Communications Officer, Consultant I - Mogadishu

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WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

POSTING DATES

Opening Date: 17th October 2023 Closing Date: 31st October 2023

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, and the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetime. Every single day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

In Somalia, WFP works with the government, communities, and local & international partners to achieve Zero Hunger. The new WFP Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2022-2025 identifies five Strategic Outcomes through which the organization will work to achieve this goal. In Somalia, WFP carries out both crisis response and resilience programming in line with its changing lives and saving lives mandate. Crisis affected people in remote areas of Somalia receive relief cash, food and nutrition assistance, while WFP also provides common services for humanitarian partners. WFP also works with the Government of Somalia to implement longer term resilience programmes including social protection, nutrition and school feeding. WFP also works to strengthen livelihoods and food systems, always with a focus on national capacity strengthening.

The partnerships and communications team is responsible for strategic advocacy, resource mobilization and the development of partnerships to support the achievement of the WFP Somalia country strategic plan (CSP). Within this brief, the communications unit works to create an enabling environment for advocacy by controlling the narrative and setting the tone of public opinion around the situation in Somalia and WFP’s work; to strengthen WFP’s communications with the people we serve; and to ensure consistent internal communications around WFP’s mission and efforts.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The communications officer will collaborate with the team in executing strategies that will strengthen and harmonize narratives to support advocacy and resource mobilization, including collecting photos, video and story content from the field, supporting the production of high-quality external comms products (working across functions notably reporting team, and other teams, as necessary) and supporting media/high-level missions on the ground in Somalia. The communications officer will support the head of the unit when necessary in managing sensitive external and internal communications messaging and reputational risk management as required.

The communications officer will support strategic internal communications, working closely with cross-functional teams to ensure ownership/effective implementation of the WFP Somalia country strategic plan and crisis relief scale-up. He/she will support the programme unit in maintaining effective two-way communication with the populations WFP Somalia serves. This position reports to the head of communications.

WHAT WILL YOU DO? (not all-inclusive)

Strategic internal/external communication support

• Support with the timely production of specifically crafted internal/external messaging on sensitive, high level and/or reputational risk matters as required, particularly when the head of the unit is out of office, in consultation with the Country Director/Deputy Country Directors/head of partnerships/risk and compliance advisor as well as other senior management team members as required.
• Act as officer in charge when the head of the unit is out of office.

External communications

• Strengthen and harmonize WFP messaging to external stakeholders, including international and local media, partners and donors by helping to execute the WFP Somalia communication strategy, supporting media/high-level internal visits where appropriate, and the production of high-quality external information products.
• Increase the reach of WFP Somalia through social media and support the flow of quality content for both country office and Country Director accounts to highlight strategic issues, donor support, success stories and key achievements among others.
• Actively monitor social and conventional media to support WFP Somalia's risk management priority.

Internal communications

• Support internal communications, including ownership of the country strategic plan, countrywide priorities and the focus on the changing lives/development agenda.
• Working with the reporting team and other units as appropriate, ensure that WFP Somalia's internal communications and information management products are streamlined, efficiently produced with minimal overlap and in line with corporate standards.

Community engagement/C4D

• In collaboration with the programme team, continue to strengthen downstream communications with the people we serve.
• Support the production of SMS communication, radio broadcasts, audio recordings and visual communication products for the direct consumption of the people we serve where appropriate.

WHAT WILL YOU HAVE?

Education:

An advanced university/master’s degree or equivalent in communications, development, humanitarian studies or related fields or first university degree with additional years of related work experience.

Experience:

Minimum 5 years of experience in communications, information management or other related fields.

Language:

International Professional: Fluency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or WFP’s working language, Portuguese.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Exceptional and proven skills in written communication, able to clearly articulate information to both external and internal stakeholders. Experience in print journalism, speechwriting, subediting, preparation of high-level briefing notes etc. would be an asset. Strong oral communication skills would be an added advantage.
• Strong organizational skills and cross-functional coordination, as well as the ability to work independently in a team environment.
• Ability to work under pressure under competing deadlines and produce high-quality products.
• Ability to work in a team and establish effective working relationships with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Experience working in the UN, international humanitarian, or development sector will be an added advantage.

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Understands WFP’s Strategic Objectives and the link to own work objectives.
• Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of beneficiaries, new requirements of partners).
• Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission.
• Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Sets own goals in alignment with WFP’s overall operations, and is able to communicate this link to others.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs.
• Create an inclusive culture: Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
• Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills.
• Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.
• Focus on getting results: Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors.
• Make commitments and make good on commitments: Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities.
• Be Decisive: Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles.
• Build strong external partnerships: Demonstrates ability to understand and appropriately respond to and/or escalate needs of external partners.
• Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
• Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Capability Name Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level Media and Influencer Relationship Management Demonstrates ability to build and sustain effective collaborative relationships with key media contacts and influencers in area of expertise to raise the profile of WFP, build relationships and further organisational aims. Media and Communication Expertise Facilitates open verbal or written communication with media and influencers as required (i.e. through preparation of tailored written or visual materials presentations, and official documentation) to convey tailored messages. Engages in mutually informative discussion with media and influencers. Specialised Knowledge in Communications Uses sound theoretical knowledge of communications concepts to generate or facilitate the generation of effective communication materials across various media. Applies this to define work plans aligned to identified areas of WFP’s communications strategy. Sociopolitical Contextual Understanding Demonstrates deep understanding of the multilateral/interagency environment and the dynamics in which WFP operates which influences approach to working, policy development and decision making. Communication Strategy and Planning Applies advanced understanding of WFP communications strategy and best practice to effectively develop strategies to engage with media and other significant external stakeholders within area of responsibility. Oversees implementation, providing recommendations for improvement.

APPLICATION GUIDELINE

• Create your profile on E-Recruitment, apply and submit your application.
• Please note, the only documents required at this stage is your CV and cover letter.
• Applications that do not meet the above requirements will be disregarded.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• This is an international position and candidates must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment. (Female candidates are encouraged to apply)
• This position is based in Mogadishu, the selected candidate will be required to relocate to take up the assignment.
• The contract duration is 11 months (initial)

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Closing Date: 31st October 2023 (Midnight East Africa Time)

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WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.