Organizational Setting

The position is located in the FAO office in Multan. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Pakistan focuses its efforts on poverty reduction, food security, sustainable livelihoods and rural development. FAO has partnered with the Government of Pakistan on research and development, training, extension services and strengthening of the staff capacity in planning and policy making. FAO has supported improvements in agricultural policy analysis, strengthened institutions. Enhanced integrated area development and expanded participation of marginalized and vulnerable communities in sustainable development.

The positions are envisioned under GCF funded “Transforming Indus Basin with Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Management” project.

Modelling of climate change scenarios for Pakistan shows that if agriculture and water management in the Indus River Basin continue along a ‘business as usual’ pathway, increasing temperatures and changes in precipitation will pose serious threats to the future livelihoods of farmers and to the Pakistani agricultural sector. In response to this challenge, the GCF funded project, “Transforming Indus Basin with Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Management”, will help shift Pakistan and Indus Basin agriculture from its current situation of high vulnerability toward an alternative paradigm wherein better information and farming practices will significantly increase resilience to climate change. To do this, the project will develop the country’s capacity to get and use the information it needs to cope with the impacts of climate change on agriculture and water management by putting in place state-of-the art technology (Component 1); building farmers resilience to climate change through skills, knowledge and technology (Component 2), and creating a wider enabling environment for continuous adaptation and expanded sustainable uptake of climate-resilient approaches (Component 3).

The project seeks to recruit a specialist to provide communications and knowledge management support during the implementation of the project.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Pakistan, direct supervision of Technical Advisor, in close coordination with Project International Officers and Provincial Project Staff in Hyderabad and Multan, National Communications Specialist in Islamabad, and when necessary with the Regional Communications Officer in Bangkok, the incumbent shall familiarize him/herself with FAO’s corporate communication policy and operational guidelines to ensure mandatory coherence of all communication and information outputs.

Technical Focus

•    Planning and monitoring of publishing projects via the corporate publications workflow system
•    Visibility of the project, through using innovative Communication and Knowledge Management methods and tools;
•    Delivery of high-end communications products/events aimed at promoting awareness and education on climate resilience agriculture.
•    Generation of content from technical programmes, policies and program/projects reports and news report.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    In line with FAO corporate and regional communication strategies, plan and prepare publications (both print and multimedia products, such as articles, leaflets, manuals, stories, videos, social media posts, images, infographics) related to the success of the Project in close collaboration with the PMU and PIUs and ensure their compliance with FAO publishing standards (FAO house style; FAO terminology and Names of countries; Publishing at FAO; Quality control guidelines).
•    In constant consultation with FAO Publications Group, plan and monitor publishing projects via the corporate publications workflow system (PWS).
•    Ensure quality of communication products by selecting (when required) external, professional editors and designers from FAO corporate roster.
•    Compile and disseminate best practices promoted by the project and lessons learned.
•    Coordinate and manage dissemination of Project’s publications on various channels,
•    Support the PMU in coordination and management of communications with stakeholders, agencies, clients and other agencies.
•    Liaise and build relationships with FAO communication colleagues and external counterparts (FAO Office of Corporate Communication, government agencies, United Nations (UN) agencies, international non-governmental organizations (NGOS), private sector, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders).
•    Assist in the production of Information products for different audiences, including for project activities, workshops and events and supporting field missions for collecting video footage and photography materials
•    Create and implement communications campaigns and events that highlight the importance of climate resilience agriculture in the Project area.
•    Support the training of PIUs in communication skills
•    Work in close collaboration with the M&E Officer in developing and updating M&E.
•    Plan, create and disseminate high-end communications products/events aimed at promoting awareness and education on climate resilience agriculture.
•    Submit soft copy of all works carried out and achievements to FAO Country Office, which will liaise with all relevant project officials.
•    Develop and maintain an online archive of FAO communication products, including a photo library and a video vault, ensuring that contents are accurately catalogued and indexed, with all the required metadata entered.
•    Assist in the development of various multimedia digital content, to ensure that GCF ’s activities are consistently reflected on FAO’s corporate websites and on FAO’s corporate social media accounts.
•    Assist in clearance processes for visibility items and communications materials through FAO’s Publications Workflow System, to ensure that all relevant publications are entered correctly in the system and keeping communication products and publications in the online repository up to date.
•    Assist in liaising with several communication service providers for the production of audio-visual communication materials, including photography and video production.
•    Work proactively with project teams to identify opportunities for capturing and sharing knowledge and disseminating information about major progress and results.
•    Using the GCF project communication strategy, develop and lead the implementation of an annual provincial project communication and knowledge management plan
•    Develop and maintain an events calendar, ensuring that major events are identified early;
•    Support the project teams to develop and manage messages and information material to ensure the success of major events.
•    Enhance and promote the visibility of the project, through using innovative Communication and Knowledge Management methods and tools.
•    Ensure that all outreach information material to be used by the media is written in a way that concepts and issues can be readily understood by the public;
•    Produce video documentary for capturing project results
•    Prepare National Factsheet/Case Studies to promote national projects results and activities
•    Ensure that the project web page is updated and linked to the ACWA Portal
•    Support GCF Project monthly, quarterly and annual reporting, including tasks such as gathering and compiling information and inputs from specialists, and working with MEAL Team to compile the reports.
•    Support organizing the GCF Workshops

FAO Standards and guidelines:

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:
•    FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en
•    FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia
•    Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en
•    FAOSTYLE: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en
•    FAO terminology: http://www.fao.org/faoterm
•    FAO Names Of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en
•    Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff).

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

Minimum Requirements

•    Master’s degree in in Communication, Knowledge Sharing and Management, Mass Media, Development Studies, International Relations, Public Administration
•    5 years of professional experience in communications, knowledge management, content development and management or relevant professional field;
•    Full proficiency in written and spoken English.
•    Nationality of Pakistan.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Strong understanding of FAO style in drafting documentation, without the need for continuous correction or oversight;
•    Extent and relevance technical experience in the areas cover by communication and knowledge management;
•    Extent of experience in undertaking communication and knowledge management tasks;
•    Proven ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing;
•    Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines;
•    Familiarity with FAO policies and programmes and systems is desirable;
•    Good communication and organizational skills, with demonstrated evidence of capacity to produce and present good reports;
•    Demonstrated experience in developing content that clearly communicates ideas and experiences for media, web, print production, and audio-visual productions;
•    Solid understanding of climate change issues is an added advantage.

Selection Criteria 

•    Candidates will be assessed against the requirements listed above.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION