Writer/Editor

Eligibility criteria

Minimum age: 25 years old. Nationals of the country of assignment are not eligible, except the assignments in Headquarters duty stations.

Description of task

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Senior Writer/Editor or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Writer/Editor will:

• Work with External Communications and WHO AFRO Clusters to update the regional website by researching and writing texts on health topics and other areas of the website
• Support the coordination of content on the website by being an active member of the Website Committee and under the supervision of the Senior Writer/Editor coordinate the structure and organization of content on the website and update inks to other websites
• Proactively keep abreast of success stories, upcoming events and other potentially significant developments across the AFRO region to develop content for the website
• Research health impact stories and interview WHO experts, WHO beneficiaries, health officials, service providers and others in country offices to develop and write feature stories for the website, newsletters and other WHO platforms
• Support the WHO/AFRO social media officer in developing content for WHO AFRO social media platforms
• Provide backup support to the WHO Senior Writer/Editor on other communications products such as press releases
• Support the management of editorial duties such as story planning, assignment, follow-up and support to country offices

Qualifications/Requirements Required degree level: Bachelor degree or equivalent Education - Additional Comments:

University degree in a relevant area e.g: English, History, Social Studies, Journalism, Writing

An Advanced University Degree in Journalism from a recognized school of journalism can serve in lieu of one year of the required years of professional experience

Required experience: 36 Months Experience remark:

At least three years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level as a writer/Editor preferably for a reputable media outlet

Language skills:

• English(Mandatory), Level - Fluent
• French(Optional), Level - Working Knowledge
• Portuguese(Optional), Level - Working Knowledge

Area of expertise: Journalism, mass media and broadcasting, Arts, music, photography and film Area of expertise details:

Other desired skills

• Experience in photography, videography and editing, graphic design software is an asset
• Experience working in an international organization is an asset
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including authorities at different levels;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Sound security awareness;
• Have affinity with or interest in health issues and development, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Competencies and values:

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to WHO; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to WHO procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;
• Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and WHO in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority;
• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;
• Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.
• Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;

• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;
• Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary;
• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards WHO’smission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Driving license: No Competencies values:

Adaptability and Flexibility, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Ethics and Values, Integrity, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Working in Teams

Application procedure:

* Not yet registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

Please first register your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/signup. Important: After creating your account, complete all sections of your profile and submit it. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink. Lastly, select the special call to which you would like to apply.

* Already registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

Please first update your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/profile. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink to select the special call to which you would like to apply.

Application deadline: 27-09-2020