National Communication Consultant- Libya Country Office

Background and Rationale

UNFPA is the United Nations reproductive health agency. UNFPA works to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. In Libya, UNFPA supports national and sub-national partners to strengthen integrated reproductive health, protection, population-data and youth-responsive programmes, with particular attention to women, girls, adolescents, young people and vulnerable populations.

The Libya Country Office works in a complex humanitarian and development environment that requires timely, accurate and conflict-sensitive communication. Effective communications are essential to demonstrate results, strengthen public understanding of UNFPA’s mandate, support evidence-based advocacy, mobilize resources, meet donor visibility commitments, and maintain trusted relationships with government institutions, civil society, youth actors, communities, media, donors, the United Nations Country Team and other partners.

The Communications Consultant will provide sustained national support to strengthen UNFPA Libya’s strategic positioning and visibility across its programme areas. The consultant will translate technical work and field results into clear, compelling and ethical communications products; maintain digital channels and media engagement; support campaigns, events and senior-level visits; and strengthen systems for planning, content clearance, analytics and asset management.

Purpose and objective of the consultancy

1. The overall objective of the consultancy is to support UNFPA Libya in planning and implementing coherent, high-quality and results-focused communications that advance the Country Programme, increase the visibility of UNFPA’s contribution, and engage priority audiences in Arabic and English.

   The specific objectives are to:

   • Develop and implement a communications workplan aligned with UNFPA Libya’s programme, advocacy, partnership and resource-mobilization priorities.
   • Produce timely, accurate and audience-appropriate bilingual communications products that communicate results across sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence prevention and response, population data, adolescents and youth, and humanitarian action.
   • Strengthen UNFPA Libya’s digital presence, media engagement, donor visibility and support to campaigns, high-level visits and public events.
   • Establish practical systems for content planning and clearance, media monitoring, communications analytics, visual-asset management and institutional memory.
   • Ensure that all communications uphold dignity, informed consent, confidentiality, safeguarding, conflict sensitivity, accessibility and do-no-harm principles.

Scope of work

Under the direct supervision of the UNFPA Representative and with the close coordination with the International Programme Coordinator or designated Programme Lead, the consultant will undertake the following functions:

1. Strategic communications planning and positioning

• Prepare, regularly update and support implementation of the Country Office communications plan, editorial calendar, audience priorities and performance framework.
• Advise the Representative and senior management on strategic messaging, positioning, communications opportunities and reputational considerations related to UNFPA’s mandate and programme results.
• Translate Country Programme priorities, donor-funded results and field evidence into clear communications objectives, key messages and audience-specific products.
• Develop communications and visibility approaches for priority programme initiatives, including national policy processes, campaigns, launches, international days, field missions and high-level visits.
• Maintain an efficient internal workflow for requesting, drafting, reviewing, clearing, publishing and archiving communications products.

2. Editorial content, storytelling and senior-management support

• Draft, edit, proofread and adapt high-quality materials in Arabic and English, including press releases, web stories, human-interest stories, social-media copy, speeches, talking points, briefing notes, fact sheets, brochures, newsletters, campaign materials, donor updates and annual reporting inputs.
• Work with programme and field colleagues and implementing partners to identify strong, evidence-based human-interest stories that demonstrate results and centre the voices, agency and dignity of women, girls, adolescents, young people and affected communities.
• Prepare communications and background materials for the Representative, senior UNFPA officials, donors, media and other special-interest groups, including support before and during missions and visits.
• Ensure technical accuracy, consistent messaging and plain-language presentation of sensitive subjects, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, maternal health, gender-based violence, youth participation, population data, displacement and humanitarian needs.
• Coordinate translation, editing and quality assurance of externally produced or partner-submitted materials before public release.

3. Digital communications and channel management

• Manage and regularly update UNFPA Libya’s website and social-media channels with relevant, timely and engaging content, in accordance with corporate guidance and approved access arrangements.
• Plan digital campaigns and content series; adapt products to platform-specific formats; and use accessible practices such as subtitles, accurate captions, descriptive text and readable graphics where appropriate.
• Monitor audience engagement and channel performance, identify trends and opportunities, and provide practical recommendations to improve reach, relevance and engagement.

• Maintain an up-to-date digital content calendar and coordinate inputs from programme, operations, monitoring, field and management colleagues.
  • Monitor digital conversations, misinformation and emerging issues relevant to UNFPA’s mandate and promptly alert the supervisor to potential communications or reputational risks.

4. Media relations, campaigns, events and partnerships

• Develop and maintain constructive working relationships with national and local media, journalists, photographers, content producers and other communications partners.
• Maintain an updated media map and contact database and support targeted dissemination of press releases, statements, invitations and advocacy materials.
• Monitor relevant mainstream and online media coverage and provide concise alerts, summaries and recommendations to the Country Office.
• Support the planning and delivery of media engagements, press events, programme launches, donor visibility moments, campaigns, international days, public events and high-level visits.
• Contribute actively to joint United Nations communications initiatives, including coordination with the UN Communications Group and relevant regional or headquarters communications teams.
• Support procurement-related technical inputs and quality assurance for communications services and products, ensuring cost-effectiveness, brand compliance and timely delivery within the consultant’s delegated role.

5. Photography, videography, graphic content and asset management

• Provide high-quality photography and short-form videography for UNFPA events, programme activities and field missions, and edit or retouch material for appropriate public use.
• Develop or adapt simple, professional graphics and multimedia products and coordinate with specialized designers, photographers, videographers and production companies when required.
• Support planning and logistics for photography and film assignments, including shot lists, interview preparation, consent processes, captions, metadata and safe storage.
• Establish and maintain an organized, searchable communications archive covering publications, press releases, media coverage, photographs, videos, designs, source files, consent records and final approved products.
• Ensure that the use of images and personal stories complies with UNFPA standards on informed consent, safeguarding, confidentiality, data protection and protection-sensitive communication.

6. Monitoring, reporting and communications capacity

• Track implementation of the communications plan and report regularly on outputs, reach, engagement, media uptake, campaign performance, lessons learned and recommended adjustments.
• Maintain clear evidence of publication and visibility and provide communications inputs to donor reports, proposals, situation reports, annual reports, results summaries and resource-mobilization materials.
• Support programme and partner colleagues to improve the quality of stories, photographs, captions, visibility materials and communications requests through practical guidance, templates and short coaching sessions.
• Perform other relevant communications tasks requested by the supervisor and consistent with the purpose, level and duration of the consultancy.

Expected deliverables and payment schedule

1. The consultant will work full-time (21.75 days per month). Payments will be made monthly upon satisfactory completion and approval of the agreed outputs and performance report by UNFPA. The indicative product mix may be adjusted to reflect operational needs, emerging priorities and the final contracting modality, while preserving the overall scope and accountability of the assignment.

   Working arrangements and methodology

   • The consultant will be based at UNFPA Offices in Tripoli, Libya and will work closely with the UNFPA Libya programme, monitoring, operations and field teams, as well as implementing partners and relevant external stakeholders.

• • A minimum of two years of relevant professional experience at national or international level in communications, public information, journalism, digital media, multimedia production or a related field
• Demonstrated experience producing high-quality communications materials for different audiences and formats, including web, social media, print, campaigns and public events.
  • Proven bilingual writing, editing and storytelling experience in Arabic and English, supported by relevant samples.
  • Proven experience in photography, videography and/or graphic design, supported by a portfolio or comparable evidence of previous work.
  • Experience managing social-media channels, website content, digital campaigns and communications analytics.
  • Good knowledge of the Libyan institutional, media, civil-society and sub-national context, including sensitivity to regional and conflict dynamics.
  • Previous experience with a United Nations entity, international development or humanitarian organization, government institution or civil-society organization is an asset but is not required.
  • Knowledge of and experience incontext and gender-sensitive reporting, including communicating on sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, gender equality, adolescents and youth, population data or humanitarian action is highly desirable.
• • Excellent writing, editing, interviewing, storytelling and message-development skills, with strong attention to detail and factual accuracy.
  • Proficiency in current office applications, social-media platforms, content-management systems and digital analytics tools.
  • Working ability with commonly used photography, video-editing and graphic-design software. Familiarity with tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Canva or equivalent applications is an asset.
  • Strong organizational and project-management skills, including the ability to handle competing priorities, respond quickly to emerging needs and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Sound judgment in handling sensitive information, protection risks, consent, reputational considerations and communications involving vulnerable people.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with government, media, civil society, communities, donors, UN agencies and colleagues from different technical backgrounds.