Regional Adviser Advocacy and Communication, RST ESA

Johannesburg

Organization: UNAIDS - The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
Location: Johannesburg
Grade: Mid level - P-3, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
- Legal - Broad
- Political Affairs
- Communication and Public Information
- Outer space and satellite technology
Closing Date: Closed

UNAIDS is an innovative United Nations partnership that leads and inspires the world in achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
UNAIDS' Cosponsors include UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank. Visit the UNAIDS Web site at

Vacancy No.: UNAIDS/23/FT17

Title: Regional Adviser Advocacy and Communication, RST ESA

Grade: P3

Contract type: Fixed-term Appointment

Duration of contract: Two years

Date: 2 February 2023

Application Deadline: 22 February 2023
(20 day(s) until closing deadline)
Currently accepting applications

Organization unit: AI/RSJ Regional Support Team, East and South Africa (AI/RSJ)
Johannesburg, South Africa

Duty station: Johannesburg South Africa

About UNAIDS:
Serving Communities and Countries to end inequalities and end AIDS. We, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), lead the global effort to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. By placing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to reduction of inequalities at the heart of our work, we lead the global response to AIDS by: (i) maximizing equitable and equal access to HIV services, (ii) breaking down barriers to achieving HIV outcomes, and (iii) integrating efficient HIV responses into wider health and protection systems.
We are committed to creating an equal, safe and empowering workplace culture where all people in all their diversity thrive. We live our values of Commitment to the AIDS Response, Integrity and Respect for Diversity. You can access the full UNAIDS Competency Framework at www.unaids.org

MANDATE OF THE DEPARTMENT:
The Regional Support Team for Eastern and Southern Africa (RST ESA) provides leadership and coordinates support for an expanded UN system response to ending the AIDS epidemic at regional and country level. It steers, promotes and supports regional and national partners and the UN system towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Using an equity and equality lens as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the RST ESA promotes effective use of strategic information of the epidemic trends and the status of its response and provides technical leadership on people-centered HIV prevention and response in the region focused on key populations and locations most at risk. The Policy, Advocacy and Knowledge Branch has the overarching goal of enabling policy, law and fiscal environments to support the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. It focuses on influencing, partnerships, advocacy and communications centered on human rights, gender, communities, legal and policy reform and equitable financing.

Main tasks and Responsibilities of the Position:
Within the matrix management reporting structure of the RST ESA and the Policy, Advocacy and Knowledge Branch, the Regional Advisor, Advocacy and Communication manages the implementation of the global advocacy and communication strategy at regional and country level in the ESA region.
The Regional Adviser, Advocacy and Communication is responsible for advocacy and communication that relate to the overall practice area objectives in the office and with UNAIDS partners and counterparts, contributing specialist expertise in the functional areas described below. The Regional Adviser, Advocacy and Communication contributes practical and innovative solutions, especially within the region.

He/she has the following key responsibilities:

1. Advocacy
- Develops the overall regional and country-specific advocacy strategies in accordance with strategy and guidance from the global advocacy and communication team.
-Act as a primary focal point for the UNAIDS Regional Director and the joint team in the planning and facilitation of advocacy and communication activities.
-Manages the implementation of the advocacy strategy in the region, including the development of related communication and advocacy materials that effectively support UNAIDS' work across the region in a consistent manner.
-Works with internal and external key organizational stakeholders to identify and develop areas of common interest with potential strategic advocacy partners to promote the goals and work of UNAIDS at the country and regional level.
-Cultivates and nurtures the engagement in the work of UNAIDS of high-level personalities from the region, which include Goodwill Ambassadors.
-Works with the global team on showcasing UNAIDS work at regional level with global audiences.

2. Communication
-Manages, organizes and coordinates press conferences, media briefings, line up interviews and alike with UNAIDS officials, advising them on key issues.
-Per global guidelines, develops and pitches different news stories in media - mainstream and social - on UNAIDS work in the region (UNAIDS does not pay for stories or story placement.)
-Develops media partnerships and trainings (where appropriate) with media to ensure accurate reporting and development of regional media related policies around AIDS issues.
-Provides media management and crisis communications, when required, with a focus on supporting country offices in the region.

3. Content development and management
-Drafts briefing packages and undertakes a wide range of other writing assignments including talking points and key messages related to UNAIDS communication and advocacy campaigns and high-profile global, regional and country events.
-Produces and publish content for the social and digital media assets of the regional office, including website and social media, and supports country offices in managing their social media profile and activities.
-Ensures the update of all global and regional communications libraries with the appropriate contributions from the regional and country offices.

4. Knowledge management system implementation
-Supports the setting up of the office's knowledge management system in full concordance with the corporate knowledge management strategy, roadmap, implementation plan and related policies and in liaison with the corporate knowledge management subject matter expert(s) if and as required.
-In consultation with colleagues and under guidance as required, develops methods, processes and tools to identify and respond to knowledge gaps as they relate to data for impact, and proposes way forward to close these gaps. Monitors follow up actions and escalates any issues accordingly.
-Cascades and adapts the corporate standard operating procedures and guidelines to the data for impact knowledge management system and supports their implementation.
-Serves as a focal point for the office of any corporate-wide knowledge management initiatives such as learning programmes. Provides inputs into the design, architecture, creation, upgrade and substitutions of essential knowledge management infrastructure, as required by the corporate subject matter expert(s).
-Provides targeted, on-call and on-demand support to colleagues with the aim of improving knowledge management and sharing across the office.
-Participates in knowledge management networks and keeps abreast of good practices to proactively seek innovation and continuous improvement of the knowledge management system in the office.

Performs other duties as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:
Essential: Advanced university degree at Masters' level in communications, journalism, public relations, public or business administration, social sciences or another area related to the duties and responsibilities. A relevant first university degree and 7 years of relevant professional experience will be considered as equivalent for internal candidates only.

Competencies:
Values:
Commitment to the AIDS response
Integrity
Respect for diversity

Core Competencies:
Working in teams Communicating with impact
Applying expertise
Delivering results
Driving change and innovation
Being accountable

Managerial Competencies:
Vision and strategic thinking
Leading teams
Building relationships and networks
Managing performance and resources
Developing and empowering others
Exercising sound judgement

Experience:
Essential: At least 5 years of experience working with media, civil society organizations, governments, the United Nations system or others in the development and implementation of advocacy and communication strategies. Extensive experience in advocating, campaigning, networking, public relations at national and international level, including dealing with national and international media.

Desirable: Experience in facilitation, advocacy and/or project management, especially on social justice, global health issues, HIV or similar issues. Facilitation experience.

Languages:
Essential: Advanced level of English

Desirable: Knowledge of additional UN official languages.

Additional Information:
Positions at the international professional category within UNAIDS will be subject to the Organization's Mobility Policy. The abovementioned position is a rotational position and its standard duration of assignment is linked to the ICSC hardship classification of the duty station.

Annual salary: (Net of tax)
62, 692 at single rate

Applicants will be required to take a test. Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.

Applications from people living with HIV are particularly welcome. Applications from women and from nationals of non- and under-represented member states are particularly encouraged.

Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to the Staff Regulations and Rules of the World Health Organization (WHO) adjusted, as necessary, to take into account the particular operational needs of UNAIDS, and any subsequent amendments.

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

Note: The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer or promotion of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. The medical criterion for recruitment is fitness to work in the particular post. The United Nations HIV/AIDS Personnel Policy clearly stipulates that no staff and/or potential candidates shall be discriminated against on the basis of real or perceived HIV status. HIV infection, in itself, does not constitute lack of fitness to work. There is no obligation to disclose HIV-related personal information.

Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable UNAIDS to store your profile in a permanent database. Please visit UNAIDS's e-Recruitment website at: . The system provides instructions for online application procedures.

All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement.

Currently accepting applications