Programme Specialist: Communications & Business Development - UNFPA

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The Programme Specialist, Communications and Business Development (CBD) will oversee UNFPA Ghana’s work around communications and corporate visibility; partnerships and south-to-south and triangular cooperation. You will lead the CBD team and collaborate with the Country Office’s programme, operations and administrative support staff.

S/He will report to the UNFPA Representative.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA strives to find solutions to the problems that humanity faces today. Working along critical pathways, the action will accelerate the fulfilment of unmet needs for family planning, ending preventable maternal deaths, and ending gender-based violence and harmful practices. UNFPA’s new strategic plan (2022-2025), leads to 2030 and the achievement of universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. Emerging trends inform the plan, new and expanded priorities add to longstanding commitments, and “how we work” is changing. Yet every step continues to be guided by the ICPD Programme of Action and the 2030 Sustainable Development 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:

In Ghana, UNFPA has started implementing its new five-year 8th Country Programme 2023-2027. The 8th CP aligns well with national, regional and global priorities including aligning with the UNFPA strategic plan, 2022 – 2025, that seeks to accelerate the reduction of preventable maternal death, unmet need for family planning, and gender-based violence and harmful practices. It fits within two of the three pillars of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), 2022 – 2025, namely: equitable access to social services and promoting a peaceful Ghana.

In addition, the country programme aligns to the ICPD Programme of Action, the national voluntary commitment made by the Government at the Nairobi Summit on the 25th anniversary of ICPD (ICPD+25), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Overall, the country programme contributes to national priorities, including creating a wealthy, inclusive, sustainable, equitable, resilient, healthy and disciplined society, encapsulated in the President’s vision of “Ghana Beyond Aid”.

Working within a lower middle-income Country Office (CO), the work of the Programme Specialist, Communications and Business Development is critical to the Country Office to: position the ICPD PoA in national and federal policy frameworks and demonstrate its cruciality to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals; raise the visibility of UNFPA's work and mandate by demonstrating their impact; and expand partnerships with a range of stakeholders, including government, civil society, the private sector and the media.

S/He will play a vital role in coordinating and leading communication and media activities around key programme priorities in development. S/He will ensure that substantial programme events, success stories and good practices, along with challenges and gaps that must be addressed, are well documented and communicated in social, broadcast and print media, highlighting the respective roles of government, civil society partners and the donor community.

S/He will establish and maintain close working relationships with senior and other relevant representatives of the media, including editors, reporters and correspondents to generate positive reporting on women's and youth reproductive health, gender, and population and development issues. S/He will strengthen and support communications and advocacy capacity in the UNFPA Sub Office and at local level and amplify the voice and visibility of UNFPA's work to advance the ICPD PoA and its direct contribution to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Ghana.

In a complex working environment, S/He will build close working relationships with the programme and operations team at national and sub-office level and maintain collaborative relationships with the implementing partners and donors as well as the UN agencies to ensure successful implementation of UNFPA communication and media strategy in Ghana.

You would be responsible for:

• Communications and Business Development Strategy
• Leads the development and updating of UNFPA's Communication and Business Development Strategy and activities, with particular attention on promoting and projecting UNFPA's brand and image accurately and effectively.
• Oversees the implementation of the approved Communication and Business Development S Strategy and its activities for the Ghana Country Office.
• Identifies communications activities and develop storylines for publications and articles on crucial Ghana CO programmatic areas in close collaboration with concerned staff and implementing partners.
• Oversees content and design of all communications collaterals developed in the Ghana Country Office.
• Oversees all communications - print, digital, broadcast - developed by UNFPA and ensure it aligns with UNFPA's overall vision, and liaises with implementing partners and vendors to ensure communication and media products meet UNFPA standards.
• Liaises with the UNFPA Media and Communications Branch at UNFPA Headquarters and the UNFPA West and Central Africa Regional Office to keep the Ghana CO communications work aligned with UNFPA’s regional and global communications efforts.
• Works closely with the thematic teams and the Monitoring and Evaluation Team to ensure that scientific and official data substantiates all Ghana CO communications.
• Increasing visibility of UNFPA Programmes
• Works closely with relevant technical specialists to draft speeches, talking points, opinion editorials and other communications materials for the Representative; prepares the Representative for media interviews as necessary.
• Develops and nurtures relationships with journalists and media houses across traditional and non-traditional news platforms to amplify and raise UNFPA's visibility.
• Oversees the monitoring of relevant news media to identify trends in coverage priorities to position UNFPA media outreach effectively.
• Creates and manages a risk communications strategy for the Ghana CO, in line with the CO Communication and Business Development Strategy, to help anticipate and respond to sensitive issues and potential flashpoints related to UNFPA mandate.
• Oversees the updating and maintenance of UNFPA Ghana website and other relevant digital media platforms within the wider context of UNFPA corporate online technology, with support from UNFPA Headquarters.
• Creates, promotes and contributes to campaigns for local, regional and international media that positions UNFPA and influences the reflection of thematic areas based on the current Ghana CO programme interventions.
• Supports and advises programme teams and staff based in Accra and at sub-office on communication and media activities, including editing and developing innovative communication campaigns that will amplify and popularize UNFPA Ghanal's work and mission in Ghana.
• Networking and Partnerships
• Participates in the UN inter-agency Communications Group and promotes UN joint initiatives led by the Office of the Resident Coordinator.
• Establishes cooperation with communication counterparts in other agencies and among other development partners to create synergies. Proactively works to forge a strong "Delivering as One" UN image through publicizing the significance of local UN reform efforts, joint programmes, and common services.
• Develops and maintain media contacts providing newsworthy information to the public and donors to increase coverage and understanding of UNFPA's work in the country while ensuring coherence in public information activities and messages.
• Pursues innovative ways to maintain and create new partnerships with government, development partners, donors, and private sector in communications-related areas.
• Cooperates with all staff within the UNFPA CO to garner support for all communication and media-related requirements.
• Advocacy and Resource Mobilization Support
• Assists CO advocacy efforts through creative material for the ICPD agenda with national institutions and other UN agencies represented at the national level.
• Supports the development and dissemination of UNFPA CO advocacy materials and publications including good practices and stories from our programme communities.
• Develops and implements a communication plan for each donor funded programme/project and ensures all donor-funded activities receive high visibility in accordance with the donor agreements and their branding guidelines.
• Contributes to resource mobilization efforts through effective positioning and highlighting of programme activities and results related to UNFPA’s mandate in media and other forums, with attention to leveraging programme support and resources from traditional and non-traditional sources.
• Knowledge Management
• Guides and cooperates with the Ghana CO staff to support the integration of media and communication through their respective programme and operations areas.
• Collaborates with M&E Team and contributes to design, lay-out of donors reports and CO Annual Report, among other publications.
• Organizes and facilitates training sessions to improve and increase communication and media skills and capacities of relevant Ghana CO staff.
• Perform any other duties as requested by the Supervisor and the UNFPA Management team.
  
  

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

• Master’s degree in the field of Media/Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or equivalent professional experience in the communications areas, combined with an Advanced Degree in a relevant discipline.

Knowledge and Experience:

• At least five years of increasingly responsible professional experience at the national or international level in media/communications, journalism, public relations, political science or development work in a relevant discipline.
• Substantive knowledge and practical experience in communication strategy development, including demonstrated expertise implementing visibility communications or media projects.
• Strong media contacts and proven success pitching stories to media outlets.
• Knowledge and expertise in UNFPA mandate areas a distinct advantage.
• Excellent research and writing skills, with experience in writing reports, newsletters, and programme updates.
• Excellent understanding of web production, social media, and multimedia tools.
• Intimate knowledge and ease of navigation of traditional and new digital and social media.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrated team player in an international team environment.
• Prior experience in the multilateral system is an asset but is not mandatory.
• Experience using Microsoft Office software packages and web-based management systems such as the ERP system, Quantum, QuantumPlus, Quantum PowerBI, etc.
• Demonstrated experience in working successfully as a member of a multidisciplinary team.

Languages:

Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages is desirable.

Required Competencies:

Values:

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

Functional Competencies:

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

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.

Managerial Competencies:

• Providing strategic focus,
• Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders,
• Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance,
• Making decisions and exercising judgment.

Compensation and Benefits:

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