UNITED NATIONS EGYPT
JOB DESCRIPTION –
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Post Title: Communications Officer - Human security through inclusive socio-economic development in Upper
Egypt
Duration: 1 year (with possibility of
extension for up to three years)
Date Requested: starting 1st March 2013
Duty
station: Minya
(Egypt), with travel to rural areas in the governorate of Minya and to Cairo
Counterpart: Egyptian Ministry of Local
Development
Background
Information:
The communications
officer will assist the implementation of a Human Security programme in the
governorate of Minya. She/he is the focal point for documentation,
communication, public
relations and visibility activities of all agencies within
the project and reports to the Joint Project Manager (JPM). The project is a
joint effort of UNIDO, UN Women, ILO, UN-Habitat and IOM, funded by the UN
Human Security Trust Fund (UNHSTF) and the Swiss Development Cooperation. UNIDO
will act as lead agency.
Executive summary
- Human security through inclusive socio-economic development in Upper Egypt
The push towards
democratic reform and good governance after the removal of the Mubarak regime
guarantees long-term socio-economic benefits to Egypt. Nevertheless, in the
short-term the post-revolution transition witnessed a sudden economic downturn
that exacerbated both poverty and unemployment, particularly in Upper Egyptian
governorates. The project will strengthen the economic security of vulnerable
communities in five mother villages and selected satellite villages in Minya
through creation of more and better employment opportunities and increased
employability of the local labor force, while contributing to mitigate threats
to environmental, personal, community and food security. The project will
capitalize on the combined resources of several UN agencies and will work
through local government, civil society partners and community structures to
serve at least 18,000 beneficiaries to become more economically active and
self-sufficient, and to support target communities to become more inclusive and
gender responsive as they play an active role in the creation of sustainable
employment opportunities; in addition, at least 10,000 people in target
communities will benefit from neighborhood upgrading projects in disadvantaged
areas. The project will capitalize on the combined resources of the UN agencies
and will work through local government, civil society partners and community
structures to:
·
implement
at least 20 locally conceived priority interventions to counter threats to
human security, mainly in the area of economic security;
·
enhance
employability of at least 5,000 men and women through skills enhancement and
matching with private sector needs;
·
implementation
of labor-intensive neighborhood upgrading projects in disadvantaged areas;
·
introduction
of innovative high-productivity, environmentally friendly agricultural
techniques to the benefit of at least 3,300 small farmers, delivered through a
value chain upgrading approach to foster market access on behalf of micro and
small agricultural enterprises;
·
transfer
of productive assets combined with technical assistance to at least 3,000
vulnerable women for income-generating activities;
·
improve
access to financial services for at least 8,000 vulnerable women;
·
train at
least 2,000 vulnerable mothers on health and nutrition issues;
·
train and
organize local youth through a youth volunteer service to engage them in the
implementation and scaling up of quick-impact activities.
Duties:
Under the supervision of the Joint Program Manager, and reporting to him/her,
the Officer will undertake the following duties:
|
Main duties
|
Expected results
|
|
Develop and implement a communication and advocacy strategy
for the project, in cooperation with the Human Security Unit in New York.
|
Strategy developed and implemented
|
|
Prepare
material for project’s advocacy, tailoring it to different audiences (from
farmers to groups of women in rural areas, from members of the Human Security
Forum to different development partners engaged in Upper Egypt)
|
Key
stakeholders understand the project scope and implementation mechanisms
|
|
Organise and
support awareness campaigns in cooperation with technical officers from
partner UN agencies
|
Beneficiaries
increase their awareness on key aspects for economic, personal and
community security (e.g. child feeding
practices, innovative techniques on agriculture)
|
|
Prepare newsletters and briefs to
different audiences where needed.
|
The project
receives accurate visibility through media events, articles in newsletters
|
|
Collect
multimedia material (e.g. photos) and set up a multimedia data bank
|
Several
photo-essays completed and shared on the project’s webpage
|
|
Write press
releases and communication notes for project visibility and dissemination of
relevant information
|
The
project receives accurate visibility on national newspapers and other media
|
|
Actively seek
other development partners’ programmes in the area of Human Security and local
development in Upper Egypt (including local NGOs active in target
communities) and support exchanges and dialogue with them. Ensure
coordination, minimal overlapping and capitalization upon synergies where
relevant, in cooperation with the JPM.
|
Linkages and exchanges are established with focal points and
technical officers from similar interventions in Upper Egypt
|
|
In cooperation
with the Resident Coordinator Office, act as focal point for a UN
consultation group on Human Security and local development in Upper Egypt,
storing information online so as to guarantee accessibility from different
partners
|
UN working group operational and information flowing across different
UN agencies, including those not directly
involved in the UNTFHS-funded project (especially but not solely
UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, World Bank)
|
|
Attend and
report on project seminars, workshops and stakeholders meetings
|
Reports are delivered to the JPM and concerned UN agencies
|
|
Document good
practices and innovative methodologies implemented within the project, in
cooperation with the M&E officer
|
Manual on protected agriculture completed
in cooperation with UNIDO agronomists;
Manual on best practices on formulation of
Village Savings and Loan Associations completed in cooperation with UN Women
technical officer;
Additional technical manuals prepared in
cooperation with other UN experts.
|
|
Disseminate
relevant material to national counterparts, other development partners, NGOs
and other stakeholders
|
Proven innovative practices generated within the project are
disseminated to relevant stakeholders and shared with local and national
counterparts.
|
|
Set up and
regularly update and improve the project’s webpage
|
The project receives
accurate visibility on the Internet
|
|
In cooperation
with the JPM, prepare the three closing workshops (one for development
partners, one for national authorities, one for local associations) to sum up
achievements and success stories, as detailed in the project document.
|
Workshops run in a participatory manner involving key stakeholders
|
|
Perform
additional ad hoc assignments as per request of the UNIDO Representative
|
|
Qualifications:
A
post-graduate degree in journalism, humanities or social sciences. Excellent
writing skills are essential. Good computer skills and very solid communication
skills are required.
Work experience: At least 3 years of progressive
experience (more desirable) in the field of communication and/or public
awareness involving the preparation and implementation of communication
strategies and public awareness programmes and plans; management of public
awareness events; establishment of working relationships with various media;
capacity to work in a complex institutional environment involving government,
international agencies, private sector and civil society organizations.
Language: Excellent English
and Arabic, both written and oral
Candidates meeting the above requirements are
requested to submit the below via email to
office.egypt@unido.org, specifying in the subject line “Communication
Officer, Human Security”
1. Updated CV (max 3 pages) and cover letter (max 1
page)
2. Scanned copy of passport
3. Scanned copy of latest academic certification (in
English language)
Deadline for applications: March 9th, 2013.
Interested job seekers whose profiles do not match
this job description should refrain from applying. UNIDO will contact
shortlisted candidates only.
