Communication Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The incumbent will work to ensure implementation of the WHO country office’s communication strategies in support of its programmes and objectives, in the context of the WHO strategic direction at country level. This will serve to promote and increase knowledge about the work and achievements of the WHO country office at country level and the visibility of WHO

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• In coordination with the regional and/or headquarters communication focal points, develop and guide the implementation of communication strategies and plans to support awareness of the programmes and achievements of WHO at country level. Ensure the implementation of the WHO corporate (global and regional) communication strategy.
• Identify marketable subjects/success stories and develop communications and advocacy products including for partnerships’ initiatives.
• Establish office processes for content identification.
• Ensure optimal and timely outreach and dissemination to target audiences in suitable media channels and platforms, including social media.
• Organize media events, campaigns, and media technical briefings, coordinating between media and WHO experts, as required.
• Build and maintain productive networks and contacts with the press/media and key, national communication counterparts to ensure positive and optimal coverage of WHO’s
• As a national of the country or territory, apply knowledge of the cultural norms of diverse, national stakeholders and audiences to (i) manage the development/updating of content and stakeholder linkages for the WHO country office website and (ii) the sensitive design and delivery of effective social-media engagements.
• Ensure regular media monitoring, tracking audience/target group perceptions of the organization. Identify information deficits and develop strategies to address these deficiencies; manage risk-mitigation communications.
• Collaborate with national stakeholders, development and other strategic partners and United Nations Information Officers, to encourage the production and dissemination of information on national health strategies. Advocate for organizational priorities, foster related initiatives, and represent WHO in the United Nations Communication Group.
• Deliver and/or support specialized emergency or multi hazard risk communications, social mobilization and advocacy plans, during public health crises, emergencies, and outbreaks.
• Advise country office leadership on strategic, external and internal communications and support country office staff on communications with sensitivity to national cultural norms, where required.
• Coordinate and deliver communication and media-sensitization-related training for WHO country office staff .

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Essential: A university degree (bachelor’s) in communications, journalism, marketing, political or international relations, health communications or related fields.
• Desirable: Formal qualification in public health; courses in communication techniques and/or graphic design, visual language in the use of social media. Training in risk communication.

Experience

• Essential: A minimum of two years’ experience overseeing and delivering communications services and products at the national level and in communications strategy development at the international level.
• Desirable: Capacity for project management, including proposal development, budgeting, programming activities, report writing

Use of Language Skills

• Essential: Expert knowledge of Portuguese.
• Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of English. Intermediate knowledge of French.

Source: https://careers.who.int/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=2405991