WHO Communications Officer

Background

ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING

The incumbent will act as a focal point for communication activities at Gaza level and will report directly to the Communications, Advocacy and External Relations Team Lead, under the overall guidance of the WHO Head of Country Office. S/he will also work closely with relevant technical officers and communications focal points in the respective Regional Office and Headquarters HQ. S/he will engage with local subject matter experts to agree on best tactics to advocate WHO’s work, goals and achievements, and feed this information back to regional and headquarter colleagues. The incumbent will interact with a broad range of officials from the press and media, partner organizations and institutions, target audiences, health cluster partners and official representatives from the national authorities to obtain information and, as necessary, provide advice on communication opportunities within Gaza.

Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following duties:

1. Identify subjects of interest for communication activities and products pertaining to the emergency preparedness and response efforts at the country level. Design communication materials and tools and ensure the rapid and timely dissemination of information to all partners, through traditional and social media channels.

2. Support the development of content for emergency-related advocacy tools, in line with established WHO guidelines and standards used throughout the Organization, to ensure consistency of approach. Review and propose content and liaise with the web teams at all levels on the appropriate channels for and presentation of materials and messaging.

3. Participate in the production of relevant, high-quality media tools, including audio-visual, photographic and printed materials, television and radio programmes, multimedia presentations, social media, videos and press releases, etc., to highlight WHO’s visibility, achievements and success stories.

4. Work closely with the other country and regional/HQ Communication Officers, if any, in identifying with the press/media to disseminate information on emergency prevention, preparedness, recovery and response strategies and efforts. Support the planning of interviews and filming opportunities to support high visibility of WHO achievements through television, radio and newspapers, etc.

5. Participate in the development of communication products to be used by the Country Office to advocate for support from Donors and other Stakeholders. To respond to country office needs.

6. Work with relevant counterparts within the health cluster, regional and field offices, other WHO departments, UN agencies, and other partners to identify communication opportunities and prepare communication initiatives on specific topics.

7. Perform all other related duties as assigned.

IMPACT OF FUNCTIONS

• Purpose of the Position

Within the context of the WHO Country Office Operations and health emergencies, the incumbent will assist in the development and implementation of a communication activities, in line with the WHO global communication strategy; identify subjects of interest to develop communication activities and products; highlight achievements and results in emergency prevention, preparedness, response and recovery efforts; ensure the accurate and timely production and dissemination of high-quality public information products to showcase WHO’s work on the ground; and liaise with the press/media.

Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication

Required Skills and Experience

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

• Essential:

A first level university degree in communication, journalism, political science, social sciences, international relations or related field from an accredited/recognized institute

Desirable

Courses in communication techniques such as graphic design, visual language and the use of social media.

FUNCTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Ability to write well in English and produce engaging communication materials.
• Proven skills in the development and implementation of communication/media products and tactics.
• Excellent interpersonal skills complemented by the ability to conceptualize ideas and advocate consensus.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure to achieve multiple deadlines.
• Ability to "think out of the box" and to make innovative proposals to extend communication reach.
• Knowledge or understanding of WHO mandate and goals in the emergency incident management context.
• Knowledge of public health sector and issues.
• Demonstrated ability to work within an emergency context at the country level.
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Excel).
• Familiarity with the use of graphic design, visual design, social media, website development and publishing software.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• Essential:
• At least two years’ relevant experience in communication and/or advocacy.
• Proven experience in writing advocacy documents and in the production of communication materials and products

Desirable

• Experience supporting humanitarian emergency or health outbreak response and recovery activities
• Prior working experience with WHO/UN or with an international nongovernmental organization.
• Experience in organizing advocacy campaigns.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Expert knowledge of English and Arabic.

Intermediate knowledge of French or other WHO languages is desirable.

APPLICATION DETAILS:

Applications must be submitted by Sep 4th 2024

Type of contract: LICA- UNOPS

Duration: six months with a possibility of extension.

Applications must be in English and include your CV.

WHO HAS A NON-SMOKING WORK ENVIRONMENT