National Communication Specialist

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized technical agency of the United Nations. The FAO mission is to work toward the eradication of hunger and strive for food security for everyone as stated in the 2030 Agenda. The FAO’s Strategic Framework aspires to transform agri-food systems so that they are more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. The ultimate goals of these efforts include better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better lives, while leaving no one behind.

The FAO projects in Nepal currently involve building technical capacity, developing policies, enhancing agri-production, strengthening food systems, improving food & nutrition security, and mitigating the adverse impact of natural disasters and climate change. The FAO also embraces the One Health approach to address threats posed by zoonotic diseases to human health. Within the framework of the food security cluster, the FAO helps to coordinate humanitarian assistance and the recovery of livelihoods in the agriculture sector.

The FAO endeavors to eradicate hunger and malnutrition through its global initiatives. The key priorities of the Country Programming Framework (CPF) for Nepal (2018-22) entail enhancing natural resource management and agricultural production system resilient to climate change and disasters. For this reason, resilient livelihoods are critical to the efforts of the FAO to help the most vulnerable people achieve food security and the freedom from hunger — one of the most basic human rights. Thus, protecting people’s livelihoods from shocks, and strengthening their capacity to absorb the impact of, and recover from, disruptive events is important.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Nepal, in close consultation with AFAOR (programme), the direct supervision of National Project Manager (NPM), with technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and in coordination with the BRCRN National Project Director (NPD) under MoFE will have the perform the overall responsibilities.

Technical Focus

To enhance the climate resilience of ecosystems and vulnerable communities in Nepal´s Churia region through integrated sustainable natural resource management (SNRM) approaches.

Tasks and responsibilities

The National Communication Specialist will be responsible to carry out the following tasks:

• Develop a workplan for the entire contract period
• Update a communications and outreach action plan for the BRCRN project, in line with BRCRN project objectives, and FAO communication and knowledge management workflows, guidelines and policies.
• Develop a communication protocol to prepare communication materials, knowledge products, events and other communication materials, including:
- Guidelines to manage and maintain project website
- Guidelines to develop and manage national and local campaigns, covering mass media and mid media engagement, local community radios and television etc.,
- Guidelines to conduct community learning events,
- Guidelines to establish and effectively maintain the Churia Knowledge Centre,
- Guidelines for project staff and partners to handle media relations, including press-releases, interviews, and other outreach activities (in line with FAO and UN media guidelines).
- Guidelines for CBOs to organize national, province and local-level interventions such as learning events, information campaigns and other guidance for the Churia Knowledge Centre
- Guideline to engage national and local media
• Develop a monitoring, evaluation and reporting plan based on communication interventions with key indicators that the project would like to achieve;
• Other communications related initiations for better outreach and visibility;
• Update branding and visibility guidelines for the production of project materials (in line with the project’s communication plan and relevant guidelines from FAO, MoFE and GCF), covering but not limited to: project training manuals, field books, posters, leaflets, brochures, templates/layout and other graphic design work as well as other audio-visual materials;
• Develop pictorial case stories, case studies, success stories in collaboration with FAO TA thematic specialists;
• Develop the BRCRN Information Kit for media and press briefings, that includes:
- PowerPoint presentation with appealing content,
- Flyer (for web and print),
- a set of key messages/talking points separated into thematic areas of work,
- a set of photo images to be used to promote the project and its activities,
- a set of visibility materials: banners, roll ups, tote bags and relevant promotional items.
- contribute to periodic report writing for the project,
• Support International Knowledge Management Expert in developing knowledge management strategy, dissemination plan and knowledge products; and
• Contribute to other communication and documentation needs.
• Ensure FAOs “Accountability to Affected People” (AAP) principles are clearly explained to all stakeholders in the consultation process and respected at all stages of project implementation.
• Submit regular progress reports, final, and end-of-assignment reports listing the activities implemented.
• Provide any other support necessary to the project and requested by the FAO CO team and RAP/HQ.
• Liaise with the Office of Communication (OCC) will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, appropriate review and clearance processes.
o All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
o FAOSTYLE (English: https://www.fao.org/3/cb8081en/cb8081en.pdf; French: https://www.fao.org/3/AC339FR/ac339fr.pdf; Spanish: https://www.fao.org/3/ac339s/ac339s.pdf; Arabic: https://www.fao.org/3/ac339a/ac339a.pdf; Chinese: https://www.fao.org/3/ac339c/ac339c.pdf);
o FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm;
o FAO Names Of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en;
o Story guidelines http://intranet.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/occ/Quick_Guides/UPDATED-Digital-Storytelling-Guide-EN-FINAL.pdf;
o Story template http://intranet.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/occ/Quick_Guides/FAO-Stories-Template-UPDATED.pdf;
o UN map standards (available to staff);
o FAO Brand and policy book (available to staff).
o Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• National or Resident of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.
• Master’s degree in Mass Communication, Development Communication, Journalism or other relevant fields
• At least seven years of proven experience in developing, designing, production, publishing, dissemination of communication products, strategies and action plans.
• Working knowledge (level C) of English and Nepali

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Excellent soft skills in strategic communication planning, strategy development and implementation;
• Proficiency in report writing and technical programme document preparation
• Proficiency in developing, designing, production, publishing, dissemination of communication products, strategies and action plans
• Ability to plan, organize, and administer workshops and training sessions
• Computer skills in Office applications including Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint

Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated practical and relevant experiences in designing, production and dissemination of communication and outreach materials to a wider and diverse audiences
• Ability to manage and work with a multidisciplinary and multicultural team
• Proven ability to network sensitively, cooperatively, and productively with multiple stakeholders
• High degree of team ethics, well-organized, results-focused and dynamic personality
• Proficiency in English and Nepali language (both spoken and written) with good communication skills
• Previous experience working with UN agencies is an asset
• Relevant work experience (in NRM sector) in working with governments and/or international organizations on consultancy assignments, especially in strategic communications planning
• Proven track record in strategic communication strategy development, messaging, and familiar to latest communication genre and media outlets

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.