Vacancy# UNFPA/LBN/2024/02: Communication and Media Consultant

Official Job Title:

Communication & Media Consultant

Duty Station

Lebanon, UNFPA Office

Hiring Office

UNFPA Lebanon

Grade (Classified)

 NOB    

Vacancy Ref #

UNFPA/LBN/2024/02

Duration

4 months

Start-up Date

June 01 until September 30, 2024

Background, Rational and Purpose of consultancy:

Since 2011, UNFPA Lebanon CO has been considerably supporting nationwide health and protection related interventions particularly around enhancing access to reproductive health (RH) and preventing/responding to gender based violence (GBV) targeting the Syrian refugees and the Lebanese in hosting communities including young people. Those interventions translated mainly into strengthening policy framework, reinforcing national systems and structures, enhancing quality of services/care, enhancing capacity and institutional development, generating knowledge and strengthening the normative framework, raising community awareness as well as developing and supporting media campaigns (including against early marriage and promoting favourable environment for social change). Currently Lebanon is hosting close to 1.5 million Syrian refugees (both registered and unregistered) making Lebanon the country with the highest proportion of refugees relative to its population (i.e. 25% refugees). 

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.

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. 

Between 2011 and 2023, UNFPA partnered with more than 27 implementing partners (National and International NGOs) across the country and in close collaboration with government institutions to enhance delivery of services, capacity development and community outreach to Syrian refugees, Lebanese living in hosting communities, and those affected by the Beirut Port Explosion. Due to the restriction in mobility, innovative remote approaches were adopted for delivery of services, awareness raising, capacity development and community outreach.  

It is estimated that between 2011 and 2023, UNFPA has provided SRH and GBV services for more than 4 million recipients namely women and adolescent girls with one or more types of SRH and GBV support including RH commodities.

The support provided by UNFPA has been fully aligned with the various frameworks i.e. Lebanon Response Plan and Emergency Response Plan), the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, UNFPA’s country programme document, the sectoral Inter Agency guidelines and specific donor requirements. 

Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, UNFPA Lebanon has received funds from different donors (estimated at around 10 donors) in support of promoting life-saving interventions for women and adolescent girls as well as transitioning to the resilience approach in accordance with the Government and the humanitarian community’s directives to reinforce institutional resilience to cater for the needs and priorities of the affected population (i.e. Syria refugees and Lebanese in hosting communities).

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 engage a Media and Communication individual consultant.  The consultant will be based at UNFPA office and as required, will travel to respective UNFPA programme sites countrywide.

The Communication and Media Officer consultant who reports to the Head of Office and collaborates with all staff abd personnel is responsible for the overall development, management and execution of the communication efforts of the CO.  

Scope of work:

(Description of services, activities, or outputs)

Under the guidance of the Head of Office and in coordination with the office team, the consultant will be tasked with the following:

• Revise, update and monitor the communication strategy that will step up UNFPA’s visibility in Lebanon and position it on its issues
• 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.
• Compile success and human stories for various uses
• Compile and prepare media advisories, sitreps, 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 visibility events – particularly with donor supported programmes - involving media representatives including press conferences, report launches, project launches and closures, donor visits
• 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
• 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
• 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

Duration and working schedule:

This consultancy will be carried out over 4 months on full time basis (i.e. June 1 to September 30, 2024)

Place where services are to be delivered:

UNFPA office in Beirut. The consultant will be responsible for the submission of below deliverables.

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):

Monitoring/ progress control, incldg reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

Detailed deliverables

Monthly reporting is required

Supervisory arrangements:

The assignment will be carried out under supervision of UNFPA Lebanon Head of Office, who shall provide the following support to the consultancy:

• Clarify consultancy TORs and mutual expectations
• Avail all documentations
• Be available for meetings with the consultant
• Provide additional and immediate advise and information when need be
• Review draft proposal and provide input /comments

Expected travel:

NA

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

Bachelor’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:

• At least 4-5 years with a university 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.

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or IPs (e.g support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:

NA

Other relevant information or special conditions, if any: