Media Specialist

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 2024-2026, FAO will continue to implement emergency and longer-term, resilience-building projects and programmes in the context of the UN Strategic Framework for Afghanistan (UNSFA) and the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative, and the direct supervision of the Head of Communications, Strategy and Resource Mobilization Unit, as well as in consultation with FAO staff and relevant stakeholders in Afghanistan.

Technical Focus

The Media Specialist will support the development of outreach and advocacy tools and materials in local languages, enhance media and public relations, and undertake social media activities in line with FAO Afghanistan’s communications strategy.

Tasks and responsibilities

Media relations

• Foster and maintain media relations with key Afghan media outlets and journalists to help raise FAO’s profile and visibility. • Develop coproductions with Afghan media, including radio, television and social media channels. • Facilitate media interviews with the FAO Representative and other FAO personnel. • Pitch press releases, stories and op-eds to relevant Afghan media. • Conduct media monitoring and prepare media coverage reports on specific issues, when requested. • Update the media contact list regularly.

Public liaison

• Develop effective working relationships and agreements with national stakeholders, including civil society organizations and public institutions (such as academia) active in FAO’s sectors of activities. • Consult with FAO team leaders in Kabul and the provinces on a regular basis for updated information and guidance on strategic communication objectives. • Work closely with partners such as printers to ensure good communication products. Perform any other related duties or functions as assigned by the supervisor.

Communications

• Translate materials into Dari and Pashto and edit translations made by other FAO staff upon request • Conduct terminology research to ensure accurate and appropriate translations and coherence. • Collect information from the field on agriculture, food security, environment, irrigation, the rural economy etc. to generate case studies, lesson learned reports and social media content. • Collect, review, write and translate social media posts, particularly for the FAO-AF Facebook page. • Prepare a monthly social media content calendar with innovative and issue-focused content. • Participate in the development of communications plans for campaigns or key events like The World Food Day, World Food Safety Day, the Year of the Camelids etc. • Ensure that all communication products (brochure, newsletter, banners, publications) comply with global FAO standards.

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

• Advanced University (Master) degree or University (Bachelor) degree in a relevant subject such as agriculture, communication studies, journalism, environmental sciences, nutrition and food security, social sciences, or a closely related field. • For an Advanced University degree, a minimum of five (5) years of relevant subject such as agriculture, communication studies, journalism, environmental sciences, nutrition and food security, social sciences, or a closely related field. • For University degree, a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant subject such as agriculture, communication studies, journalism, environmental sciences, nutrition and food security, social sciences, or a closely related field. • Working knowledge (level C) of English and the local languages (Pashto and/or Dari); • National of Afghanistan.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Ability to identify and resolve problems expeditiously and pragmatically; • Should possess tact, good initiative and sound judgment, and have the ability to establish and maintain good working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds; • Ability to use a logical and structured approach to collate, archive and synthesis information; • Effort to rapidly assimilate FAO’s mandate.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.