Communications Specialist

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.

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

UN Women in Liberia supports the Government, civil society organizations, and other partners in developing and implementing innovative approaches to achieve gender equality and women's empowerment. This includes supporting national partners and UN agencies in implementing Liberia's gender equality commitments aligned with international standards, UN conventions, and resolutions. UN Women provides strong technical expertise to national and UN efforts, following the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Liberia. They build partnerships with civil society and relevant actors, strengthening coordination and cooperation on gender equality programming to achieve the goals of the Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030.

Focusing on four programmatic strategic priorities, UN Women in Liberia is implementing a wide range of programme focused on strengthening global norms and standards; increasing gender responsive governance and women’s leadership and political participation, including at local levels; enhancing women’s economic empowerment; ending violence against women; and engaging women in all aspects of peace and security processes.

For the purpose of supporting the UN Women extensive portfolio in making visible the multitude of actions implemented in partnership with government and CSO counterparts, strengthening advocacy around UN Women’s mandate, as well as communicating clearly and actively about all the results achieved for women and girls, UN Women Liberia is seeking to engage a Communications Specialist to support the offices communication needs in line with UN Women Strategic Note (2020- 2025) ensuring communications strategies, media relations and organizational outreach efforts are aligned with corporate communications policies and initiatives.

Reporting to the Country Representative, the Communications Specialist will collaborate closely with the Headquarters, Regional, Multi-Country Office and Country Offices’ (CO) colleagues to ensure communications strategies, media relations and organizational outreach efforts are aligned with corporate communications policies and initiatives. The Communications Specialist also collaborates with RO and CO colleagues to support outreach campaigns, resource mobilization and donor relations initiatives; The Communication Specialist mobilizes support in conjunction with intergovernmental processes, and support the activities and special events organized for UN Women. The communication specialist will support to advance the strategic positioning of UN Women and its mandate through effective outreach to raise awareness of the key stakeholders, target audience and donor community on the mandate, strategic goals, and activities of UN Women in Liberia; and amplify advocacy efforts on gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Under the supervision of the Country Representative, the IUNV Communication Specialist will undertake the following tasks:

1. Lead the development/ review and implementation of communication and outreach/advocacy strategies and plans, with a specific focus on media • Review and update and implement communication and outreach/advocacy strategies, including media strategies; ensure gender perspective; • Integrate communication, advocacy and outreach strategies into proposals for project/programmes and other initiatives; • Monitor and analyse print and social media and prepare reports; • Launch in-country UN Women/ UN system corporate and local/regional campaigns and special events; • Provide advice and guidance to and coordinate with Liberia CO in the region.

2. Lead the development and dissemination of advocacy materials in the Liberia CO • Develop and produce communication and advocacy instruments and materials, including briefing materials, press releases, and articles and coordinate its dissemination through effective channels; • Identify and launch information opportunities, activities, approaches and platforms and partners; • Provide advice on advocacy materials and coordinate launching flagship initiatives and publications in the region; • Lead the engagement and supervision of video producers and other communication specialists to produce audio/ visual material on UN Women’s work; • Develop brochures, factsheets, stories from the field to inform media and general public at the regional level; • Follow guidelines from and report to HQ.

3. Manage media relations for the Liberia CO • Lead relationship building with press in country; maintain and update database of relevant press; • Respond timely and clearly to media inquiries and to a variety of inquiries and information requests; prepare related correspondence; identify topics, background information, news-related development and coverage of interest; • Organize roundtable discussions, press conferences, and briefing sessions with press; • Facilitate interviews with senior managers; connect media with UN Women subject experts; • Finalize talking points.

4. Support outreach and partnership-building activities • Identify and develop new communication partnerships and alliances to enhance visibility; manage and nurture existing partnerships; • Liaise with advocacy partners and undertake outreach to civil society organizations, governments, and other groups to ensure that newsworthy information reaches the public and donors; • Guide and collaborate closely with communication colleagues in other offices to ensure consistency with corporate policies, messaging and initiatives; • Submit packages for programme initiatives for donor review.

5. Oversee the CO’s web/ online presence • Oversee and maintain (regional) websites, including developing design and content; • Coordinate COs’ web-presence in the line with corporate web policy; • Oversee and manage (regional) social media accounts in line with corporate social media policy.

6. Facilitate knowledge building and sharing • Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned from Liberia CO directly linked to programme country goals and activities and ensure exchange of information; • Provide training and workshops on communication and advocacy as appropriate. • Enhance the visibility of UN Women events, programs and results through the development of communication products that are disseminated via social media platforms (Facebook and Twitter), newsletters, radio, television talk shows and regional office and HQ websites. • Any other related duties as may be required

7. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Work Relations: • Works with programme and project including knowledge management staff to produce communication and knowledge products to improve understanding of the issues and lessons learned emerging from programme work • Supports programme to prepare compelling presentations, and other outreach material as requested

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day). • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers. • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

• Respect for Diversity • Integrity • Professionalism • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UN Women’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Core Competencies: • Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues • Accountability • Creative Problem Solving • Effective Communication • Inclusive Collaboration • Stakeholder Engagement • Leading by Example

Functional competencies • Ability to communicate sensitively, effectively and creatively across different constituencies • Good knowledge of web-based knowledge management systems • Good knowledge of social media platforms and experience in social media outreach • Ability to be strategic and analytical • Knowledge of gender equality and women’s human rights

communications, or advocacy, including in media and public relations (at national or international level ) • Experience in the use of social media. • Experience in media relations is an asset. • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills. • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing. • 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 Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment. • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

Liberia, Africa’s oldest Republic, is located at the western edge of the continent, on the Atlantic coast between Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire. The population of Liberia is 5.2 million and contains about 16 different ethnic groups. A large percentage of Liberia’s population lives in the capital. The UNV will be based in Monrovia the capital city of Liberia. The climate features a wet season and a dry season, but precipitation is seen even during the dry season. Temperatures remain constant throughout the year averaging around 26.4 °C (79.5 °F). Some visitors may feel cold during the day and evenings in the rainy season; also, most rooms are air-conditioned, so it is suggested that appropriate clothing (light sweater or jacket) be brought along. The country is generally safer, except for petty crimes, especially in the cities. It is mandatory to complete the United Nations Security course BSAFE. The current UN security level for Liberia is level 2. Upon arrival in the country, all UN staff receive a security briefing from UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS). Security recommendations from UNDSS must be followed by all UN Staff and UN Volunteers during their assignments in Liberia. There are hotels and guesthouses in various county capitals that are comfortable and have electricity and security. All UN Staff and UN Volunteers are to use only UN-approved guest houses and hotels. A gym is also available at the One UN House for all categories of staff based on the presentation of the UN ID Card.

The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. The Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications, and other basic needs.

UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Service, including Code of conduct, to the successful candidate.

You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.