Communications Officer

Volunteering Communications & PR Crisis & Emergency Response Medical & Health Admin

Overview

Create and manage communication strategies and content for health emergencies.

You have:

• Communications, public relations, or other relevant programs at the national and/or international level; experience with emergency response is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organizations.
• Exceptional writing and communication skills with the ability to translate complex ideas to a lay audience.
• Ability to work and produce results under pressure.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills with a proven track record of creating, facilitating, and strengthening partnerships.
• Sound understanding of the impact of emergencies and crises on social and economic development, and its burden on populations.
• Experience working in Africa and an understanding of the challenges and opportunities working in a diverse workplace.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

The mission of the WHO/AFRO Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Cluster is to strengthen Member States' capacity to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are exceeded, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and provide effective relief and recovery for affected populations.

This mission includes addressing over 100 health emergencies annually across the region, aiming to reduce suffering and save lives in areas impacted by natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and complex crises. Current EPR priorities focus on building resilient health systems; upholding health security through the International Health Regulations; enhancing integrated disease surveillance and response; and ensuring reliable health information and evidence are available to guide decision-making, especially during emergencies.

The Cluster is advancing the Regional Strategy for Health Security and Emergencies (2022-2030), which was endorsed at the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa. This strategy mandates Member States to achieve 12 targets by 2030, strengthening their preparedness, detection, and response capacities for present and future health emergencies. To support Member States, three flagship initiatives have been launched (2022-2026), promoting a Member States-led, whole-of-government, and whole-of-society approach that unites diverse disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally for optimal health outcomes for people, animals, and the environment.

To further extend its impact, WHO AFRO (Regional Office for Africa) joined forces with WHO EMRO (Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean) and Africa CDC in May 2023 to establish the five-year Joint Emergency Preparedness and Response Action Plan (JEAP). This collaboration, designed to tackle long-standing EPR challenges in Africa, focuses on eight priority areas for partnership and coordinated action. (https://www.afro.who.int/news/who-africa-cdc-bolster-partnership-tackle-health-emergencies-africa)

Reporting to the EPR Director and the EPR Strategic Support Manager, and working closely with counterparts in the EPR programme, WHO AFRO communications team and the Nairobi EPR Hub, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Strategic planning and branding

Serve as the communication focal person for the JEAP. Finalize and implement the communication plan for the JEAP in coordination with Africa CDC and WHO EMRO counterparts.
Support the finalization of the JEAP branding and style guide in coordination with Africa CDC and WHO EMRO counterparts. Develop and implement a communication strategy, and ongoing event-based communications plans, to ensure visibility for WHO EPR work and impact. Produce branding material for WHO EPR using WHO branding guidelines and WHO editorial style guide.

Content production

Produce compelling content, including web stories, photo stories, photo galleries and/or libraries, video stories, newsletters, bulletins and other written and/or other audiovisual content for publication on WHO and/or JEAP online and social media platforms to ensure visibility of WHO’s EPR programme.
In coordination with the WHO AFRO communication team, effectively use communication products to inform donors about WHO EPR.
Support specialized emergency or multi hazard risk communications, social mobilization and advocacy plans, during public health crises, emergencies, and outbreaks. Organize photographic and video shoots, interviews and filming opportunities to support high-visibility of WHO EPR and/or JEAP achievements for dissemination on social media platforms and regional and country websites. Take photographs of important events, people, and WHO work in the field for publication on the WHO and/or JEAP social media platforms and websites.

Online and social media management

Produce regular content for WHO social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram), including compelling captions, photos, social media cards, carousels, videos, reels and any other relevant formats or content.
Create and manage additional WHO EPR and/or JEAP social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.) as necessary. Oversee JEAP website content, ensuring it is up-to-date and aligned with branding and communication strategies in coordination with Africa CDC and EMRO counterparts.

Media relations

In coordination with WHO AFRO’s communication team, conduct media relations including organizing press conferences or media briefings, writing media advisories, press releases and media talking points; facilitating one-on-one interviews for WHO EPR spokespeople with international, regional or national media; and building and maintaining relationships with trusted journalists.
In coordination with the AFRO communication team, support regular media monitoring, monitor audience perceptions of WHO EPR and/or JEAP and conduct crisis communications as necessary.

Capacity building

Build and manage a designated pool of EPR spokespeople from WHO regional and country offices. Coordinate and deliver communication and media sensitization training for EPR staff.

Other

During deployment, duties may be modified, based upon the needs of the programme.

• Problem-solving and critical thinking. • Adaptability and flexibility. • Strong interpersonal and networking skills. • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Professionalism • Self-management

Communications, public relations, media or other relevant programmes at the national, regional and/or international level; experience with emergency response is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organizations.

• Advanced writing skills with the ability to communicate complex ideas to a diverse audience, including the public. • Accuracy and professionalism in production and/or editing of multimedia content (text, photo and video). • Advanced interpersonal, verbal, listening, written and visual communication skills and organizational skills. • Culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including media, community-based organizations, nongovernmental organizations, development partners, WHO country offices and health authorities at different levels. • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel. • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines. • Experience working in one or more countries WHO African Region is an asset. • Sound understanding of the impact of health emergencies and crises on social and economic development and its burden on populations is an asset. • Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 suite and office IT equipment. • Good working knowledge of all or some of the following is an asset: photo editing software such as Lightroom or similar; video editing software such as Final Cut Pro, Descript or similar; design tools such as Canva or similar; experience operating a DSLR camera or similar.

The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighboring Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Indian Ocean. Kenya has two levels of Government; National Government and 47 sub-national Governments called Counties. Counties are further divided into sub-counties. Kenya is a multi-party state with Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Kenya’s population of more than 40 million is growing at an annual rate of 2.2%. The country’s GNP per capita estimated at purchasing power parity (PPP) is $975, and the GNP is growing at an average rate of 0.1% annually. More than 26% of Kenya’s people live below the international poverty line of $1 per day.

Kenya’s main food crops are “maize, wheat, pulses, roots and tubers.” (FAO). Nairobi is a modern metropolitan city where most basic goods and services, health facilities, public transport, telecommunication and banking services and educational facilities are readily available. The city is widely connected through its main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the smaller Wilson Airport. Air transport is also available to many up-country destinations. The city is home to some 3,000 UN personnel mainly attributed to the fact that it serves as the headquarters for both the UN HABITAT and UNEP.

The socio-economic and cultural background of the immediate society the UNV would be living and working in is diverse and prevailing security conditions at the place of assignment is modest. The topographic and climatic features of the assignment location is highland cool and warm tropical climate.

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 8 months ago - Source: unv.org