Communications, Outreach and Reporting Team Leader

Organizational Setting

FAO Afghanistan is investing, across all 34 provinces, in resilience reinforcing actions that focus on protecting agriculture livelihoods and local ecosystems, boosting local production of nutritious foods and cash-incomes, and safeguarding critical agriculture sectoral development gains achieved over the past couple of decades through revitalizing rural markets and economy. In 2023, FAO will contribute to the humanitarian components of the UN Strategic Framework 2023-2025 through four priority actions: (i) Safeguarding Wheat Seed Security, (ii) Enhancing Local Production of Nutritious Food, (iii) Livestock Protection and Dairy Sector Support, and (iv) Restoring Irrigation Structures to Boost Cash Incomes. FAO will also contribute towards resilience building activities and longer-term transformational processes as part of the implementation of the UN Strategic Framework 2023-2025.

Reporting Lines

The Head of Communications, Outreach and Reporting reports to the FAO Representative, and will work in close coordination with Deputy FAOR and Head s of Filed Programme and Operations Teams.

Technical Focus

Develop strategic communications products to raise the profile, strategic positioning and visibility of FAO, also the incumbent will support the resources mobilization efforts, including lead the communication, outreach and reporting team. The incumbent will also supervise the social media efforts of the FAO Representation in collaboration with other corporate accounts.

Tasks and responsibilities

The incumbent will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Lead the Communications, Outreach and Reporting Team:  Implement the Communications Strategy of the FAO Representation in Afghanistan for 2022.  Directly supervise the National Knowledge Management and Communication Specialists and the Graphic Design Assistant.  Coordinate and prepare the celebration of UN World days, particularly the following: World Humanitarian Day (19 August). • Collaborate with the International Reporting Specialist to oversee the reporting function for the FAO Representation in Afghanistan. • Contribute to strategic positioning and messaging with regard to the full spectrum of FAO’s contribution in Afghanistan:  Working with the Representative/Deputy Representative, the FAO Afghanistan leadership team and programme teams across the country, contribute to the development and updating of FAO’s key strategic positions and messages with regard to its contribution and work in Afghanistan;  Ensure that evolving strategic messages are reflected whenever possible in FAO’s Communication, Outreach and Reporting products;  Ensure that FAO’s evolving strategic positions and messages are shared with FAO’s regional and global communications team. • Supervise and oversee media relations of the FAO Representation. In particular:  Write and disseminate local, regional and global news releases.  Prepare and distribute media advisories and press conferences to relevant journalists.  Organize media trips with international journalists to cover FAO related issues, projects and success stories.  Develop and maintain close and strategic contact with national and, in particular, international journalist covering Afghanistan.  Develop a Listserv mailing list in collaboration with CSI department in headquarters.  Swiftly handle media requests in coordination with technical experts and senior management.  Train FAO staff in how to deal with journalists.  Monitor media coverage as well as media trends in order to provide strategic advice to senior management on key issues. • Develop strategic communications products to raise the profile, strategic positioning andvisibility of FAO, as well as to support resource mobilization efforts:  Support the preparation of key communication materials for donors briefings.  Develop and update talking points or speeches on relevant issues, particularly related to the emergencies work of the Organization. • Supervise the social media efforts of the Representation in collaboration with other corporate accounts:  Manage social media channels, @FAOAfghanistan twitter account and FAO Afghanistan Facebook page, as per the FAO social media guidelines: https://www.fao.org/communications/policy/social-media/en/  All social media assets should be produced must comply with FAO standards, including: • Social Media Branding guidelines: https://www.fao.org/3/cb5044en/cb5044en.pdf • FAOSTYLE (English: https://www.fao.org/3/cb8081en/cb8081en.pdf; • FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm; • FAO names of countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en; • UN map standards (available to staff); • FAO Brand and policy book (available to staff)  For videos intended for social media, liaise with OCCI to clear the scripts prior to editing. The social media videos should follow the branding guidelines outlined here: https://www.fao.org/3/cb5044en/cb5044en.pdf  Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section  Manage the daily and foster community engagement with multimedia content.  Keep track of the analytics, set targets, and measure and monitor progress on the social media accounts.  Contribute with photo galleries to the FAO in Emergencies Flickr account. • Produce the following communication products:  High-quality written content: • Strategic communications products highlighting FAO’s vision, approach, programmes, results and impacts • Ensure that all sort of publications meet the corporate standards and continue implementing a shift in the office culture to submit all publications through the Publications Workflow System.

o Supervise the regular updating and maintenance of the website of the FAO Representation in Afghanistan, as well as the blog Afghanistan Diaries. o Supervise the conception and production of visual communication materials in close collaboration with the graphic designer. o Coordinate any translator work in collaboration together with the Knowledge Management and Communications Officer. o In support of the production of the communication products ensure that all publications and documents are disseminated via the FAO document repository and processed in a timely manner through the corporate Publications Workflow System (PWS), from their planning to production and dissemination Additionally, work in constant contact with the Publishing Group at FAO and ensure that all corporate publishing standards are adhered to in publications and documents. • Represent the Organization at the following fora:  UN Communications Working Group in Afghanistan, maintaining a close relationship with communication counterparts.  Any other UN fora such as the UNCG Crisis Group in UN Headquarters.  Act as focal point for OCC, OER and RAP.  UN and non-UN Partner meetings upon the request of the FAO Representative Meetings • Coordinate the procurement process of FAO visibility and merchandising items, from the selection of items, artwork design to the distribution and tracking. • For all mentioned tasks liaison with the Office of Communication (OCC) will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, appropriate review and clearance processes.  All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards mentioned above.  Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section. • Perform any other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced degree (master’s or Ph.D.) in one relevant subject communication, journalism, public administration, agriculture economics, nutrition and food security, social sciences, or closely related fields. • At least 7 years of professional experience in Communications, Outreach and Reporting; • Strong technical expertise in data collection methodologies, and sampling techniques;. • Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other FAO languages (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese or Russian) for consultants.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is essential. • Relevant experience in data collection methodologies, sampling techniques, statistical analysis, • Previous experience with the UN is an advantage. • Ability to establish effective working relations with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds. • Extent and relevant experience in developing various strategic programming/technical documents and liaising with relevant stakeholders. • Excellent organizational skills. • Familiarity with FAO technical tools. • Experience with the United Nations or other international agencies. • Experience working with governments in developing countries. • Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. • Demonstrated ability to work as an effective team member in complex multi-cultural environments. • Demonstrated initiative and ability to deliver results within deadlines.