Communications Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) is responsible for leading FAO's response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning, and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with the Regional Programme Leader (RPL), departments and divisions at headquarters, develops, promotes, and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities. RAP also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization's Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. RAP develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs). The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture, and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture, and rural development in the region.

The Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) Regional and Country Teams are dedicated to working with governments in preventing and controlling emerging infectious and zoonotic diseases by working closely with national and international stakeholders in the animal production and health sector. The tasks envisaged for this consultancy are to be carried out through the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), which is currently implementing a number of projects in various countries in Asia.

Reporting Lines

The Communications Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the ECTAD Regional Manager in FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP), the operational guidance of the budget holder, in close collaboration with FAO ECTAD RAP team members, regular consultation and coordination with FAO ECTAD Regional Communications Specialists and FAO RAP Communications Officer (RAPCOM), and in close collaboration with OCC branches and focal points,

Technical Focus

The Communication Specialist will be required to generate content from technical programmes, policies and program/projects reports and news report to enhance the visibility of ECTAD’s work. The Communications Specialist will need to ensure coherence with FAO’s corporate communication policy and operational guidelines for all communication and information outputs.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Familiarize him/herself with FAO’s corporate communications policy and operational guidelines to ensure mandatory coherence of all communication and information outputs. • Demonstrate a strong understanding of FAOSTYLE in drafting documentation without the need for continuous correction or oversight. • Assist in the planning and implementation of campaigns, events, and activities to promote programmes visibilities. • Work proactively with the FAO ECTAD RAP team members to identify opportunities for capturing key programme outputs and achievements and for promoting such information through visual communications. • Identify, develop, design, and update the information, education, communication, project visibility and awareness-raising materials (posters, briefers, e-cards, videos, presentations, publications etc.) using professional design software. • Create visually engaging and informative graphics, infographics, and videos to communicate complex information about animal diseases and prevention strategies. • Manage communication products/outputs produced through the Publication Workflow System (PWS) approval process including coordination of logo and copyright permissions. • Assist and develop visual communications for FAO ECTAD RAP website and social media. Undertake necessary analytics to measure the outreach. • Oversee operational and administrative processes to ensure timely delivery of communications outputs. • Liaise with the FAO’s Office of Communications (OCC) to ensure that all communications and information outputs comply with FAO’s corporate communications policies and guidelines, following appropriate review and clearance processes. • Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section; and • Perform other duties as required.

Liaison with the 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, including:

FAOSTYLE (English: https://www.fao.org/3/cb8081en/cb8081en.pdf; French: https://www.fao.org/3/AC339FR/ac339fr.pdf; Spanish: https://www.fao.org/3/ac339s/ac339s.pdf; Arabic: https://www.fao.org/3/ac339a/ac339a.pdf; Chinese: https://www.fao.org/3/ac339c/ac339c.pdf) ; FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm; FAO Names Of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en ; Story guidelines http://intranet.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/occ/Quick_Guides/UPDATED-Digital-Storytelling-Guide-EN-FINAL.pdf; Story template http://intranet.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/occ/Quick_Guides/FAO-Stories-Template-UPDATED.pdf; UN map standards (available to staff); FAO Brand and policy book (available to staff).

Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in communication, social science, journalism, political science, or a field related to the work of the Organization. • Category C requires a minimum of 1 year or relevant experience, while category B necessitates a minimum of 5 years of experience in communication, knowledge management, outreach, marketing, or related field; Candidates will be assessed based on their eligibility for each category. • Working knowledge (level C) of English and at least limited knowledge (level B) of another official language of the Organization; for COF.REG (Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian). For PSA.SBS, working knowledge of English will be sufficient.

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 • Extent and relevance of experience in FAO and/or the UN System would be considered an asset. • Extent and relevance of experience in producing digital content (photos, video, social media assets, web content). • Familiarity with FAO communications, policies and procedures would be considered an asset.