Communications Specialist, Humanitarian Response Division (HRD), Geneva, Switzerland, P-3

The Position:

The Communication Specialist post is based in the Humanitarian Response Division (HRD) in Geneva.  Under the overall guidance of the Director of HRD, the post reports to the Head of the External Relations Unit. The Communication Specialist provides support to HRD in standardizing the humanitarian communication, increasing visibility for UNFPA’s humanitarian actions and enhancing media content in humanitarian emergency situations. 

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 overall purpose of the Humanitarian Response Division (HRD) is to facilitate the delivery of the UNFPA mandate by leading emergency response and supporting humanitarian preparedness actions in increasingly complex humanitarian situations, within globally agreed frameworks (2030 Agenda, Grand Bargain Commitments, Sendai Framework, etc.). The HRD leads in leveraging and increasing effectiveness, efficiency and capacity of UNFPA staff and partners to scale up UNFPA's role as a key global humanitarian leader. Through the Inter-Agency Standing Committee for Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (IASC) and other associated entities, the HRD acts as a point of convergence on humanitarian activities, including policy, coordination, programming, advocacy, field capacity development, resource mobilization, innovation, partnerships, technical guidance and, crucially, thematic integration, ensuring complementarity between humanitarian and development action within the organization.

HRD advocates among humanitarian agencies to include sexual and reproductive health and rights needs and sexual and gender-based violence prevention and response needs and humanitarian concerns and specific needs of women, adolescents and young people into the overall humanitarian preparedness and response frameworks. The HRD facilitates the development of UNFPA capacities to prepare and respond to the emergencies and to ensure the Agency is well equipped to deal with the context of fragility and disaster risk reduction.

The Communications Specialist provides technical support to advance the role of UNFPA in the domain of emergency information management. S/He will maintain strong collaborative partnerships across the organization and with external partners to ensure high-quality information products and services in the domain of UNFPA’s work in emergencies, and data management for better analysis and decision making. The Communications Specialist also builds strong collaborative relationships with Country Offices, Regional/Sub-regional Offices, and Headquarters to develop and maintain up-to-date the UNFPA global Humanitarian Action Overview. S/he works in close collaboration with other work streams in HRD, other entities within UNFPA and with external partners.

You would be responsible for:

• As part of the External Relations Unit and in collaboration with the HRD humanitarian data adviser and the Media and Communications Branch (MCB), effectively contribute and play a key role in the development of UNFPA global humanitarian outreach strategy, such as coordinating  UNFPA’s Global Humanitarian Action Overview (HAO), and providing quality assurance to flash updates, situation reports and any other public document.
• As part of the Humanitarian Action Overview process, ensure tracking and maintaining up-to-date information on results achieved and funding gaps. 
• In close cooperation with the Global Emergency Response Team (GERT) communication specialist, and MCB coordinate compelling stories and pitches from the field that demonstrate the importance and impact of UNFPA’s work in humanitarian emergencies from country offices in support of resource mobilization efforts for the HAO and the Humanitarian  Thematic Fund.     
• Manage the consolidation of HRD inputs for the humanitarian section of UNFPA Annual Report and other publications to communicate results and progress in humanitarian work.
• In collaboration with the knowledge management specialist and other units in HRD, ensure systems are in place to effectively consolidate information on activities and impact of UNFPA’s actions in emergency and humanitarian settings.
• Contribute regular inputs to integrate HRD information into UNFPA’s social media outreach.  
• Draft summaries, and updates, information materials, as needed, on humanitarian emergencies and UNFPA projects across the globe for internal and external audiences,  in close working relationship with GERT communications specialist, MCB and Communications Specialists in Regional Offices particularly for countries with a Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP).
• Support to the organization of HRD led public events including roundtable discussions, launches, etc., as relevant to promoting UNFPA’s humanitarian work. 
• Contribute to system improvements and efficiency gains that can increase the productivity of the HRD through the application of modern information technology tools.
• Ensure quality assurance of HRD publications and support the utilization of UNFPA humanitarian standard templates and managing production of print and audio visual materials for emergency interventions,  in line with UNFPA’s emergency policy procedures and other relevant policies in UNFPA.       
• Represent UNFPA / HRD in external meetings such as the IASC Communication and Advocacy Group and internal UFPA meetings such as the publication committee.

Any other duties

• Performs any other duties as may be directed by the Head of External Relations Unit, the Director and/or Deputy Director, including emergency deployment.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

Advanced university degree in International Relations, Communication, Media or Social Sciences. 

Knowledge and Experience: 

• 5 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in humanitarian communication with international organizations.
• Frontline emergency experience is a distinct advantage.
• Demonstrated experience in identifying unique opportunities for humanitarian communications and visibility.
• Experience in managing any risks related to humanitarian communications (i.e. protecting the image and mandate of the organization).
• Experience in photography, videography, social media, and story-telling is an asset. 
• Experience in planning and managing public events.
• Experience in using technology as a medium for communication and creating visibility, such as experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, good knowledge and experience in handling of web-based, social media and multimedia and design tools.
• Experience working in communications in the UN humanitarian system is an asset.
• Ability to take initiative, multitask, work independently and proactively.
• Excellent drafting skill in English for humanitarian communications.

Languages: 

Fluency in English is required.  Working knowledge of other official UN languages an asset. 

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,
• Communicating for impact

Functional Competencies:

• Job knowledge/technical expertise
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for visibility for humanitarian emergencies.
• Leveraging resources of partners and  building alliances and partnerships to advance the humanitarian goals 
• Providing a technical support and strengthening the capacity of country offices.

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 clearance, visa issuance 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. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.