Communication Specialist (Humanitarian), P-4, TA, Arab States Regional Office (ASRO)

The Position:

The Communication Specialist (Humanitarian) is located in the Arab States Regional Office (ASRO), Cairo. S/He works under the direct supervision of the Regional Communication Adviser and dotted line supervision by the Regional Humanitarian Adviser. The Communication Specialist provides support to ASRO in regional and country-based humanitarian communication, increasing visibility for UNFPA’s humanitarian actions and enhancing media content in humanitarian emergency situations including the impact of climate change.  

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

While the Arab region has been faced with a number of complex and protracted crises over the past 20 years, there has been some further acceleration in fragility in the post-Covid period with Sudan and Gaza / Palestine being among the most complex and acute crises at the moment. Climate change, the wider fall-out of the Ukraine war, and overall economic deterioration in the region are further exacerbating the vulnerability of the affected populations in the region and blurring the lines of those in need of assistance. UNFPA's Arab States Regional office covers 14 programme countries and 1 main partnership office for the GCC in Oman. ASRO supports humanitarian interventions in 10 out of these 15 countries (Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen) in response to internal displacement and refugee movements. In 2024, there are an estimated 75.4 million people in need of humanitarian assistance across these countries (refugees, IDPs, host communities), an estimated half of them being women. UNFPA’s humanitarian interventions focus on the advocacy for and provision of sexual and reproductive health and rights needs; gender-based violence prevention and response needs; humanitarian concerns and specific needs of women, adolescents, and young people into overall humanitarian preparedness and humanitarian response frameworks. 

The Communications Specialist provides technical support to advance, in the context of humanitarian emergencies and the impact of climate change, the visibility and advocacy role of UNFPA in the Arab States by (1) creating content, and supporting Country Offices (COs), on communications related to humanitarian emergencies; and by (2) researching and writing human interest stories, social media posts, and other content for UNFPA’s Arab States regional channels. The Communications Specialist will build and/or maintain strong collaborative relationships across the Organization including Arab States Country Offices, the ASRO communications team, including at the Hub in Amman, the Media and Communications Branch (MCB), Humanitarian Response Division (HRD), and other Regional humanitarian communications specialists in relation to corporate humanitarian contents and communication strategies and campaigns. 

Specifically, S/He will be expected to deliver on the following responsibilities:

Provide public humanitarian information support to ASRO and Arab States COs

• Support the creation of a humanitarian content website/tab within the ASRO regional website; move existing humanitarian content to the site; develop new humanitarian content for the regional website;
• Conceptualize and support the organization of ASRO / Humanitarian Hub-led public events including roundtable discussions, launches, campaigns, etc., as relevant to promoting UNFPA’s humanitarian and climate change-related work; 
• Draft key messages and media QA, Op-Eds, RD statements, stories, social media posts, media advisories, and pitches for journalists; Support preparation of field missions including journalists' trips, and video productions;
• Respond to media inquiries, and help coordinate media trips or other press events; 
• Develop messages and communications materials (e.g. talking points, press releases,  op-eds, social media posts, media advisories) for use by ASRO and CO personnel when engaging with partners and donors;
• Develop key messages and scripts for infographics, videos, and other public information materials; 
• Edit brief public humanitarian information materials such as press releases, factsheets, brochures, and humanitarian situation reports;
• Support, as relevant, humanitarian communication components of regional conferences and workshops organized by UNFPA; 
• Support the Regional Publications Committee for humanitarian content publications;
• Compile and create humanitarian content for the regional newsletter; 

Develop media and social media content  

• Identify stories of interest to the media and relevant to UNFPA’s humanitarian work in-country and in the region and liaise with the COs, and as relevant, ASRO Hub, HRD, and MCB communication teams on how to pitch them;
• Develop timely and field-driven content, including social media posts and video stories, to promote stories and other content and campaigns on various social media platforms and UNFPA’s regional and global websites.
• Draft summaries, and updates, information materials, as needed, on humanitarian emergencies and UNFPA projects across the region for internal and external audiences,  in a close working relationship with MCB and HRD Communications Specialist particularly for countries with a Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) or (Regional) Refugee Response Plan (R/RRP).
• Assist in UNFPA humanitarian and climate change-related advocacy activities, including providing support to public events, coordinating, as relevant,  visits of senior UN officials, including field visits, and participating in other UN/UNFPA advocacy initiatives.

Emergency Communication

• Support the finalization of / rollout of regional and CO crisis communications protocols;
• Provide quality assurance to humanitarian publications (appeals, sitreps, human interest stories, etc) by COs in the Arab Region including supporting the utilization of UNFPA humanitarian standard templates and managing the production of print and audio-visual materials for emergency interventions,  in line with UNFPA’s emergency policy procedures (once approved) and other relevant policies in UNFPA; 
• Serve as ASRO communications focal point for emergencies, highlighting UNFPA’s work to the media, providing guidance and support to regional and country communication officers or focal points on key advocacy and media opportunities;
• Support COs implementing humanitarian response in developing and implementing communication plans in humanitarian settings; 
• Serve in ASRO Preparedness and Crisis Team;

Capacity Building

• Guide/build capacity of ASRO and CO communications officers on their communications outreach around humanitarian issues and the use of digital/social media;
• Coach and build humanitarian communications capacity among UNFPA Country Offices and implementing partners in emergency settings and as part of preparedness efforts, and provide training to journalists on covering sensitive issues related to the UNFPA mandate; 

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:

Advanced University Degree in Communication, International Relations, Journalism, or other fields directly related to the substantive area.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• A minimum 7-year experience in advocacy and communication, including at least four years working in international development. Field experience working on humanitarian issues is desirable 
• Experience in communication strategy development, excellent media contacts, and proven success pitching stories to high-profile international media outlets; 
• Excellent research and writing skills, with experience writing reports, newsletters, and program updates, video production, and developing web content;
• Proven experience working on sexual and reproductive health, gender, and population issues;
• Willingness to travel on short notice when necessary, to provide communications support during emergencies, document UNFPA’s work in the field, and to provide media and advocacy support to field office personnel. 

Languages: 

• Strong command of English, including excellent writing skills. A good Knowledge of Arabic or French languages is desirable.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity;
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system; 
• Embracing cultural diversity; 
• Embracing change.

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results;
• Being accountable;
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen;
• Thinking analytically and strategically;
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships;
• Communicating for impact.

Functional Competencies:

• Internal and external communication and resource mobilization;
• Creating visibility for the Organization;
• Leading global/ regional/ country advocacy for organizational priorities;
• Communicating Information and Ideas

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.