Job Description

Background

This position is located in the Communication and Public Information Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which is part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies.

Somalia’s prolonged humanitarian crisis is characterized by ongoing conflicts, climate shocks including floods and drought, communicable disease outbreaks, weak social protection and insecurity. In 2022, the situation in Somalia remains fragile with continued political instability and severe drought. OCHA’s role is to coordinate effective and principled inter-agency humanitarian response and ensure that relief assistance reaches the people who need it in a timely manner. In line with OCHA’s global mission, OCHA Somalia continues to mobilize and coordinate an effective and principled inter-agency humanitarian response.

This job opening is being advertised for the position of Public Information Officer located in the OCHA Office in Mogadishu, Somalia. Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Head of Office, the Public Information Officer reports to the Head of Communications and Public Information Team.

Duties and Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Public Information Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Conducts reporting and analysis by establishing and maintaining reporting networks, drafts and distributes regular public and internal reports, statements and talking points on the humanitarian situation; ensures flow of information and analysis of developments in the country/region, including tracking trends and sharing reports with HQ, and key partners. 
• Ensures implementation of information programmes to publicize priority issues and/or major events, including drafting information strategies, coordinating efforts, monitoring and reporting on progress, taking appropriate follow-up action, and analyzing the outcome.
• Monitors and analyzes humanitarian developments in the assigned country, public opinion and press, identifies issues and trends, and advises management on appropriate action/responses.
• Produces or oversees production of information and communications products (e.g. press releases, articles, speeches, booklets, backgrounders, audio-visual materials, radio spot programmes, etc.); including proposing topics, collecting information from the field, audience targeting, writing drafts, obtaining clearances and finalizing and editing copy.
• Undertakes activities to promote media coverage (e.g. press conferences, press releases, interviews, press seminars and other special activities) of priority issues and/or major events, develops media strategies and initiates pro-active media outreach, undertakes appropriate follow-up actions on the impact of coverage. 
• Contributes content to and maintains appropriate and timely web and social media outreach. Able to deliver creative multimedia content to amplify the humanitarian situation in Somalia.
• Acts as focal point on specific issues, monitoring and reporting on developments, responding to inquiries, etc.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of different aspects of humanitarian response, public information and communication. Ability to address a range of issues in the context of political developments, public attitudes and local conditions. Ability to conceptualize, design and implement major information campaigns. Ability to rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources.  Ability to diplomatically handle sensitive situations with target audiences and cultivate productive relationships. Ability to produce a variety of written communications products in a clear, concise style. Ability to deliver oral presentations to various audiences. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.
• Teamwork:  Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Required Skills and Experience
 

Education:

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international studies, public administration, communication, or a related field in combination with 2 years of relevant experience is required. 
• A first-level university degree in combination with an additional four (4) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. 

• Experience:

• A minimum of five (4) years of progressively responsible experience in public information, journalism, international relations, public administration or related areas is required.
• Humanitarian experience in the field (actual setting where a mission and/or project is being implemented) in emergency situations (complex emergency or natural disaster) is required.
• Experience in driving the social media footprint of a key humanitarian agency is desirable.
• Experience in a humanitarian context within the UN common system or a comparable international organization is desirable.
• Experience with crisis communication is desirable.
• Experience in strong social media skills is desirable.

Language:

• Fluency in English and Somali is required.

Other

• Availability for travel to remote areas of the country.
• Ability to work with moderate supervision, with efficiency, competency, and integrity in a multicultural environment.
• Demonstrates critical ability and sound judgment in the pursuit of requests to full completion.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period