Jobs - 115602- Communications Officer-Office of the Special Envoy

Background

Mandate of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes region

The United Nations has been engaged in peace efforts in the Great Lakes region of Africa for many years, particularly in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a region beset by decades of political instability and armed conflicts, with gross human rights violations, and recurring humanitarian crises, all this fueled by the illegal exploitation of the vast natural resources that abound in the country.

A key step in the efforts to find a lasting solution to this instability was the signing, on 24 February 2013, of the UN-brokered peace agreement aimed at stabilizing the DRC and the region. Known as the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework agreement, this peace deal was signed by 13 countries of the region, comprising commitments at the national, regional and international level.

The mandate of the Special Envoy is currently defined in several Security Council resolutions, namely resolutions 2098 (2013), 2147 (2014), 2211 (2015), 2277 (2016), 2293 (2016), (S/2017/993), 2348 (2017), 2389 (2017), 2409 (2018), 2502 (2019), 2463 (2019), 2556 (2020), 2612 (2021) and 2666 (2022).

The Special Envoy’s role is to lead and coordinate the implementation of this Framework agreement. The Security Council called on the Special Envoy to “lead a comprehensive political process that includes all relevant stakeholders to address the underlying root causes of the conflict”. In doing so, the Special Envoy closely coordinates activities with UN entities, including the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) as well as regional organizations such as the AU, the ICGLR, and SADC.

More specifically, the Special Envoy aims at building accountability in the region by working with a vast spectrum of political, social, and economic organizations. The Special Envoy consults with, and seeks help from organizations such as parliamentarians, women’s groups, human rights organizations, young people, business groups, trade unions, faith-based organizations, academics, and others, by creating a platform where these groups learn about the Framework, actively participate to encourage its implementation and, ultimately, hold their governments accountable for fulfilling their commitments.

The Special Envoy’s mandate links security with the wider development by focusing on two key areas: women’s empowerment and regional economic integration.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Support formulation, production and uploading of content for the Official website and related Social Media platforms

Draft compelling social media content – in English with knowledge of French – for the Office social media platforms and extend engagement to social/digital media platforms of key partners, including the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UNDPPA), the African Union (AU), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and other UN presences in the Great Lakes region.
Ensure that materials posted on the public web site such as photos, graphics, videos, and audio elements are appropriate and in conformity with UN standards and guidelines.
Develop or programme new web-based applications for the Office as and when required.

2. Provide effective support on daily media monitoring and reporting

Assist in researching relevant current news and preparing a daily media monitoring for the Office using various sources of information with a focus on areas of interest to the Special Envoy’s mandate.

3. Support implementation of events

Ensure availability and appropriate packaging of products for distribution at special events, exhibits, conferences, media functions, etc.
Serve as photographic assistant by producing digital imaging and serving as back-up photographer; write captions for UN photos; archive photos for OSESG-GL and make a selection for UN/HQ and external interest groups through Flickr.

4. Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

Analyze statistics of social media accounts and webpages to assess usefulness and relevance of materials posted; and prepare charts and graphs when required to identify trends in web traffic and social media interactions.
Actively and regularly provide content to the social media platforms, ensuring that such content is in line with the mandate of the Office of the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:

The work of the Communications Officer/Service Contract includes liaising with key partners in the Great Lakes region to organize joint major activities. These partners include, but are not limited to:

ICGLR.
United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
AU.
UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes, and specialized UN offices in the region.
Media professionals.

Competencies

Core:

Achieve Results

LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work

Think Innovatively

LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking

Learn Continuously

LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning

Adapt with Agility

LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process

Act with Determination LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously

Engage and Partner

LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Thematic Area	Name	Definition
Advocacy strategy and implementation	Communications	Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals. Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
Social Media management	Communications	Ability to represent and promote the OSESG-GL brand in virtual communities and networks. Ability to use digital asset management (DAM) systems to effectively store, share and organize digital assets such as images, videos and other media. Ability to analyze and interpret data and statistics to measure web and social media performance.
Writing and editing	Communications	Ability to create/draft and/or edit written content.
Video Production	Communications	Ability to produce or oversee the production of high-quality video and audio products.
Photo Production	Communications	Ability to create, edit, organize and coordinate photographic material.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

A graduate university degree in Communication, Public Information, Journalism, media with a focus on political science, international relations, public administration, or related field is required.
Training in Information Technology (IT) /Computer Science and knowledge of contemporary web-based communication platforms and tools is highly desirable.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

A minimum of five years’ experience in public information, journalism, international relations, digital media, or related area is required.
Experience in producing a variety of digital communications products in a clear, visual style that meets contemporary user expectations is required.
Experience in managing social media and web sites is required.
Experience in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe InDesign, as well as Drupal, is required.
Knowledge of the political context in the Great Lakes region is desirable.
Experience in data management and using Excel or other tools to collate and present data effectively is desirable.
Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Language Requirements:

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.
For this position, fluency in English (both oral and written) and working knowledge of French are required.

Keywords

Strategic Communications
Public information

Source