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Media Specialist - United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)

UNOPS is a self-financing entity of the United Nations system, with more than a decade of experience in providing operational management services in developing nations and post-conflict/emergency situations.

Headquartered in Copenhagen, with regional offices in New York, Johannesburg, Bangkok, and Panama, UNOPS presently operates in over 60 countries providing to UN agencies and developing countries complex project implementations of client operations, loan administration and supervision, and advisory services for operations management.

UNOPS helps its partners in the United Nations system meet the world’s needs for building peace, recovering from disaster, and creating sustainable development. UNOPS is known for its ability to implement complex projects in all types of environments around the globe. In an effort to promote organizational excellence, UNOPS seeks highly qualified individuals for the following position:

Vacancy Code: UNOPS/AFO/SNOC/ 016/2011

Post Title: Media Specialist

Post Level: IICA 2

Position status: Non -rotational

Project Title: Africa Adaptation Programme

Org Unit: SNOC

Duty Station: Nairobi, Kenya

Duration: 15 April 2011 – 31 December 2011

Closing Date: 31 March, 2011

Background

The Africa Adaptation Programme (AAP) was launched by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with UNIDO, UNICEF and WFP, and with funding of US$92 million from the government of Japan, to support the efforts of 20 countries in Africa to mainstream climate resilience into their development planning.

A key priority of the AAP is to increase public awareness of climate change issues and the kinds of responses and actions that will be required to protect the sustainability of development in Africa from rising temperatures and declining rainfalls, among other effects of climate change.

To this end, a Nairobi-based project of the AAP is focused on improving the role African media can play in investigating, interpreting and reporting on the intersection of climate change and development with a view to better-informing both public debate and policymaking on this issue.

The project will seek to deepen the knowledge of climate change among African print, broadcast and web-based journalists, among other media professionals, and build their capacity to raise awareness among multiple stakeholders including the general public, civil society, the business community, academia and the public sector, in particular opinion leaders, policy shapers and decision-makers.

It will involve such activities as identifying journalists with experience on the climate change file to serve as focal points in each of the 20 AAP countries, convening training workshops, producing a manual on climate change for journalists, and exploring opportunities to make climate courses available to students in African journalism schools, among others.

To implement this project, a small team is being assembled in Nairobi, Kenya, in which each member must be capable of fulfilling multiple functions.

The position of Media Specialist will carry responsibilities in the areas of:
  1. Program
  2. Communications
  3. Administration
Duties and Responsibilities

Program
  • Assist in identifying key journalists, media and press associations, journalism programs and potential civil society organizations throughout the 20-country AAP members which can partner with AAP media capacity building
  • Assist in development of strategic planning and creative development of the AAP media capacity building programme, with a view to opportunities in the sphere of mobile and social networking media, in additional to traditional media sources
  • Liaise with editors and managing editors to support the editor engagement aspect of AAP communications and media capacity building
  • Assist where needed in preparation and sourcing of materials for trainings and workshops
  • Assist in preparation of initial list of media outlets to be monitored
  • Assist supervision and analysis of media monitoring reports
  • Assist in sourcing and editing of articles and programme stories for inclusion in project reports
  • Assist focal trainers in preparation of project reports
Communications
  • Support the communications team in the production of communications products, exhibits, events and campaigns, as required
  • Assist in solicitation and editing of newsletter articles, under the supervision of the communications officer in Nairobi, and liaising with the AAP Marketing and Communications Expert in New York HQ.
Administration
  • Assist in overall conception and preparation of workshop and training materials on as needed basis
  • Assist in planning and implementation of events, workshops and trainings
The Media Specialist is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

Require Selection Criteria

Competencies
  • At least 5 years professional experience as a journalist, or interacting with journalists, in reporting on or advancing issues on the development agenda in Africa
  • Understanding of the African media environment, both English and French, the challenges confronting journalists and opportunities to advance issues in that context
  • Knowledge of climate change and its implications for development in Africa an asset
  • Expertise in social networking and non-traditional media
  • Fluency in English. French is an asset
  • Ability to work in a team, under pressure and tight deadlines
  • Strong computer skills, particularly in web-based media
Education
  • Masters degree in journalism, international affairs, or other relevant discipline.
  • Seven to twelve years of relevant work experience preferably in combination with a bachelor’s degree, may substitute for the requirement for a Master’s degree.
Additional Considerations
  • Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
  • Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
  • Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
  • UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below the advertised level of the post.
For more information on UNOPS, please visit the UNOPS website at www.unops.org.

How to apply

Submission of Applications

Qualified candidates may submit their application, including a letter of interest, complete Curriculum Vitae and an updated United Nations Personal History Form (P.11) (available on our website), to afosnoc.vacancies@unops.org.

Kindly indicate the vacancy number and the post title in the subject line when applying by email.