and manage production and proper dissemination of WCO publication material, including content management, norms for publishing and designing, and liaison with printers and other suppliers. e. Prepare the content for the WCO web site and maintain the intranet page in cooperation with the ICT staff, verify and ensure the consistency of the material. f. Manage the translations of documents and communication material as and when required.
5. Develop and maintain media contacts and provide newsworthy information to national and public media and donors to increase the coverage and understanding of WHO’s work at the country level.
6. Train WHO staff on communications issues; provide innovative solutions to public communications issues.

Results/expected outputs:

• Support Federal Ministry of Health to improve monitoring and tracking of the support provided by different partners and stakeholders to FMOH and health sector in Sudan and therefore, contribute to improve effective development cooperation and advance progress towards attaining Universal Health Coverage with more focus on underserved and marginalized populations (IDPs, returnees, refugees, host communities, etc.) • Enhance resource mobilization and improve effective utilization of existing resources through development of national capacities in monitoring and tracking systems;

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to WHO; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to WHO procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and WHO in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority. • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age;commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity, and self-reliance; and commitment towards WHO mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

• Essential: University degree in journalism, communications, arts, international relations, or social sciences. Desirable: Studies or experience-based knowledge of communications techniques and media relations.

The duty station is Khartoum, and as this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.