Communication and Media Officer

1- Organizational Location and Context

The Lebanon Country Programme (CP) 2017-2022 combines emergency, humanitarian response, resilience and development support in a politically and security complex environment. The CP is designed around 3 integrated and inter-related outputs (i.e. RH, Gender/GBV and youth) with an overall goal of improving access to reproductive health /family planning services. Attention to population dynamics and gender are supportive strategies and the programme targets the most underserved populations, especially women and youth/adolescents including refugees, marginalized and vulnerable groups.

With the COVID-19 outbreak since early 2020 compounding the already dire and challenging situation in Lebanon, UNFPA is providing immediate assistance to alleviate the implications of the situation on women and young girls in particular in what concerns their access to reproductive health and protection from GBV. This assistance is delivered mainly through UNFPA’s partners across the country and in close collaboration with the line ministries and governmental institutions as well as in partnership with UN agencies and organizations.

On August 4, 2020, a major explosion at the Beirut Port resulted in more than 200 deaths, 6,500 injured and more than 300,000 displaced. The explosion caused major material and infrastructure damages to the capital Beirut within 5 km radius from the explosion site including on the health facilities. Accordingly, UNFPA activated its emergency response at the onset of the explosion to be able to provide life-saving interventions.   

In 2021, UNFPA will continue delivering on its mandate by providing life-saving interventions to those mostly affected by the economic and health deteriorating conditions as well as those affected by the Beirut Port Explosion.  Support will continue targeting Syrian refugees including SRH and GBV services and outreach. In 2021 UNFPA will introduce new innovative approaches including cash and voucher assistance within its GBV programme. In addition, UNFPA will continue its partnership with key strategic stakeholders including government counterparts and civil society organizations for strengthening national capacities and resilience to address and cope with the exceptional social, economic and health conditions with increasing proportion of persons living in poverty to more than 50%. Policy support and generation of evidence will remain a key aspect of UNFPA’s operations in 2021.      

In addition to being guided by the Lebanon CP, UNFPA also contributes to the key priorities and results in the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP) - regarding the Syria Crisis, the UN Strategic Framework (UNSF) 2017-2021 namely in the areas of health, gender equality, human rights and youth, the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reform Framework (3RF), and the COVID-19 response plan.     

Based on the above and in order to ensure promotion and leveraging of UNFPA’s humanitarian/development work through development and dissemination of key messages, adequate and sound visibility for donors and partners, production of knowledge products and tools, analysis of programme impact, handling public relations, preparing various documentation/reporting  among other, UNFPA is intending to recruit a Media and Communication officer for an initial one year. 

The UNFPA office in Lebanon is based in Beirut and the programme is implemented in collaboration with a wide range of partners including NGOs/CSO, line ministries, UN agencies and research and academic institutions.  In 2021, UNFPA collaborated with more than 30 partners (i.e. gvt, CSO, UN).

The Communication and Media Officer will be operating with UNFPA through a hybrid model (i.e. main office in Beirut as well as through remote working facility) and as required, will travel to respective UNFPA programme sites countrywide.

The Communication and Media Officer is responsible for the overall development, management and execution of the communication efforts of the CO.

The Communication and Media Officer reports directly to the UNFPA Head of Office and collaborates with all CO staff and personnel.  

2- Job Purpose

The Communication and Media Officer will provide guidance to (a) update, implement, and monitor the UNFPA Lebanon Communication Strategy with continuous update of the Strategy as required, (b) support the implementation of the Country Programme while ensuring its linkage to the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, the Nairobi Commitments as well as the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, (c) promote the work and visibility of UNFPA Lebanon among partners, international community, regional and local media in line with the Global Branding Strategy, and (d) promote internal communication in accordance with the One Voice approach. 

The Communication and Media Officer will represent UNFPA in the various inter-agency communication and advocacy groups and will contribute to the joint UN efforts in this area.  She/he is also a member of the of the UNFPA regional (Arab States) communication focal points and collaborates on a regular basis with the Regional Communication Advisor (RCA) on all strategic information in the context of the UNFPA country programme.

3- Duties and Responsibilities/Expected Results

• In close cooperation with UNFPA Lebanon programme units, revise, update and monitor the communication strategy that will step up UNFPA’s visibility in Lebanon and position it on its issues (namely RH, GBV, youth empowerment, with consideration to gender and cultural aspects. The strategy includes the regular use of all types of media channels and platforms (i.e. written, audio, visual, social, digital, etc), is culturally and politically appropriate, and is implemented with regular monitoring of impact;
• Continuously update UNFPA Lebanon website based on the new corporate global branding guidelines and gradually update it with stories, (including with the support of ASRO’s web editor), to reflect the issues, developments and achievements of the CO’s work;
• Manage UNFPA Lebanon office social media platforms (namely facebook, twitter, instagram, youtube, etc) with regular evaluation of the engagement and outreach;      
• Ensure use of analytics on social media to measure impact of UNFPA’s work among the general public at large and followers in particular;
• Work closely with the UNFPA Lebanon team and relevant partners to reinforce a culture of documenting good practices by developing necessary tools and guidelines as well as continuously identifying possible best practices and successful stories on UNFPA projects, policies and achievements in the country. Ensure promotion of success stories and best practices through various means such as national/social media, local/international partners, donor reports, newsletters, etc as well as with the UNFPA Arab States and the UNFPA Communication Branch at HQ New York;
• Assess UNFPA Lebanon office and partners’ needs on communication and support the delivery of a tailored capacity development programme;
• Compile and prepare media advisories, sitreps (country, regional, OCHA, other), flash appeals, press releases, press kits, advocacy material/package, fact sheets, newsletters, dashboards, human stories, power points, background information, as well as other elements on UNFPA’s work and mandate area in Lebanon both in English and Arabic and ensure their wide distribution to media networks and other relevant partners;    
• Compile content and edit UNFPA Lebanon newsletter (as well as other relevant thematic newsletters), and ensure its dissemination to UNFPA partners;
• Develop a database, including a comprehensive mailing list of media, donors, national and international development partners, and ensure its update on a regular basis;
• Organize awareness raising /training sessions for media personnel introducing the organization's principal focus areas, and the country programme work in Lebanon as well as on thematic areas i.e. GBV, SRH, etc;
• Organize visibility events – particularly with donor supported programmes - involving media representatives including press conferences, report launches, project launches and closures, media breakfasts and media/donor visits to project sites in the field;
• Facilitate/ accompany on field visits for regional/ international media experts /reporters/ photographers to showcase UNFPA’s work and follow up on where need be;   
• Develop a photo gallery/database on UNFPA supported efforts in Lebanon and ensure the use of these photos for public information, reports, newsletters, social media, website, advocacy products, etc;
• Follow up with photographer, story writer and infographic designer on developing visuals and stories related to all pertinent responses
• Lead the design and implementation of UNFPA advocacy/media campaigns;
• Prepare concept notes/TORs for developing communication elements and products and support identification/engagement of creative suppliers; 
• Prepare talking points, speeches and information briefs as required for the Head of Office/Assistant representative as well as Resident Coordinator/UNFPA Representative;
• Monitor/analyze media coverage on UNFPA’s work in the country and contribute to the environmental scanning reports by identifying opportunities, risks and threats of relevance to UNFPA;
• Liaise and follow up with designers and production houses to produce reports, posters, leaflets, illustrations, videos, etc. in collaboration with programme teams;
• Represent UNFPA in the UN Interagency Communication, Information and Advocacy Working Groups;
• Ensure optimal communication flow and coordination between the Lebanon Country Office, the Regional Communication Adviser, and Media and Communication Branch at HQ office in NY as required; 
• Enhance and expand partnership with media and initiate various networks with the media in support of UNFPA areas of mandate;
• Work with the UNFPA country office and partners to provide guidance and support for marking international events and occasions of relevance to UNFPA such as International Women’s Day, International Youth Day, World Population Day, 16 Days of Activism, World Elderly Day, etc;
• Provide input into various reports/documents namely annual, progress, donor, concept notes, proposals, technical, strategies, policies, etc;
• Act as UNFPA’s spokesperson with the media as requested;
• Perform any other task as requested.

4- Work Relations

The Communication and Media Officer will work under the direct supervision of the UNFPA Head of Office and in close working relationship with all programme and operations teams including the humanitarian team as well as the Information Management specialist. She/he will manage communication team where and if feasible (i.e. social media focal point, communication inters/volunteers).

She/he will work with the national counterparts (both governmental and non-governmental), local media, UN Sister Agencies, UN Resident Coordinator Office, UN Interagency Communication/Advocacy Group to establish/reinforce functional and strategic partnerships, enhance coordination mechanisms and systems and facilitate provision of UNFPA support and response – including in crisis and humanitarian situations - in communicating/promoting issues related to UNFPA mandate, ICPD, the Nairobi Commitments and the roll out of the SDG 2030 agenda in the context of the CP, UNSF, LCRP, 3RF and National/Sectoral Development Plans.

She/he will work closely with the Regional Communication Adviser in the UNFPA Arab States Regional Office and the colleagues in Media and Communication Branch as well as other related branches and divisions at UNFPA HQ office in New York to ensure optimal communication flow and necessary coordination.

5- Job Requirements

Education: 

Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Communication, Media, Global Development, Journalism, Social Sciences, Anthropology, Marketing, Public Relations or an equivalent University specialty/degree that is directly relevant to UNFPA’s mandate.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum 6 years with a Bachelor’s degree or 4 years with a Master’s degree of professional relevant experience preferably with some experience in an international organization;
• Excellent knowledge of media and media relations;
• She/he should be proven team player with excellent inter-personal communication skills;
• Excellent written and oral communications and editing skills both in English and Arabic. French is an asset;
• A thorough understanding of the UN system in general, and most particularly of UNFPA mandate, its policies and operations and current development topics and political issues;
• Ability to work well under deadline; keen understanding of the country’s culture, history and political context; familiarity with or knowledge of communication approaches in strategic planning, development, execution, and M&E;
• Computer literacy and proficiency in current office software applications; and
• Experience in webpage updating and in writing newsletters

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
• Workings in teams/ managing ourselves and our relationships
• Communicating for impact
• Engaging internal/ external partners and stakeholders

Functional Skill Set:

• Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Delivering results-based programme
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization

Languages:

Fluency in both spoken and written English and Arabic is required. French is an asset.

How to apply

Interested candidates may apply online by providing:

1. a P-11 Form (click to download), and
2. a most updated CV, and
3. a cover letter mentioning the relevance of past/current experience with the requirements of the post
4. Mention in the email subject the post title and number: Communication and Media Officer  UNFPA/LBN/2021/01

The above documents must be sent to the following email address: bids_lbn@unfpa.org by no later than 20 March 2021 Close of Business (i.e. 5:30 pm).

Candidates who fail to submit the required documents above will not be considered for review.