Re-advertised: Communication Specialist, Johannesburg, ESARO, P-3

The Position:

The Communications Specialist will provide support for the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of a communications, visibility, and branding strategy to highlight the work of the 2gether 4 SRHR Programme a Joint United Nations Regional Programme that brings together the combined efforts of UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO. 

Under the direction of the UNFPA Regional Advisor, the Programme Manager of the 2gether 4 SRHR Programme, the Regional Interagency Working Group, and the communications officers of the participating United Nations Organizations. The Communications Specialist will increase the visibility of the 2gether 4 SRHR through overseeing the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of internal and external communication strategies. Identify opportunities for joint communication in support of advocacy efforts by the senior leadership of the four participating agencies. 

Job Purpose:

The Communication Specialist will have overall responsibility for planning, managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on all internal and external communications activities. This includes advocacy, knowledge management, and information dissemination related to SRHR, HIV, and gender-based violence. The role will be executed in partnership with relevant regional advisors from UNFPA, the four participating UN agencies, and regional partners working on SRHR.

You would be responsible for: 

A. Strategic Communication Initiatives and Interventions

• Develop, implement, monitor, and report on an integrated internal and external communications, visibility, and branding strategy that incorporates the use of traditional, social, and digital media to amplify the visibility of the 2gether 4 SRHR programme in partnership with the Regional Communications Task Team, Regional Interagency Working Group and for approval by the Regional Interagency Steering Committee. 
• Participate in the Communication Task Team of the 2gether 4 SRHR Programme to ensure a coordinated approach to increasing the visibility of the Joint Programme. 
• Identify opportunities to amplify the key accomplishments of the joint programme and develop talking points, briefing notes, and press releases for senior policy and decision-makers. 
• Develop, monitor, and evaluate a strategy to work with key influencers in the region to advocate for SRHR in the region. 
• Work with the participating UN agencies in the 2gether 4 SRHR Programme, units of UNFPA, other partners, and country offices to collate information, write, edit, design, and disseminate quarterly newsletters, human interest stories, best and promising practices, and content for UNFPA and partners digital platforms. 
• Oversee the design, layout, printing, and dissemination of marketing materials, publications and research (print and digital) produced on SRHR and HIV, that are consumer-friendly using a mix of data visualization techniques. 
• Lead efforts to engage media networks to build their capacity on key issues relating to SRHR in the region, promote regular and appropriate reporting on SRHR and HIV-related issues; 
• Establish and maintain internal regional information-sharing platforms for the sharing of publications information tools and resources. 
• Ensure that all materials are appropriately branded and conform to the branding strategy as required.
• Organize special events that are designed to amplify the visibility of the joint programme as required. 
• Provide regular inputs into the M&E reports of the joint programme on the communications and visibility activities undertaken. 
• Document and amplify the work of the 2gether 4 SRHR Programme to ensure that it is prominently featured in international, regional, national, and social media platforms. 
• Oversee the production, design, and layout of the annual report, technical reports, best and promising practices on SRHR. Represent UNFPA in relevant interagency communications forums as agreed to.

 B. Key Outcome

• Increased visibility of the work of 2gether 4 SRHR and UNFPA ESARO SRHR and HIV prevention in East and Southern Africa. 
• Increased visibility of SRHR, HIV, and GBV in the region in traditional and new media. 
• Regional information sharing platform developed. 

C. Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership. 

Qualifications and Experience Required:  

Education:  

Advanced University degree in Communications, multimedia, digital media, communications, journalism, marketing, health education/promotion, public health, social sciences, or other field directly related to the substantive areas of this position is desirable.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in communication and/or multimedia or similar work experience with government, UN, or NGOs on issues related to SRHR, health education, adolescent health, or related areas;
• Demonstrated experience in communications, marketing, website management and strategy and social media;  
• Strong advocacy and networking skills with the ability to liaise with and engage government, UN agencies, CSOs, media, and other stakeholders in a professional and friendly manner;
• Strong communication skills and proven experience with the use of social media and other channels for effective advocacy, knowledge sharing, and campaigning
• Experience in the use of ICTs to support networking across countries.                                                      

Language:

Fluency in English is required; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French, is desirable.