Communications & PR

Overview

Lead communications strategy and team for WFP in Burkina Faso

You have:

• Advanced University degree in Journalism, International Relations, Public Relations, Communications, or other relevant field.
• Minimum 5 years of postgraduate related work experience.
• Fluency (level C) in English and French language.
• Experience in specialized communications practices.
• Experience managing small teams.
• Experience in fundraising communication projects.

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.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT:

Burkina Faso, a low-income, landlocked country in West Africa, is home to approximately 20.4 million people. Since 2018, the food security situation has significantly worsened due, leading to a sharp rise in forced displacement and exacerbating an already critical situation.

Despite agriculture being the primary livelihood for over 80 percent of Burkina Faso's population, the country faces a significant food deficit, while 40 percent of the population live below the poverty line. WFP’s work in Burkina Faso focuses on combatting malnutrition and food insecurity, promoting education, enhancing farmers' resilience, and strengthening national food systems.

In this context, WFP works with a variety of stakeholders, including the authorities, government donors, local and international media, etc, to maintain its position as the partner of choice in a dynamic operational context.

JOB PURPOSE:

The Communications Officer will lead the Burkina Faso Country Office communications team in defining and implementing effective external communications plans. The position will report directly to the Head of External Relations, as well as involve working closely with Country Office management, to develop, plan and implement communications activities which support WFP’s objectives in Burkina Faso.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority):

1. Develop, maintain and update an appropriate work plan for the assigned area, which implements the corporate communications strategy, in order to maintain and enhance the visibility and reputation of WFP, and support fundraising activities, ensuring alignment with WFP strategy.
2. Plan, manage and evaluate communications campaigns that favourably impact the views of the public, opinion leaders and donors in order to raise WFP’s profile and support fundraising activities.
3. Prepare communications products that effectively convey the desired message to targeted audience(s).
4. Maintain and develop a contact list of journalists and media outlets, and manage the regular flow of news/information about WFP’s work to the media, ensuring reputational risks are identified and managed.
5. Define a social media plan for the assigned area which leverages social media content, platforms, networks and partners to enhance coverage and support of WFP’s activities.
6. Generate and/or facilitate the production of donor specific visibility content including, text, photos, videos and audio for use across a range of integrated online platforms, in order to support global and country fundraising activities, ensuring consistency with corporate messages.

7. Track and analyse traditional and online media, to identify trends and/or issues, and propose solutions and ideas to improve the effectiveness of communication strategy and activities.

8. Manage junior communications officers/team, develop work plans, monitor performance against objectives, and ensure appropriate development to enable high performance.

9. Coordinate and prepare accurate and timely reporting on communications activities that enables informed decision-making, evaluation of objectives and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.
10. Build capacity of WFP staff on all aspects of external relations communication, providing advice, guidance and training to ensure consistent, quality communications activities that deliver the desired impact.
11. Work in close collaboration with counterparts to align activities and ensure a coherent approach to communications within WFP.
12. Contribute to preparedness actions, providing technical recommendations and guidance and monitoring the management of communications specific risks.
13. Other as required.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS (details to be determined by Post Managers):

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK: COMMON STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOUR

Upholds WFP values, principles, and standards

Respects others and values diversity

Stays focused and calm under pressure

Demonstrates humility and a willingness to learn

Leads by Example with Integrity

Demonstrates and encourages others to uphold the WFP values, principles and standards

Values diversity using respectful and inclusive language, and encourages others to do the same

Stays focused and calm when under pressure, encourages others to do the same, and offers guidance and support to manage difficult situations

Demonstrates humility and a willingness to learn and share knowledge, frequently seeking and acting on feedback, and pursuing opportunities to develop

Delivers results for maximum impact

Delegates appropriately

Adapts readily to change

Drives Results and Delivers on Commitments

Identifies and aligns objectives to the required outcomes, holding self and/or others accountable for the delivery of results for maximum impact

Delegates responsibly and provides appropriate support empowering others to deliver results

Responds readily to change in different contexts and adapts accordingly

Fosters Inclusive and Collaborative

Is inclusive and collaborative

Promotes inclusive teamwork and psychological safety by encouraging colleagues to collaborate by sharing ideas and openly raising issues

Gives timely and constructive feedback

Supports development for others by giving timely and constructive feedback

Builds and shares new perspectives

Seeks out, trusts and listens attentively to diverse views to capture, learn, build and share new perspectives

Communicates and fulfils WFP’s vision

Embraces curiosity and new ways of doing things

Analyses and evaluates data

Considers the impact of decisions

Applies Strategic Thinking

Communicates and fulfils WFP’s vision and operational outcomes to deliver meaningful solutions

Demonstrates curiosity, designs and implements new ways of doing things when relevant

Gathers data and different perspectives, shares knowledge and uses evidence to inform decision making

Implements decisions, considering the risks and implications of actions for teams, projects and other initiatives

Builds partnerships

Collaborates to deliver common objectives

Builds and Maintains Sustainable Partnerships

Initiates and builds partnerships by identifying and promoting opportunities for mutual areas of interest and benefit

Collaborates with partners to deliver common objectives by sharing information and co- creating innovative solutions with beneficiaries when appropriate

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES:

Capability Name

Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level

Media and Influencer Relationship Management

Demonstrates ability to formulate and maintain strong relationships with key media and influencers. Leads in implementing identified strategy to raise the profile of WFP, build relationships and further organisational aims.

Media and Communication Expertise

Provides guidance to team members in facilitating open and informative verbal and written communication between media and influencers. Directs a team in the preparation of tailored written reports, presentations materials.

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.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:

• Has gained experience in specialized communications practices and applies this to all activities.
• Has managed small teams of staff with related areas of expertise in the delivery of innovative communications projects
• Has provided support in leading projects and input into function policies.

STANDARD MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

Advanced University degree in Journalism, International Relations, Public Relations, Communications, or other relevant field, with minimum 5 years of postgraduate related work experience.

Language:

International Professional: Fluency (level C) in English and French language.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 2 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: wfp.org