Communications Officer, P4 (Limited Fixed Term – 1 year… World Food Program Johannesburg . WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Staff selection is made on a competitive basis and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance. ABOUT WFP The United Nations World Food Program is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger around the world. WFP’s mission is to end world hunger. Every day, WFP works around the world to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need. In emergencies, WFP gets food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural disasters. After an emergency, WFP uses food to help communities rebuild their shattered lives. Present in nearly 80 countries, the organization has the global footprint, deep field presence, and local knowledge and relationships necessary to provide access to nutritious food and contribute to lasting solutions, especially in many of the most remote and fragile areas of the world. world. We manage an operating budget of approximately $5.9 billion each year, distributing 12.6 billion rations to those most in need. We reach an average of 80 million people with food assistance in around 80 countries each year. The World Food Program office in Johannesburg is a regional office that coordinates and supports the delivery of humanitarian assistance and provides technical support to 12 countries in southern Africa, including Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT These jobs are located at Headquarters (HQ), Regional Offices (RB) and Country Offices (CO). Position holders provide advice on advocacy and communication issues and analyze and interpret material of a complex nature. In ROs, position holders report to the Regional Director or his/her designee, with functional supervision from the Head of Unit or his/her designee. These roles manage outreach and related communications for a region and coordinate all focal points in the region to ensure that the implementation of WFP’s global communications, outreach and marketing strategy is linked with the Communications, Outreach and Marketing Division. from Headquarters. JOB OFFER Based in the Communications, Promotion and Marketing and Reporting Unit (CAM) and in close collaboration with the Regional Director’s Office (RDO), the position will lead the design and implementation of the strategy and the basic promotion and communication activities carried out carried out by WFP in Southern Africa. region to enable the ‘Saving Lives and Changing Lives’ mandate and deliver on SDG 2. Reporting to the Head of CAM but working under the guidance of the Regional Director, the incumbent will drive the effective positioning of WFP priorities with governments national governments, regional power blocs, international financial institutions, member states of the African Union, centers of excellence, parliamentarians, academic institutions, civil society groups and movements, as well as intergovernmental organizations. Additionally, the incumbent will develop the advocacy capacity of regional colleagues and other relevant teams to implement effective advocacy initiatives. The consultant will work in the WFP Regional Office in Johannesburg, South Africa. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (not all inclusive) 1. Define and implement regional outreach and communication plans, support the implementation of the corporate outreach and communication strategy to position WFP with key advocacy stakeholders, maintain and enhance WFP’s visibility and reputation, and support fundraising activities, ensuring alignment. with WFP’s strategy. 2. Provide advice
3. Plan and execute advocacy and communication campaigns that favorably impact public opinion, opinion leaders, donors, international financial institutions (IFIs), regional power blocs and civil society to raise WFP’s profile and support the Changing Lives agenda. 4. Ensure the effective design and delivery of promotional products that effectively convey the intended message to the targeted audience(s). 5. Monitor a contact list of key regional advocacy stakeholders to ensure a regular flow of news/information. 6. Facilitate and oversee the generation of a variety of promotional products and content to support country and region-specific promotional activities, ensuring consistency with corporate messages and aspirations. 7. Plan and deliver internal communications on promotion so that employees understand and participate in WFP’s strategy and how they contribute to fulfilling WFP’s mission through promotion. 8. Analyze promotion opportunities, identifying trends and problems, presenting clear recommendations and influencing management to improve the effectiveness of communication and promotion strategies. 9. Define performance indicators and coordinate accurate and timely reporting, contributing to a comprehensive WFP view of outreach and communication activities that enables informed decision-making, assessment of goals and consistency of information presented to stakeholders . 10. Lead the capacity development of WFP staff in all aspects of advocacy, external relations and communications, ensuring that appropriate training is provided to staff, and provide advice to senior management to ensure consistent and consistent advocacy communications. of quality that produce the desired impact. 11. Build effective collaborations and partnerships internally and externally to align activities and ensure a consistent approach to communications. 12. Assume the responsibility of incorporating the gender perspective in all areas of work, to ensure the equal participation of women and men. 13. Contribute to preparedness actions, providing recommendations and technical guidance and monitoring the management of specific communications risks. 14. Others as required.
BASIC ORGANIZATIONAL CAPABILITIES OF THE 4Ps
Purpose • Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Uses an understanding of WFP’s Strategic Objectives to communicate linkages to goals and team work. • Being a force for positive change: Proactively identifies and develops new methods or improvements for self and immediate team to address job challenges within their own area of work. • Make the mission inspiring for our team: Identifies opportunities to further align individual contributions with WFP’s mission to make an impact in local communities. • Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Help colleagues see the link between their individual tasks and the contributions of their unit’s goals to the broader context of WFP’s mission. People • Find ways to strengthen people skills: Is able to identify, support and encourage focused work-based learning opportunities to address gaps between current skill sets and future skill sets needed by WFP. • Create an inclusive culture: Acknowledges the contributions of teammates and encourages the contributions of culturally different teammates to recognize the value of diversity beyond including it in programming for grantees. • Be a coach and provide constructive feedback: Provide and solicit ongoing constructive feedback on strengths and development opportunities to help develop individual skills while helping others identify areas for improvement. • Create an “I will”/“We will” spirit: Sets clear goals for self and others to focus team efforts in ambiguous situations (eg, unprecedented problems and/or scenarios). Performance • Foster innovation and creative solutions: Think beyond conventional team approaches to formulate creative methods for delivering food aid and assistance to beneficiaries. • Focus on achieving results: Maintains the focus on achieving individual results in the face of obstacles such as volatile or fragile environments and/or organizational obstacles. • Make commitments and keep commitments: Takes personal responsibility for keeping and meeting team commitments and provides security to stakeholders. • Be Decisive: Demonstrates the ability to adjust to team plans and priorities to optimize results in light of evolving directives, while responding quickly in high-pressure environments, such as emergency situations. Partnership • Connect and share across WFP units: Demonstrates an understanding of when and how to tactfully engage other units in conversations about impact, timing or planning. • Build strong external alliances: Network regularly with key external partners using formal and informal opportunities to understand each partner’s unique value proposition and to build and strengthen relationships. • Be politically agile and adaptable: Demonstrates the ability to adapt the engagement approach in the context of changing circumstances and partner expectations. • Be clear about the value that WFP brings to partnerships: Demonstrates the ability to articulate to internal and external audiences the value that individual contributions and immediate teams bring to partnerships.
FUNCTIONAL SKILLS Name of Skill Description of behavior expected for Competency Level Managing Relationships with Influencers, Media and Advocacy Demonstrates the ability to formulate and maintain strong relationships with advocacy stakeholders, key media and influencers. Leads the implementation of the identified strategy to raise WFP’s profile, build relationships and advance organizational goals. Advocacy, Media and Communications Expertise Provides guidance to team members in facilitating open and informative oral and written communication between key advocacy stakeholders, media and influencers. Leads a team in the preparation of custom written reports, presentation materials. Defense Communications Specialist Knowledge Uses specialized knowledge of defense communications principles and concepts to oversee the production of complex communication campaigns through various media, providing critical appraisal. Apply this in developing work plans and strategies that are aligned with WFP’s overall communication strategy. Socio-political contextual understanding Demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the multilateral/inter-agency environment and dynamics in which WFP operates that influence the focus of work, policy development and decision-making. Advocacy and communication strategy and planning Conceptualizes and manages the development of WFP’s advocacy and communication strategy, ensuring effective targeting of target groups, key stakeholders and the media to raise WFP’s profile and support initiatives fundraising. Leverages specialist expertise within the team as a key input to the strategy and oversees its implementation.
EXPERIENCES DESIRED TO ENTER ROLE • Has an excellent understanding of and experience in advocacy and communications in humanitarian and development contexts with a special focus on engaging global, regional and national platforms for desired policy and advocacy influence. • Experience in building alliances with global, regional and national governments for desired changes in policies and advocacy. • Has gained significant experience in exploring new opportunities and providing inputs to design and implement promotional campaigns. • Has designed and managed advocacy and communication initiatives and provided technical support and guidance to colleagues. • Has used an understanding of partner focus areas and knowledge of internal capabilities to create a unique value proposition for partners. • Has experience managing a team. • Has encouraged team spirit and contributed to a strong, inclusive and gender balanced work environment. STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Education: • Advanced college degree in Journalism, International Relations, International Development, Public Relations, Communications, or other relevant field, or first college degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/coursework. Experience: • 8 years or more of high-level advocacy experience, in both the humanitarian and development sectors. At least 5 years of experience in leadership positions, leading advocacy strategies and managing teams. • Demonstrable experience working with national governments, regional power blocs, international financial institutions, African Union member states, centers of excellence, parliamentarians, academic institutions, civil society groups and movements, as well as intergovernmental organizations. Knowledge and skills: • Excellent understanding of the humanitarian and development sectors and the SDGs, with particular emphasis on SDG 2 and its deliverables. • Excellent writing, conceptual, and analytical skills, including the ability to present complex issues and processes clearly to a diverse audience and in an actionable manner. • Demonstrated professional experience in research and writing, including through publications. • Ability to network and function well in a multicultural context and work with diverse teams. Languages: • Excellent working knowledge of English. • A second official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish and/or Portuguese) is desirable.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS The Limited Fixed Term Appointment (LFT) position is a non-mobile staff appointment in the International Professional category for a limited period of up to 4 years and is open to all nationalities. The position is based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and the successful candidate is expected to relocate. LFT position holders are not eligible to apply for other internally advertised mobile positions through Reassignment. WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package in line with ICSC standards (http://icsc.un.org) including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel and shipping allowances, 30 annual vacation days, vacations in the country of origin, education subsidy for dependent children, pension plan and medical insurance. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS This vacancy announcement will close on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. Send your resume to HRwfp@gmail.co.za Female candidates and qualified candidates from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply. WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate based on HIV/AIDS status. No appointment will be offered under any form of contract to members of the United Nations Advisory Committee on Management and Budget (ACABQ), the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), the FAO Finance Committee, the WFP External Auditor, the WFP Audit Committee, the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities for WFP, both during their service and within three years thereafter upon termination of service