OCHA Job Vacancy : Public Information Officer

PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, UNOCHA – (OPEN TO KENYAN NATIONALS ONLY)

Location : Nairobi, KENYA

Application Deadline : 12-Feb-15

Type of Contract : FTA Local

Post Level : NO-A

Languages Required : English

Duration of Initial Contract : One Year

Expected Duration of Assignment : One Year (with possibility of extension)

Background

The humanitarian situation in Somalia remains fragile. OCHA’s role is to support humanitarian actors to ensure that relief assistance reaches the people who need it in a timely and effective manner. OCHA’s support includes reporting on the humanitarian situation and raising awareness on humanitarian needs and gaps in the provision of assistance. OCHA will continue to:

Advocate for access to basic services, especially water, sanitation, education and health for vulnerable communities, including the collection, analysis and dissemination of information to humanitarian partners, and negotiation of access;

Support the government efforts and humanitarian organizations in relocation of internally displaced and return;

Coordinate the implementation of humanitarian response in Somalia with UN agencies and programmes, national and international NGOs and local authorities/communities as appropriate, with focus on strengthening the cluster approach;

Enhance a protective environment that respects the human rights of all, including IDPs, returnees and minority clans.

Under the direct supervision of the Reports Officer in the Public Information Unit, with guidance from the Head of the Public Information Unit and Head of Office, the Information Officer will play a key role in ensuring the primary objectives of OCHA Somalia are met.

Duties and Responsibilities

Functions / Key Results Expected

Conceptualize, draft and edit stories for external communications products and internal reports:

Compile and process data from a wide variety of sources and prepare a range of reports and humanitarian briefings for public dissemination;

Draft stories for the Humanitarian Bulletin and support all aspects of its production, including fact checking, proofreading and quality control;

Edit and draft OCHA web stories and content for publications as required;

Compile and draft OCHA Somalia weekly internal report based on input from sub-offices and heads of units;

Draft daily situation updates as required.

Collect, organize and disseminate latest information/data on the humanitarian situation in Somalia:

Proactively identify new publications/releases and other sources of information and ensure its dissemination to appropriate staff and partners;

Monitor progress of and obtain all major publications dealing with Somalia, and ensure their distribution and filing within the unit/office;

Research/analyze and organize data required for internal and external reporting, including reporting on media coverage and political, security and socio-economic factors affecting humanitarian and development programmes in Somalia;

Actively contribute to the development and regular update of coordination and information tools, including OCHA Somalia website, information fact sheets and OCHA photo database, including through supervision of public information intern and by serving as focal point for information shared with the Information Management Unit;

Collaborate closely with OCHA sub-offices and information counterparts in other UN agencies and NGOs to ensure accurate and effective information dissemination on humanitarian issues in Somalia;

Coordinate inputs for OCHA Somalia products and edit/redraft as necessary (liaise with OCHA information management and cluster coordinators);

Maintain photography database including substantive captions for photographs to be used in information products and other OCHA functions;

Facilitate substantive development of briefing material as well as in the preparation of power point presentations.

Support coordination of strategic communications groups:

Oversee updating of all OCHA Somalia public information mailing lists;

Participate in the monthly communications officer’s group meetings and contribute to the group’s activities as required, brief PI and management as necessary;

Participate in planning, organising and provide detailed and accurate minutes of coordination and communications meetings as required;

Represent OCHA at meetings as required.

Support media relations through engagement with Kenyan and regional media:

Support the office in maintaining relations with Kenyan and international media;

Oversee maintenance of all media lists and media contact information and take lead in preparing media advisories;

Support communications staff in organizing local and international media trips and briefings;

Serve as focal point for organizing special events, including the launch of key publications;

Monitor and support capacity-building activities to help the local media better report on UN work;

Produce, or encourage journalists to cover, human interest stories in collaboration with communications staff;

Support as necessary on social media tools and development.

Conduct daily media monitoring of international news sources to supplement other UN offices’ monitoring, ensuring senior management are apprised of humanitarian issues in the international media.

Build capacity and awareness on the importance of accuarate and timely reporting:

Support and hold reporting training for staff in Nairobi and Somalia;

Support field colleagues with basic drafting and reporting, as well as story idea generation as requested.

Impact of results

The key results have an impact on the overall efficiency of UNOCHA delivery including improved business results and client services.

Competencies

Functional Competencies

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda

Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UN’s priorities;

Maintains a functioning network of contacts with a variety of stakeholders to promote a better understanding of OCHA’s work and to support advocacy efforts.

Building Strategic Partnerships

Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues;

Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;

Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches.

Resource Mobilization

Collects, researches and analyzes information on resource mobilization and utilization, drafts reports and documents and maintains information/databases on potential and actual donors and donor funded projects;

Provides data and information needed for preparation of fund raising activities and resource mobilization documents ensuring needs of donors are met.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;

Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position;

Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;

Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;

Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;

Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current.

Client Orientation

Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion;

Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;

Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients.

Core Competencies

Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;

Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;

Self-development, initiative-taking;

Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;

Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;

Creating synergies through self-control;

Managing conflict;

Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;

Informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Master’s degree or equivalent in International Relations, Communications, Journalism or any related field.

Experience

Up to 2 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in public relations, communications or advocacy preferably in humanitarian/devï¿½elopï¿½ment reporting and communications work;

Excellent communication, drafting and analytical skills with attention to detail;

Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, good knowledge and experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Language Requirements

Fluency in English and Kiswahili.

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