Communications Officer - NOA (DC)

Introduction

ILO Country Office for Bangladesh, with funding from Global Affairs Canada, has launched a project entitled: 'Leaving No One Behind: Improving Skills and Economic Opportunities for the Bangladeshi Community and Rohingya Women & Youths in Cox's Bazar.' The Project is designed based on the combined experience, mandates and values of specific development and humanitarian organizations in responding to the forced displacement of Myanmar Rohingya people in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, from 2017 onward. The Project is built on an alliance of ILO, UNHCR, IOM, UNDP, where ILO and UNDP will work in the host community and UNHCR and IOM in the Rohingya Camps, that will combine their expertise and experiences in refugee protection, livelihood, skills development, and self-reliance for the Rohingya Refugee and host communities. This Consortium will also play a leading role in harmonizing of practices under the Joint Response Plan (JRP) for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis.
 

The project interventions aim to improve the resilience and self-reliance of Rohingya refugees and enhance the economic empowerment of vulnerable host communities through skills and livelihood development programme ensuring employment and decent work. It will provide support through skills and entrepreneurship development for the vulnerable refugees and host communities using ILO tools and methodologies to improve their livelihood and enhance the peaceful co-existence of the refugee and host community.
 

The ILO will lead the Project as an Administrative Agent and receive contributions from GAC and transfer to the participating UN agencies as per UNJP modality. Besides, ILO will set up a convening agency for the host community responsible for the overall technical and political leadership of the Project and comprise the technical expertise to support the entire Project and consortium partners.
 

The incumbent will perform the advocacy and communication related activities to promote and disseminate the project activities and results in the local, national and ILO global electronic, print and social media as per the ILO Communication strategy and guidelines.

Guidance and Supervision:

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Project Manager, in cooperation with ILO Country Office communication team, the Communication Officer will contribute to the implementation of the project in the areas of his/her competence. The responsibilities of the job require that its incumbent perform a broad selection of the following representative tasks:

Description of Duties

⦁    Develop and maintain relations with local (Cox’s Bazar), national and international media. This includes maintaining and expanding the media contact list, handling interview requests and providing support to journalists reporting on the project interventions and other ILO-related work in Cox’s Bazar and Bangladesh.
⦁    Develop and maintain a set of key messages on the ILO skills and livelihood Programme in Cox’s Bazar, share information and input with the Country office and other relevant internal stakeholders 
⦁    Provide support to Project team in developing bilingual awareness-raising activities, specifically designed for local stakeholders, as well as the general public in Cox’s Bazar and Bangladesh;
⦁    Draft information materials such as press kits, press releases fact sheets, feature articles and brochures for the media and other target audiences - such as donors- in English, (also translated into Bangla), around the ILO programme  in Cox’s Bazar 
⦁    Regularly monitor media output on ILO activities and on issues relevant to the work of the Cox’s Bazar and Dhaka country office. 
⦁    Create content for digital platforms and social media tools in English and Bangla.
⦁    Gather audio-visual content, (photos, video footage), in close cooperation with the regional communication officer and the Department of Communication (DCOMM) at ILO headquarters in Geneva. 
⦁    Identify synergies between the ILO CXB Programme and other programmes implemented at the CO-Dhaka office to better promote them and insert them into the wider ILO work in Bangladesh.
⦁    Other duties as requested by supervisor.

Required qualifications

Education

University degree in communications, journalism, international relations, liberal arts or other relevant discipline, or its equivalent.

Experience

Two years of professional experience in media, public information and writing for the web or related fields of work. 
 

Languages

Languages:  Excellent command of English and Bangla (written and spoken)

Competencies

⦁    Ability to work under pressure and to meet strict deadlines. 
⦁    Up-to-date knowledge and understanding of technological advancements in the area of work.
⦁    Must display a high standard of ethical conduct and exhibit honesty and integrity
⦁    Sound political judgement. 
⦁    Good negotiating skills. 
⦁    The ability to work in a multicultural environment.   Gender-sensitive behaviour and attitudes are also required. 
⦁    Very good knowledge of the organization's mandate and its programme of activities. Experience of working for an International Organization an asset.
⦁    Excellent analytical skills. 

Job specific competencies and skills:

⦁    Excellent English and Bangla journalistic writing and presentation skills.
⦁    Experience of creating content and writing for the Web. 
⦁    Experience of working on audio-visual/broadcast material.
⦁    Experience or good knowledge of social media.
⦁    Proven ability to develop working relationships with media professionals.
⦁    Demonstrated ability to develop and oversee a public information/communication programme of advocacy and outreach activities. 
⦁    Ability to evaluate information needs and to provide appropriate and targeted information accordingly. 
⦁    Ability to conduct interviews. 
⦁    Good interpersonal and communication skills. 
⦁    Ability to adapt messages to culturally diverse audiences. 
⦁    Commitment to gender equality and knowledge of gender mainstreaming principles and approaches.
⦁    Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.