Duty Description
About US:
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations frontline agency against world hunger. It is the largest and longest serving humanitarian agency in Uganda. Currently WFP focuses on three priority areas: Saving lives in Emergencies; Building Resilience through Predictable Safety Nets; Improving Nutrition & Mother-and Child Health; and Supporting Small Holder Farmers to Access Markets. WFP has operations in various parts of the Country.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- The jobholder designs and implements communications strategies and campaigns in order to strategically generate greater awareness, understanding and support for WFP’s smallholder and agricultural market programmes, the lessons learned and WFP’s continued commitment to smallholder farmers.
- Develops coherent messaging on WFP’s support to smallholder farmers and ensure consistent use of it among relevant staff and stakeholders in collaboration with Communications division team members in Rome and Nairobi, and the Uganda Country Office Communications staff;
- Facilitates and coordinates information requests and media coverage of activities as required;
- Actively participates in offline and online fora, and ensure that WFP and its experience is recognized and present where appropriate;
- Ensures effective presentation of messages and content related to smallholder farmers and agricultural market development on WFP.org, partner web portals, social media and other platforms;
- Manages the preparation and updates of communications products such as: monthly newsletters, social media, multi-media products and other publications, fact sheets, articles, studies and reports;
- Targets smallholder farmers: designs and implements grass roots communications strategies to build mass awareness of amongst farmers as to the advantages of improved post-harvest techniques, management, and hermetic storage;
- Creates content for press releases, online articles, prepare and publish newsletters and other company literature;
- Works in liaison with WFP staff and the media in a timely manner to support aligned activities;
- Keenly monitors, analyses and evaluates the relative effectiveness of communication strategies and knowledge sharing projects. Make recommendations for future action to senior managers accordingly;
- Supports the KNOC to organize events and workshops to promote maximum visibility;
- Provides management with expert advice on strategic communication and knowledge management as well as communications input and support to the creation of a communication strategy for WFP’s smallholder agricultural market support;
- Assists the senior staff and other colleagues as needed, with relevant input for activities such as briefing materials, funding proposals, reports and requests from partners as well as with preparing presentations, speeches and talking points.
Required Qualifications
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The ideal candidate for the United Nations UN World Food Programme (WFP) Communications Officer job opportunity should hold a University degree in one or more of the following disciplines: communication for development, journalism, international relations, communications or other related fields.
- A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in marketing and communications, knowledge management, public information or communications officer as well as experience in developing information strategies and programs.
- Extensive knowledge of the full range of communication approaches, tools and methodologies essential to planning and executing effective communication programmes and campaigns
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to deal patiently and tactfully with people of different national and cultural backgrounds
- Previous experience working in agricultural/agribusiness sector or with smallholder farmers is desired
- Excellent written and spoken English
- Experience with both internal and external communications roles
- Experience working in large, matrixed organizations with multiple stakeholders / reporting lines
- A blend of experience in both private and public sector, preferably the UN an advantage
- Excellent command of MS Office and first-hand experience with online content management systems (Wordpress) are advantages
- Fluency (level C) in English language and the duty station’s language.
Personal Competencies:
- Media and Influencer Relationship Management: Demonstrates ability to build and sustain effective collaborative relationships with key media contacts and influencers in area of expertise to raise the profile of WFP, build relationships and further organisational aims.
- Media and Communication Expertise: Facilitates open verbal or written communication with media and influencers as required (i.e. through preparation of tailored written or visual materials presentations, and official documentation) to convey tailored messages. Engages in mutually informative discussion with media and influencers.
- Specialised Knowledge in Communications: Uses sound theoretical knowledge of communications concepts to generate or facilitate the generation of effective communication materials across various media. Applies this to define work plans aligned to identified areas of WFP’s communications strategy.
- Sociopolitical Contextual Understanding: Demonstrates deep understanding of the multilateral/interagency environment and the dynamics in which WFP operates which influences approach to working, policy development and decision making.
- Communication Strategy and Planning: Applies advanced understanding of WFP communications strategy and best practice to effectively develop strategies to engage with media and other significant external stakeholders within area of responsibility. Oversees implementation, providing recommendations for improvement.
How to Apply:
All candidates who desire to join the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) are encouraged to submit their applications online at the link below.
https://career012.successfactors.eu/career?career_ns=job_listing&company=C0000168410P&navBarLevel=JOB_SEARCH&career_job_req_id=69101&rcm_site_locale=en_GB