Advocacy and Communications Specialist, Kabul, Afghanistan

A. Coordinate the implementation of the Country Office Communication Strategy:

• Review and (if necessary) revise the Country Office Communications Strategy in close consultation with senior management and programme teams, together with other members of the I&C team; • Manage the implementation of the communications strategy, preparing annual work plans and updating the same on a regular basis; • Supervise the NPO and other I&C staff, providing them with managerial direction and motivation; • Provide guidance to all other I&C related personnel that may be working with individual programme areas (e.g. the census operations) to ensure the correct representation of UNFPA; • Oversee the development of all types of methods of communications - print, TV, radio, web, photo, including speeches - to reach media and public; • Ensure that all outgoing communiqués to high-level officials are written according to protocol and professional standards; • Organize and facilitate training sessions to improve and increase media/communication skills and capacity of Country Office programme officers; • Organize and facilitate training sessions to strategic media focal points on UNFPA’s mandate and relevant topics; • Coordinate media activities around events with a strategic impact; and • Oversee the UNFPA’s Country Office web news portal, ensuring a timely, accurate and comprehensive content.

B. Provide strategic advocacy and communications advice to Senior Management:

• Establish and maintain good relations with the Government, UN agencies, donor counterparts and (inter)national media to enhance cooperation and ensure coherence in public information activities and messages; • Liaise with the UNFPA Information and External Relations Division and the UNFPA Asia Pacific Regional Office to align the Country Office's work with UNFPA's regional and global communications efforts; • Monitor relevant global, regional and national news media to identify trends in coverage priorities to effectively position UNFPA media outreach and respond to misinformation; • Identify pro-actively and act upon communication opportunities and challenges; • Provide guidance and support to Senior Management in planning and implementing advocacy and communication activities that project UNFPA’s branding and image accurately and effectively; • Assist in the formulation and implementation of a resource mobilization strategy for the Country Office, and mobilize, in coordination with UNFPA regional office and UNFPA Headquarters, additional financial resources; and • Cooperate with all units within the Country Office to provide support for all advocacy and communication requirements.

C. Enhance the capacity of the Country Office to build reliable and sustainable partnerships and advocate effectively:

• Participate in the UN Communications Group, liaise with the SRSG's spokesperson and the UNAMA media team, and provide support to the UN overall I&C activities aimed to enhance the image of the UN in Afghanistan;
• Establish cooperation with other I&C representatives of other agencies to create synergies; • Assist in evidence-based advocacy efforts for the ICPD agenda with national institutions and other UN agencies represented at the national level; • Pursue innovative ways to maintain and create new partnerships with government and non-government agencies; and • Maintain a continuous flow of information with government and external development partners.

D. Performs other job related duties as assigned by the UNFPA Representative and/or Deputy Representative required to ensure the success of the Country Programme.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Commitment to UNFPA Values and Guiding Principles; • Developing People/Fostering Innovation and Empowerment/Performance Management; • Team Work/Communication/Self-Management/Emotional Intelligence; and • Strategic Thinking/Results Orientation and Commitment to Excellence/Decision-Making.

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Advocacy/advancing a policy oriented agenda: • Result-based programme development and management; • Leveraging the resources of partners / building strategic alliances and partnerships; • Innovation and marketing of new approaches; • Job knowledge / technical expertise

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Advanced University degree in Communications, Public Relations or other related field; • Five years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the field of advocacy and communications; • Excellent writing and oral skills in English; knowledge of another UN language is an asset. • Strong interest in development work, especially the mission of the United Nations Population Fund and dedication to the principles of the United Nations; and • Field experience in the countries with similar cultural backgrounds as Afghanistan is a strong asset.
• Ability to work in a pressured environment with strict deadlines.

How to apply:

In accordance with the 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, are required to renounce such status upon their appointment. Exceptions to this rule are very limited and can be made only for: (a) stateless persons; (b) newly appointed staff members who have applied for citizenship by naturalization, when such citizenship will be granted imminently; (c) acting staff members in the General Service and related categories with permanent residency status, on promotion to the Professional category; (d) staff members appointed under a temporary appointment. Please understand that UNFPA is not in a position to provide advice on or assistance in applying for any citizenship.

• No expectancy of renewal in accordance with UN Staff Regulations 4.5