Communication Specialist

Organizational Setting

The project ‘Development of sustainable and inclusive local agro-food systems in north-west region of Azerbaijan’ aims to establish local agro-food systems that integrate sustainable food production, processing, marketing, distribution, and consumption supported by a demand driven agricultural advisory services system in the north-west region of Azerbaijan (Gakh, Balaken, and Zagatala)

Reporting Lines

Mr. Bariz Mehdiyev , Assistant to the FAO Representative

Technical Focus

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Azerbaijan, direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR, the operational supervision of the Programme/Operations Specialist, technical guidance from the Lead Technical Officer and the Project Manager, the National Communication Specialist will carry out the below mentioned activities for GCP/AZE/014/EC “Development of sustainable and inclusive local agro-food systems in north-west region of Azerbaijan” Project. The Specialist will work in close collaboration with the technical experts and projects’ personnel (national and international consultants), the Donor’s representatives and National Counterparts for the overarching goal of ensuring the proper monitoring and evaluation of the project activities. More specifically the specialist will

Tasks and responsibilities

• Review and further detail the project communication and visibility plan, as necessary and in agreement with the Donor and design detailed project communication strategy, including at regional level; • Propose and pursue cost-effective approaches for increasing the project’s visibility via various media outlets; • Create content that introduces the project, its objectives and expected results to a broad range of target stakeholders and final beneficiaries through publications, project website and other available resources, as well as to the media, including @FAOAzerbaijan Twitter account; • Develop information materials that provide an overview of the project and its expected results in printed and electronic formats; • Coordinate the sharing of the outcomes of the key project deliverables with different target audiences, determined before the action with the due attention to local levels and target groups; • Ensure dissemination of the latest news about the project activities and achievements, including outputs (such as technical publications including delivery to farmers and rural communities) and planned events; • Collaborate with mass media, both, web-based and traditional media, as appropriate, through activities such as organizing project site visits (if feasible), facilitating photo and TV coverage; • Ensure the sharing of good practices in extension materials in printed and electronic formats that convey relevant information clearly and accurately; • Oversee and finalize press-releases, monthly brief news, event descriptions, content of the promotional materials (both online and offline resources) that will be prepared regularly during the life of the project, according to the project’s Communication and Visibility Plan; • Develop a work plan for communication activities, monitor compliance and provide support and guidance to ensure objectives are met; • Conduct timely and accurate monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure the communications objectives are met and the strategy is effective; • Ensure that FAO and EU brand is promoted, according to the relevant guidelines, during outreach to local audiences and recipients in the field; • Supervise and contribute to filling of the EUDIGITOOL, the online platform for the EU funded Projects in Azerbaijan which the Donor operates and requires for all projects to timely update with project activities and upload all the visibility materials; • Collaborate with EU communications and visibility team to arrange photo shooting at relevant events and sharing via @FAOAzerbaijan Twitter account and upload to FAO digital photo archive, as appropriate; • Ensure that further resource mobilisation through effective communication and active engagement with the donor community is taken into consideration in the implementation of the Communication Strategy; • Prepare and issue of the press releases for events at the regional and national level, such as policy dialogues and innovation market places; • Assist in the organization of media encounters, such as press briefings and press conferences; • Assist in developing partnerships and contribute to the development of partners’ capacities via sharing FAO documents/knowledge products/training opportunities, as needed; • Contribute to developing synergy with other projects through relevant actions and products • Cooperate with local TV/ radio and other media for awareness raising and adequate advocacy • Arrange photo shooting on rural livelihood and faming with special attention to women, youth and other vulnerable groups • Contribute to the AAS strategy development on the part of communication, awareness raising and advocacy • Other related activities that may be required (for example, contribution to design and issue of leaflets, posters, reports, studies for publication/ dissemination, etc.).

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Graduate of communications, journalism, or a related social science discipline; • Working knowledge of English and Azerbaijani, and preferably Russian, too; • Minimum 5 years of work experience in similar fields with a strong command of social media, creating and managing partnerships; • National of Azerbaijan or resident in the country with a regular work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus • Teamwork • Communication • Building Effective Relationships • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

. • Research literature, communicate with specialists, and interview local producers/processors in order to generate quality daily visibility materials. • Maintain continuous contact with Azerbaijan Rural Women’s Association and other partner organizations to oversee visibility materials prepared by service providers for the project. • The Press Releases of the events prepared and submitted to dissemination in a timely manner • Extension learning materials for outreach and engagement prepared and disseminated • To maintain constantly high visibility of the project and its activities, in particular events at regional and community levels, established new businesses, organised food showrooms and fairs, farm tours. etc., the media campaign will be facilitated • Monthly update of the communication and visibility plan prepared • Excellent experience with computers and electronic networks; • Experience in the agricultural sector and with farmer communities is an asset; • Demonstrated previous achievements in resource mobilization through effective communication and interaction with the donor community is an asset.