The Position:

The Communication Consultant (Maternity Cover) will be based in the Country Office in Addis Ababa under the supervision of the Programme Analyst Communication (NOB) and the Head of the Communication Unit (P3).

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results

Job Purpose:

The purpose of this consultancy is to ensure the continuity and effectiveness of the work of the UNFPA Ethiopia Communication Unit during a maternity leave period. The consultant will provide essential support to the media, communication, and advocacy efforts that underpin UNFPA’s mission and programmes in Ethiopia.

In this role, the consultant will assist in the design, management, and implementation of the Country Office’s communication and publication strategies. These strategies are key to influencing the development and humanitarian agenda, enhancing public and media outreach, and mobilizing political and financial support for UNFPA’s initiatives.

The consultant’s support is crucial for the office’s ability to prepare and disseminate reports, briefing materials, and multimedia content, as well as manage the UNFPA Ethiopia website, social media platforms, and other visibility and advocacy activities.

Working under the overall guidance of the UNFPA Representative and the direct supervision of the Communication Analyst (NOB level) and the Head of Unit, the communication consultant will collaborate closely with the Programme and Operations Teams, Regional Offices, other UN Agencies, the UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Office, the UN Communication Group, and the Humanitarian Communication Group. This collaboration will ensure the effective implementation of the UNFPA Ethiopia country office communication strategy.

You would be responsible for:

Supporting the planning and design of internal and external communication and outreach strategies, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Keeps abreast of the programme development and implementation and ensures proactive involvement in the design and implementation of communication activities in support of reproductive health, population, gender and humanitarian programmes.
• Promotes innovative and creative approaches in response to the needs of the programme in external relations and social and behaviour change communication.
• Contributes to and maintains strong media and advocacy networks and relationships, ensuring regular media events and engagements of UNFPA personnel with key media figures.
• Liaises and coordinates with regional and global communication officers, as well as program staff on communication and advocacy activities.
• Supports the implementation of the joint UN Communication
• Strategy.
• Prepares timely responses to media queries, liaising as necessary with Regional and HQ in sensitive situations.
• Performs any other duties as assigned by the supervisor or as required by the post.

Ensuring the implementation of the CO publications strategy and plan, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Contributes to the production and dissemination of communication and advocacy materials, including brochures, posters, pamphlets, fact sheets, press releases, and newsletters, among others.
• Supports the CO publication activities, such as drafting articles, managing content, setting norms for publishing and design, maintaining regular contact with printers and other suppliers to ensure efficient production and dissemination of media materials.
• Assists in drafting and disseminating of media statements, speeches, and press releases.
• Edits reports, proposals, studies, press releases, and speeches to ensure quality, cultural and gender sensitivity, and social inclusion, making them valuable resources for advocacy and fundraising purposes.

Providing support for the regular update of the UNFPA website, social media platforms, CO web-based knowledge management system, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Regularly updates the website and social media platforms of the Country Office with relevant content.
• Develops and maintains a content calendar for social media, ensuring a consistent and strategic flow of posts that align with UNFPA’s communication goals.
• Supports the development of audiovisual materials that effectively highlight UNFPA’s work and convey its key messages.
• Assists in event management and coordination, contributing to the successful execution of UNFPA’s initiatives and campaigns.
• Provides support for quality assurance of UNFPA-supported research, surveys, assessments, and reports (annual reports, donor reports, field mission reports, etc).
• Plans and organizes travel to locations throughout Ethiopia to gather stories, videos, and photographs for use in publications and websites.
• Supports trainings for other UNFPA national staff on basic communication skills such as writing press releases, news articles for the newsletter, engaging with the media, and taking good pictures of projects and activities.
• Provides support in documenting good practices and lessons learnt from programmes.

Supporting programme implementation and resource mobilization, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Organizes field missions for visiting donors, partners, journalists, etc.
• Provides timely support in preparing and responding to global, regional, and national media and advocacy events linked to all programme areas.
• Supports the Country Office’s efforts in advocacy and resources
• mobilization.
• Promotes and disseminates corporate advocacy materials, such as the State of World Population and the World Population Day.
• Promotes and maintains public information campaigns on UNFPA activities such as HIV & AIDS, gender, census, youth activities, humanitarian response, fistula, reproductive health, and commodity security, etc.

Work relations:

External: Builds and maintains strong media and advocacy networks and relationships, ensuring regular media events and meetings between the Representative and key media persons.

Internal: Supports programme implementation by working with programme officers to make the UNFPA Country Programme visible by effectively communicating results and impact.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Advanced university degree in social sciences, journalism, communications and other related areas.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Up to two years of increasingly responsible experience in public relations and communication.
• Good knowledge of media and public relations.
• Strong advocacy skills.
• General ability to express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in written and oral form in English, with specific skills in writing press releases and articles/stories for traditional and electronic media.
• Familiarity with the UN system in general and specifically UNFPA mandate, programmes and procedures is desirable.
• Understanding of and familiarization with current development topics and political issues in Ethiopia.
• Proven ability to effectively manage relationships with media representatives, government officials, and other UNFPA partners.
• Familiarity with social media management platforms and design tools such as Canva and/or Adobe, demonstrating the ability to create and manage engaging content across various digital channels.
• Proficiency in current office software applications.

Languages:

• Fluency in oral and written English and Amharic.

Required Competencies:

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy / Advancing a policy-oriented agenda
• Result-Based Programme Development and Management
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners
• Innovation and marketing of new approaches
• Job knowledge / Technical Expertise

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA’s workforce – click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical insurance proof and other administrative requirements.

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.