Communication Specialist

Volunteering Elections & Governance Communications & PR

Overview

Lead NEBE's communication strategy for the 7th Round National Election.

You have:

• At least 7 years of professional experience in strategic communication in large public organizations.
• Demonstrated leadership and management experience with the ability to guide a team and coordinate multi-stakeholder communication efforts.
• Proven experience in developing and executing large-scale communication and outreach strategies in complex, multilingual, and politically sensitive environments.
• Prior experience in Ethiopia or similar contexts is highly desirable.
• Excellent writing, editing, and public speaking skills in Amharic and English (knowledge of other Ethiopian languages is a strong advantage).
• Strong digital and social media management skills.
• Ability to think innovatively and apply creative communication methods in challenging environments.
• Excellent interpersonal, networking, and stakeholder management skills.

Contract

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

The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) is mandated to organize, administer, and oversee elections that are free, fair, credible, and inclusive. UNDP SEEDS2 (Strengthening Elections for Democratic Sustainability) Programme supports NEBE in fulfilment of its mandate. As NEBE prepares for the upcoming 7th general elections, it aims to strengthen its institutional capacity, particularly focusing on sustainable human resources development, to strengthen electoral cycle, uphold its reputation, and conduct transparent, credible, and inclusive elections in Ethiopia. As the country prepares for the 7th Round National Election in 2026, one of the most critical challenges facing the electoral process is the management of information.

Ethiopia’s diverse and multilingual society, combined with the rapid growth of social media, has created an environment where misinformation, fake news, and disinformation can easily spread, influencing public perception of the electoral process. If left unchecked, such distortions can weaken trust in NEBE’s work, discourage voter participation, and even trigger conflict and violence.

A dedicated and innovative Communication Specialist is therefore central to NEBE’s success in the coming elections. This professional will ensure that the Board’s messages are accurate, timely, inclusive, and accessible to all segments of society. By leading the Communication Department, the Specialist will serve as the strategic voice of NEBE, helping to:

•    Strengthen transparency and credibility in the management of elections. 
•    Build and maintain trust between NEBE and citizens, political parties, civil society, and international partners.
•    Strengthen NEBE's communication with stakeholders and public.
•    In collaboration with the CVE and other departments make sure effective voter education and public information campaigns that reach Ethiopia’s diverse population across different languages, regions, and platforms. 
•    Support combating misinformation and disinformation with clear, fact-based, and proactive messaging.

The position brings together communication, leadership, innovation, and crisis management. The Communication Specialist will ensure that NEBE remains at the forefront of transparent electoral management, safeguarding both the credibility of the institution and the democratic process in Ethiopia. The Communication Specialist will also provide support to SEEDS communication efforts, as appropriate and required.

Under the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Adviser for Elections and under the direction of the Chairperson of NEBE, the Communication Specialist will work closely with senior directors and relevant departments. The Communication Specialist will be responsible for designing, managing, and implementing NEBE’s communication strategy to:

•    Enhance transparency, visibility, and accountability of NEBE’s work.
•    Carry out free, fair, inclusive and transparent 7th Round National Election.
•    Build and sustain public trust in the credibility of the electoral process.
•    Provide proactive responses to misinformation, disinformation, and fake news.
•    Support inclusive communication that reflects Ethiopia’s linguistic, cultural, and social diversity.
•    Coordinate internal communication to ensure institutional coherence and information flow within NEBE.

Key Responsibilities

 •    Strategic Leadership: Lead and manage the Communication Department, aligning all activities with NEBE’s strategic priorities for the 7th National Election.
 •    Media & Public Engagement: Serve as NEBE’s spokesperson, develop press releases, speeches, and statements, and organize press briefings and public events.
 •    Voter Education & Outreach: Coordinate multilingual and accessible public education campaigns to ensure voters are well-informed and engaged.
 •    Digital Innovation: Manage NEBE’s website and social media platforms, ensuring timely updates and effective public interaction. Implementation of tools and strategy to combat mis/disinformation in the electoral process.
 •    Crisis Communication: Monitor and respond to misinformation, disinformation, and fake news in real time, ensuring public access to accurate and reliable information.
 •    Stakeholder Relations: Engage proactively with political parties, CSOs, media, and development partners to ensure coordinated and trusted communication.
 •    Internal Communication: Develop effective systems to improve information flow, documentation, and knowledge-sharing within NEBE.

Deliverables

 •    Approved NEBE Communication and Outreach Strategy for the 7th Round National Election.
 •    Regular press releases, speeches, and public communication materials.
 •    Strengthened NEBE visibility through active digital platforms and media presence.
 •    Timely responses to misinformation and fake news, supported by monitoring reports.
 •    Documentation of communication outputs and periodic performance reports
 •    Regular SEEDS newsletter and other communication products produced

 •    Accountability
 •    Adaptability and flexibility
 •    Creativity
 •    Judgement and decision-making
 •    Planning and organising
 •    Professionalism
 •    Self-management


 •    At least 7 years of professional experience in strategic communication in large public organizations.
 •    Demonstrated leadership and management experience with the ability to guide a team and coordinate multi-stakeholder communication efforts.
 •    Proven experience in developing and executing large-scale communication and outreach strategies in complex, multilingual, and politically sensitive environments.
 •    Prior experience in Ethiopia or similar contexts is highly desirable.

Skills and Competencies

 •    Excellent writing, editing, and public speaking skills in Amharic and English (knowledge of other Ethiopian languages is a strong advantage).
 •    Strong digital and social media management skills.
 •    Ability to think innovatively and apply creative communication methods in challenging environments.
 •    Excellent interpersonal, networking, and stakeholder management skills.
 •    Commitment to NEBE’s and UNDP values of neutrality, transparency, inclusivity, and professionalism.
 •    Female candidates are highly encouraged.

Addis Ababa is the capital of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The population is estimated at about 4 million or so. Addis Ababa located in the Ethiopian highlands at an altitude of 2,500-2,700 meters. The climate is sunny and temperate, but it can be very cold at night, with freezing temperature at times. It is therefore advisable to bring warm clothing and foresee using heaters and/or log fires when necessary. Addis Ababa is the headquarters for the UN Economic Commission for Africa as well as the African Union (ex-OAU). Thus, there is a very large community of expatriates from all over the world. There are some 80 embassies/diplomatic missions. Housing is most of the time readily available and the rents are, on average, reasonable. Most foodstuffs, beverages, household goods, furniture and clothing, mostly imported from the Middle/Far East, South Africa and Europe, or local brands, can be found, although they can be expensive. Meat, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables are cheap and abundantly available.

The basic infrastructures - roads, utilities, and telecommunications - are below standard, as are medical facilities, which are still largely inadequate, although a few private clinics and hospitals provide reasonably good routine care. There are lots of tourist attractions to visit around the country, although the amenities are often poor to average. Several restaurants around the city serve local or international cuisine and there are numerous social and cultural events throughout the year organized by the international and local communities. Sports facilities (fitness, tennis, swimming, riding, golf, etc.) exist in the major hotels or in different establishments around the city. There are no major or special security concerns within Addis Ababa city limits.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.

You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.”

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Potential interview questions

Added 8 months ago - Updated 7 months ago - Source: unv.org