Apply: UNDP National Public Information Officer

Deadline: 07 October, 2020

Location: Abuja, Nigeria

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is seeking to fill the position of National Public Information Officer.

UNDP works in nearly 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion.

Responsibilities

  • Provide secretarial support to the Humanitarian Communications Working Group (HCWG) by facilitating and managing the HCWG activities, including meeting schedules, follow up on action points, drafting minutes of meetings, and dissemination of key information to ensure a coordinated approach to humanitarian response
  • Support the development of country-level messaging under the guidance of the head of unit
  • Contribute to the development and implementation of joint communications strategies in coordination with senior leadership and key stakeholders around priority advocacy issues
  • Clarify agency, cluster, NGO and other system focal points for communications and maintaining contact lists
  • Support a fluid flow of information and shared analysis of developments in the country/region, including tracking trends and sharing reports with headquarters and key partners
  • Facilitate engagements with key actors, including relevant ministries, NEMA, SEMA, military high command and other stakeholders, to ease national and international media access to operational areas to promote visibility of the crisis and response activities of the UN and partners
  • Organise or support joint media field trips, press events, interviews and other outreach initiatives
  • Work with partners on advocacy initiatives to ensure coherence of coverage
  • Monitor and analyse current events, public opinion and press, identify issues and trends, and support the head of unit in advising the RC/HC, the DHC and OCHA head of office on media developments and approaches for media relations
  • Build and maintain relationship with national and international media to promote visibility of the humanitarian situation including the gaps and response activities of humanitarian partners
  • Build and update contact lists of leading national and international media agencies and influencers
  • Write public statements, press releases and op-eds
  • Arrange materials and logistics for press briefings and ensure full participation of leading media agencies at press briefings, and moderate press briefings whenever required
  • Follow up to ensure wide and accurate dissemination of OCHA press releases/reports in national and international media
  • Arrange interviews and briefings for high level delegations with leading media organisations
  • Organise regular meetings for humanitarian leadership with editors of leading national media to promote understanding and visibility of key issues relating to the crisis and response
  • Organise regular media dialogues to promote understanding and reporting on the crisis by national media providers
  • Support the public information head of unit in representing OCHA and the RC/HC or DHC and in providing on-the-record information to journalists and media
  • Produce and disseminate media materials such as press kits and background briefings
  • Organise strategic media coverage of key issues and events, including support for high-level missions
  • Make regular field trips to interact and collate information from multiple sources including partners and affected populations
  • Facilitate missions for national and international media agencies to ensure global visibility for the crisis and response
  • Propose ideas and support the production of text-based materials including feature articles, blogs, opinion pieces and explainers
  • Prepare, on the basis of official UN documentation and other sources, initial drafts of articles or chapters for inclusion in UN newsletters, periodicals, reports and books
  • Support the production or commissioning of quality visual content including photos, photo galleries (with captions), infographics, social-media graphics and films
  • Manage local-language translations of key communications materials
  • Work closely with OCHA information officers (reporting, information management) to leverage available information for public communications

Requirements

  • A Master’s degree or equivalent in International Relations, Communications, Journalism or a related field
  • A first level university degree with relevant academic qualifications with four years of relevant work experience may exceptionally be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree
  • Two years, minimum, of relevant professional experience, preferably in humanitarian/development reporting and communications work
  • Candidates with experience working in media and/or reporting greatly preferred
  • Excellent communication, drafting and analytical skills, with attention to detail
  • Good team player and ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines
  • Willingness and ability to travel to northeast Nigeria
  • Ability to work with initiative (minimum supervision), efficiency, competence, integrity and people of different national backgrounds
  • Fluency in oral and written English
  • Fluency in oral and written Hausa will be an asset

To apply and for more information, click here.

Photo source: Fredrik Walløe

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