Assoc Communication Off(Comms)

Associate Communication Officer (Communities)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Associate Communication Officer (Communities) will be part of the Communication with Communities and Protection Desks Unit in the Country Operation, which is an integral part of the Protection team in charge of supporting the Government in designing protection policies and advancing its protection response.

The incumbent will report to the Protection Officer, Head of the Communication with Communities and Protection Desks Unit. The incumbent will support the Unit¿s efforts in developing, coordinating and supporting the Operation¿s two-way communication with refugee and asylum-seeker populations, including those from Syria, and take part in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of communication components of UNHCR interventions. The incumbent will support the Operation in the elaboration of messages to achieve specific operational and strategic objectives, complementing the practical assistance-related information, awareness-building and general public information activities. S/he will support the Operation to identify appropriate two-way communication channels and develop tools that would take into account the assets, capacities, needs and locations of communities. This will include assisting in the design of information tools such as leaflets and brochures. The incumbent will be in close contact with the other Units and Field Offices within the Operation and will retain a regular communication line with the Bureaux and other UNHCR Offices in the region.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability
- Effective two-way communication is ensured with communities of concern.

Responsibility
- Support the Operation in developing the overall Communication with Communities strategy so that persons of concern are aware of their rights, entitlements and obligations, in close coordination with other Units and Field Offices.
- Maintain an overview of all Communication with Communities activities throughout the Operation in order to ensure a harmonized approach.
- Identify and design two-way communication channels and tools that take into account the assets, capacities, needs and locations of communities, and maintain a repository of the tools used in the Operation.
- Provide technical advice and support for communication activities in cooperation with the other Units, Field Offices and Bureaux as appropriate in accordance with existing guidelines.
- Support the Operation¿s establishment of communication networks with various community entities, particularly youth, to engage them in the communication and information dissemination process.  
- Implement campaigns aimed at informing, educating and sensitizing refugees on a variety of issues such as rights and obligations in Turkey, in close cooperation with the Protection, Community-Based Protection and Field teams and with community entities.
- Keep other Units and Field Offices informed about Communication with Communities activities and best practices, and support the production and sharing of harmonized key messages for persons of concern.
- Collate, report and share with other Units and Field Offices the feedback from persons of concern obtained through the Operation¿s communication channels.
- Perform other relevant duties as required.

Authority
- Organize the distribution of UNHCR publications and materials to various institutions and individuals on issues related to refugees and other persons of concern.
- Produce reports and data as required.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Completion of university education (Bachelor¿s degree) with post-secondary training in Journalism, Communications, International Relations, Political Science or related field.
- Minimum 4 years (2 years with advanced university degree) of previous relevant job experience.
- Excellent computer skills and knowledge of MS Office applications.
- Excellent inter-personal communication skills.
- Excellent drafting skills.
- Proven ability to transpose complex concepts and procedures into simple messages.
- Fluency in English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to the functions of position such as: PLP (Protection Learning Programme), OMLP (Operations Management Learning Programme), ARC (Action for the Rights of Children)/Child rights, POP (People Oriented Planning)/Gender Studies, SGBV training.
- Knowledge of local institutions.
- Knowledge of Arabic and Turkish.