Communications Coordinator – UNV
Job Description
National Specialist
| Organization | United Nations Volunteers |
| Host Entity | WFP |
| Country | Sudan |
| Duty Station | Khartoum (SDN) |
| Language Skills | English Arabic |
| Start Date | Immediate |
| Duration | 12 months |
| Application Deadline | 12/09/2021 |
Eligibility criteria
Minimum age: 22 years old. Applicants must be nationals of or legal residents in the country of assignment.
Check: Harvard University Free Online Courses
Description of task
Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of [insert function] or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV [insert Assignment Title] will:
- In consultation with the Communications Team Leader, assist in coordinating communications and public information campaigns and related issues and in various follow-up activities
- Assist in carryout out communications and public information activities specifically in support of augmenting WFP’s life-saving food assistance due to increased food insecurity due to COVID-19;
- Help to ensure that information, education and communication materials on COVID-19 prevention measures during the distribution of humanitarian assistance are widely distributed and promoted across humanitarian operations;
- Support in tasks related to the development, implementation and monitoring of joint UN communications initiatives, including COVID-19 response
- Specifically support in tasks related to coordinating joint information campaigns to support the humanitarian response in light of increased humanitarian needs due to COVID-19
- Support the preparation of key messages in light of how COVID-19 has exacerbated humanitarian needs, specifically food insecurity, and help draft messaging around how humanitarian operations will adjust, respond and ‘build back better’ from COVID-19
- Assist in fundraising and advocacy efforts to secure adequate funding to respond to increased humanitarian needs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic
- Participate in and take meeting notes of Core Donor Working Group Meetings and UN Communications Working Group Meetings to support the coordination of joint communications initiatives
- Contribute to the preparation of various written documents, e.g. fact sheets, situation updates, key messages, overviews, press releases, and human interest stories
- Coordinate the collection, production, and publication of communications materials and content from area and field offices
- Maintain an archive of communications materials including a photo database
- Support the country office in monitoring the media and feeding into public perception analyses
- Assist in ensuring the continuous and timely flow of information related to WFP’s programs to external audience, including the media
- Supports in the organization of UN press conferences, public events, communications campaigns, media dialogues, and journalist missions to facilitate information related to food security
- Maintain awareness of humanitarian and political developments related to food security issues
- Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.
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;
- Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
- 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.
Check: Stanford University Free Online Courses
Qualifications/Requirements
Required degree level
Master degree or equivalent
Educational additional comments
Master degree in Communications, Journalism, International Relations, Political Sciences, Public Relations, Social Sciences, Community Development or Administration.
Required experience
24 Months
Experience remark
- 2 years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level in communications or journalism related to political, development or humanitarian issues, is an advantage. Additional professional experience in an international organization is strongly preferred.
- Good technical knowledge of photography, design tools, and editing software to create external communications products.
Language skills
- English(Mandatory), Level – Fluent
- Arabic(Mandatory), Level – Working Knowledge
The English language courses offered by US EMBASSY
Area of expertise
Journalism, mass media and broadcasting, Emergency response, immediate relief operations, and post-conflict humanitarian aid operations, Political affairs and political reporting
Area of expertise details
- Experience in journalism related to politics, with professional experience in an international organization, is strongly preferred.
- 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 MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
- Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
- Sound security awareness;
- Have affinity with or interest in addressing the root causes of hunger and volunteerism as a mechanism for peace, sustainable development, and the UN System
Application procedure
* Not yet registered in the UNV Talent Pool? Please first register your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/signup. Important: After creating your account, complete all sections of your profile and submit it. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink. Lastly, select the special call to which you would like to apply. * Already registered in the UNV Talent Pool? Please first update your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/profile. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink to select the special call to which you would like to apply. This is a national UN Volunteer assignment, therefore only nationals of Sudan and legal residents in Sudan with the status of refugee or with the status of being stateless are eligible to apply. Application deadline: 12-09-2021.
For jobs from United Nations Volunteers visit: UNV Jobs Page
