Communications 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.

Eligibility criteria

Minimum age: 22 years old. Applicants must be nationals of or legal residents in the country of assignment.

Description of task

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Regional Operations Manager or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Communications Officer will fulfill the following duties and responsibilities:

• Supports the implementation of the regional communication strategy to keep AIDS high on the political agenda, by taking into consideration regional priorities and issues. This includes advocating for strengthened political will and mobilizing the media in the response to AIDS and supporting the UNAIDS mandate, objectives and priorities.
• Provide guidance and support to country offices for a communication assessment and analysis leading to the development and implementation of communication strategies based on national priorities and country contexts. This includes the training of communication staff, production and sharing of information materials and support for special events.
• Ensures that HIV is kept on the political agenda through media and communications support for the Regional Director’s high-level advocacy with government, civil society and other partners; visits by UNAIDS EXD, and/or other senior UNAIDS leadership; and support for high level meetings and conferences.
• Undertakes a range of internal writing assignments, including key messages and talking points for media engagement, media advisories, press releases, feature stories, presentations and acting as lead reviewer for UNAIDS publications at a country and regional level. Adapt and disseminate advocacy and information materials from Geneva, especially for key international days and campaigns.
• Maintains close collaboration with the news media through activities such as media interviews or engagements on key issues, provision information and press materials on the AIDS, sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender-based violence and COVID-19 epidemics in the ESA region and UNAIDS’s role therein.
• Manages UNAIDS RST ESA’s online and social media, including the RST ESA website, Twitter and Facebook accounts. This includes daily posts on social media and at least one story on UNAIDS global website and/or RST ESA website per week. Liaises with web designer to ensure RST ESA website’s look and feel is maintained and regularly updated.
• Participates actively in the regional inter-agency working group for the 2gether4SRHR programme and leads on UNAIDS-accountable activities in the 2gether4SRHR workplan.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements

Required degree level:

Master degree or equivalent

Education - Additional Comments:

Advanced university degree at the Master’s level or equivalent in communication, public relations, journalism, public or business administration, social sciences, international relations

Required experience:

60 Months

Experience remark:

A minimum of five years’ experience in communications, media relations, public relations or development field with governments, the United Nations System or other international bodies, including experience in project management, event management, coordination and/or facilitation of interagency working groups and partners’ meetings at national and international level.

Language skills:

• English(Mandatory), Level - Fluent
• French(Optional), Level - Working Knowledge

Area of expertise:

Public information and reporting

Driving license:

No

Competencies values:

Accountability, Adaptability and Flexibility, Communication, Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Working in Teams

Application procedure:

* Not yet registered in the UNV Talent Pool? Please first register your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/signup. Important: After creating your account, complete all sections of your profile and submit it. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink. Lastly, select the special call to which you would like to apply.

* Already registered in the UNV Talent Pool? Please first update your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/profile. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink to select the special call for to which you would like to apply.

Application deadline: 26 April 2021