Communication and Advocacy Specialist

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

• 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

Organizational Setting

The Food Systems Summit (hereinafter FSS), held during the 2021 UN General Assembly, set the stage for global food systems transformation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Under the leadership of the Secretary-General, the FSS made it clear that transformative action in food systems is fundamental to achieving the SDGs. As a follow up to the Summit, the UN Secretary-General has committed the UN system to establish a UN Food Systems Coordination Hub (hereafter the Hub) to support countries implementing food system transformation pathways towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. The hub is hosted by FAO in Rome on behalf of the UN System.

The Hub has a coordinating and connector role drawing on the capacities of the UN system and leveraging on the advice and expertise from a wider ecosystem of support, serving countries, by incentivizing existing institutions to deliver on their mandates in a systemic way. In this context, the Hub covers six key functions:
• Facilitate Implementation of National Pathways
• Strengthen Strategic Thought Leadership
• Engage Collective Ecosystem of Support
• Leverage Means of Implementation
• Communicate & Advocate Food Systems Approach
• Prepare for the 2023 Stocktaking Moment

The Communication and Advocacy Specialist will support the UN Food System Coordination Hub team operationalizing and implementing the hub work plan bringing a mix of experience and expertise in the area of communication and advocacy.

Reporting Lines

The Consultant/PSA will report to the Deputy Director of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub or to other technical officers.

Technical Focus

Communication and Advocacy

Tasks and responsibilities

In close collaboration with OCC branches and focal points, the incumbent will:
•
• Develop/update and implement specific activities of the Hub’s communication and advocacy plan.
• Provide substantive inputs and support for the communication and advocacy tasks required for the organization of the Food Systems Stocktaking Moment.
• Increase awareness of the work and achievements of the Hub within the Food Systems National Convenors, the UN system, the Food Systems Ecosystem of support and general public.
• Promote and advocate food-systems messages as per the work of the UN Food Systems Summit Coordination Hub.
• Prepare key messages for multiple stakeholders through a participatory process, specifically targeting vulnerable groups.
• Review the web site of and the Hub and upon request enhance the structure/content to correspond to the work of the Hub.
• Support preparation, production, and dissemination of engaging multimedia material on issues related to agrifood systems to be used on corporate multilingual social media channels.
• Support public communications activities through the drafting of talking points, speeches, press releases, interviews, events, photos, and other communication products, including submission of country focus and other requests to the Hub.
• Assist with the revision and editing of texts and/or documents to be published by the team.
• Assist with the dissemination of results of programs, projects and activities undertaken by the Hub.
• Support the organization of press conferences when new reports are launched and prepare press releases with key takeaways from these reports.
• Support the organization of advocacy events (prepare concept notes, programs, and agendas, liaise with potential speakers etc.)
• Support advocacy within the UN System to ensure continued commitment and prioritization of a "food systems" approach by UN agencies.
• Perform other related tasks as per request.

Liaison 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.

All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
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);
FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm;
FAO Names Of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en;
Story guidelines http://intranet.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/occ/Quick_Guides/UPDATED-Digital-Storytelling-Guide-EN-FINAL.pdf;
Story template http://intranet.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/occ/Quick_Guides/FAO-Stories-Template-UPDATED.pdf;
UN map standards (available to staff);
FAO Brand and policy book (available to staff).

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in communications, advocacy, public relations, marketing, sustainable development, or related areas.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in communication and advocacy work in the areas of sustainable development and/or agrifood systems.
• Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian for Consultants. Working knowledge of English is sufficient for PSA.SBS.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work
• Knowledge of the content of UN Food Systems Coordination Hub and SDG Agenda
• Excellent writing and communication skills as can be proved by relevant records
• Familiarity with the work of FAO or other UN or multilateral organizations

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