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Job Description
Background information/reason for request/extension:
Cyclone IDAI landed on the Mozambican coast on March 14 2019 bringing heavy torrential rains and winds to the provinces of Sofala, Manica, Zambezia, Tete and Inhambane. Heavy rains continues in the region and is expected to continue in the next few days. There is a risk of further flooding as rivers are expected to overflow and dams may collapse. Sofala province was hardest hit with updates from the field indicating that 660,000 people may be affected and up to 1000 deaths have been reported in the media. Many public facilities, including hospitals were damaged: the major provincial hospital suspended emergency surgeries due to the damage to the hospital building and 19 clinics were damaged, thus are not functioning. The international community has been asked to prepare two mega camps with a capacity of 400,000 displaced people. A plan is needed for all clusters to respond to the need of those IDPs in order to support the government. Health challenges due to waterborne diseases are one of the major concerns. The United Nations and humanitarian partners in Mozambique have thus far appealed for US$40.8 million to assist those affected by the tropical cyclone IDAI. UNFPA is leading the Protection Cluster and Co-leading the Health Cluster, with special attention given to Sexual and Reproductive Health and protection interventions to ensure prevention of maternal morbidity and mortality and GBV. The government has mobilized health care providers to provide services to the affected, including in transit centers and mobile clinics, however they lack essential equipment, supplies, kits and tents to provide good quality services, including safe delivery as well as health personnel. Distribution of 1000 pre-positioned dignity kits has been initiated and procurement of more RH and dignity kits is underway. The CO is in dire need of additional staffing capacity. With limited capacities in the area of communications, specific communications support will be instrumental to enhance visibility of UNFPA’s emergency assistance and mandate. Timely support is critical due to meteorological forecasts indicating that more rain is expected in the coming days in the central provinces, which will significantly worsen the already dire situation.
The Humanitarian Communications Specialist will be based in one of the affected provinces (exact location to be determined pending assessments).
Role Description:
Under the overall supervision of the UNFPA County Office Representative, the incumbent will be responsible for helping enhance the information flow and visibility of UNFPA emergency assistance while highlighting sexual and reproductive health, gender and gender-based violence in humanitarian response. More specifically, the incumbent will place UNFPA stories in digital and print media, support national efforts and local communication campaigns, and advise the UNFPA Representative on available opportunities to strengthen UNFPA’s media presence.
Major duties and responsibilities:
Engage with electronic and print media sources
- Identify UNFPA stories of interest relevant to UNFPA’S work in-country and proactively pitch them to national, regional and global press corps and/or find ways to connect to these stories, working closely with colleagues in the field and CO across SRH, ASRH and GBV;
- Provide timely and field-driven content, such as print and video stories, for UNFPA’s regional and global websites and Voices;
- Provide UNFPA’s regional and country social media platforms with relevant updates and work closely with the Headquarters social media teams to integrate the humanitarian response into UNFPA’s social media outreach. Draft press releases, fact sheets and other rapid response information materials for use by UNFPA Headquarters and Regional and Country Offices;
- Assist in UNFPA advocacy activities, including providing support to public events, coordinating visits of senior UN officials, including field visits and participating in other UN /UNFPA advocacy initiatives;
- Provide Public Information Support to Country Office: (report to Country Rep and RCA as needed);
- Assist the UNFPA Representative and Regional Communication Adviser in preparing written materials, including talking points, articles, press releases, responses to coverage about UNFPA in the media, etc;
- Establish close working relationships within the UNFPA Mozambique, with the United National Country Team, senior UN staff and communication officers to identify communication synergies and ‘one UN’ opportunities;
- Cultivate and maintain effective working relationships with local, regional and global media and other relevant partners and identify opportunities for advocacy and communication partnerships;
- Act as Spokesperson on behalf of the CO as needed;
- Serve as the UNFPA focal point for the Communication to Disaster Affected Community (CDAC);
- Liaise with CDAC partners on on-going activities;
- Work with country team to ensure gender and GBV related information are incorporated through CDAC;
- Provide information on CDAC projects to HQ-based media team, which can then be pitched to international journalists.
Capacity Development
- Provide coaching to newly recruited communications staff and consultants, where appropriate;
- Coach and build communications capacity of staff members and staff of implementing partners responding to emergency/humanitarian crisis, as needed.
Any Other Duties
- Perform any other duties as required by the Representative and/or Head of Office, Regional and Sub-regional Offices and Headquarters.
Professional Experience
- Advanced degree in communications, public relations, journalism, advertising or a related field;
- 5 years of experience in communications, public relations, journalism or advertising; preferably some experience with public relations or information campaigns and in emergency settings, including as Spokesperson;
- Experience in or familiarity with a humanitarian setting a major asset;
- Proficiency in English. Proficiency in Portuguese, Italian or Spanish desirable.