Communication and Media Adviser, Regional Office, Dakar, Senegal, P5

The Position:

The Regional Communication and Media Adviser covers West and Central Africa and performs a strategic role in the regional team. As a member of the West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO) team, the adviser develops the regional communications strategy and implements the work plan. The adviser works in close collaboration with management, technical and operations colleagues in the WCARO team, and as a member of the global communication network, works closely with the Division for Communication and Strategic Partnership (DCS). The adviser ensures efficient and timely delivery of results in line with the regional work plan.  In addition, the adviser delivers strategic communications support to country offices in the region and provides guidance and capacity advice to communications focal points in country offices.

The adviser works under the overall guidance and supervision of the Regional Director and in close collaboration with the other units of the Regional Office, which operates along broad thematic areas designed to stimulate and strengthen UNFPA programmes and results in the West and Central Africa region.

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 primary roles of the Regional Communication and Media Adviser are:  

• To sustain and increase public awareness of ICPD core issues and UNFPA’s work in the region by promoting and protecting the UNFPA brand and reputation through media and other channels at national, regional, and global levels;
• To provide policy guidance and strategic advice to country offices in the region on effective and innovative strategies to build UNFPA’s visibility and reputation among the media, UN agencies, partners and public, and to build the communication capacity of staff;
• To help ensure that UNFPA’s branding and public messaging about its mandate and programmes is consistent across the region and reflects the Fund’s global communication priorities, adapted appropriately to the regional context;
• To provide strategic communication support, guidance and advocacy in emergency and humanitarian contexts;

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced university degree in the field of Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, or equivalent professional experience in the communication areas, combined with an advanced university degree in a relevant discipline required.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• A minimum of ten years’ professional experience with demonstrated ability to achieve powerful media coverage and drive brand reputation and recognition for international organizations;
• Proven ability to prepare for and manage reputational crises within an international context;
• Solid active network of journalist and editor contacts;
• Superior writing skills;
• Strong verbal, listening and presentation skills; 
• A keen understanding and working knowledge of issues related to the ICPD Programme of Action;
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships at all levels in a multi-cultural, matrixed environment;
• Proven ability to lead and inspire, exhibit integrity and empathy, be a team player with initiative;
• Experience working in an international PR agency and/ or managing a PR vendor is desirable;

Languages: 

• Fluency in English is required, and French is desirable to enable effective communication with English speaking and French speaking country coordination groups and local organizations (West and Central Africa region).

Compensation and Benefits:

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

Disclaimer: 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm

In accordance with the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.