Job Details

The Position:

The Communications Consultant will play a critical role in positioning UNFPA as a bold, vocal, and visible thought and action-oriented leader in both the development and humanitarian contexts of Zambia. S/He will contribute to securing national, regional, global, political and financial support for achieving UNFPA’s mandate and to build the UNFPA brand.

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:

The purpose of this consultancy is to promote a better understanding of, respect and support for sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality and population dynamics of public audiences, private and public entities, International development partners and other key stakeholders by carrying out media, information and education activities in support of UNFPA-assisted development programmes and humanitarian interventions in Zambia.

In all activities, the consultant will foster collaboration with the UNFPA Communications Assistant, UNFPA programme staff, UN Zambia communication group, and other thematic groups, and ensure the timeliness, adequacy, relevance, and quality of substantive outputs. The consultant will report to the Country Representative.

You would be responsible for:

A: EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION

Strategic Media Engagement

• Support strategic media engagement through drafting press releases, securing interviews, preparing talking points for senior management, and drafting summaries of media coverage after interviews.

Digital Communication

• Provide timely and field-driven digital content, such as video stories and images, for use on UNFPA’s country, regional and global websites, social media platforms and intranet (MyUNFPA);
• Manage and regularly update UNFPA Zambia social media platforms and work closely with regional and headquarters social media teams to enhance the quality of UNFPA’s social media content and its outreach;
• Design visual assets such as illustrations and info-graphics.

Communications in Emergencies

Serve as the UNFPA focal point for Communications in Emergencies interventions by the Government and UN Zambia during emergency contexts, including timely creating relevant media products on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Emergencies (SRHRiE), Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies (GBViE) interventions and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA).

Strategic event management

Support the development of concept notes outlining objectives, agenda, and target audience; coordinating with other co-hosts; creating promotional materials, including advertisements for social media and web articles in relation to strategic and commemorative events, including the Summit of the Future, ICPD@30 and 16 days of activism

B: INTERNAL COMMUNICATION

Strategic Support to the Office of the Representative

• Assist the UNFPA Representative, Deputy Representative in preparing written materials, including talking points, speeches and OPEDs
• Initiate the development of the UNFPA Zambia 2024 Annual Report

Duration and working schedule

• From July 2024 to 31 December 2024 – 20 working days/month

Place where services are to be delivered

Lusaka, Zambia

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered

Monthly reports will be required for all tasks accomplished during the month

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

The specific deliverables for the consultancy will be agreed upon during an inception meeting and monitoring progress will be consistently done in collaboration with the Representative and Deputy Representative

Expected travel:

UNFPA Zambia work is focused on national and sub-national programmes. Currently much of the focus is on Eastern, Luapula and Southern Provinces. The consultant is expected to travel to these and other areas as and when need arises.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master degree) with a minimum of 5 years of work experience in communications, journalism, public relations, or other related field from reputable institutions

Knowledge and Experience:

• At least 5 years of progressively professional experience and a proven track record in developing and implementing communications strategies;
• Knowledge and experience in advocacy and resource mobilisation as it links to strategic communications;
• Knowledge of substantive areas of UNFPA’s work;
• Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills;
• In-depth knowledge of and hands-on experience in social media platforms and how each platform can be deployed in different scenarios;
• Hands-on experience with graphic design and production of info-graphics using Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop);
• Considerable skills in photography, video editing and production are an asset;
• Familiarity with working in humanitarian settings is an asset; and
• Initiative and sound judgement. Must be highly organized and have demonstrated ability to work well under tight deadlines and in a team.

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,

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.