Public Information Assistant at UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response effort.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Public Information Assistant

Location: Abuja
Type of Contract: Service Contract
Post Level: SB-4
Duration of Initial Contract: Seven months (up to 31 Dec 2015) with possibility of extension

Background
Humanitarian needs in north-east Nigeria have grown enormously since mid-2014, when attacks by Boko Haram became more frequent and intense. According to the National Emergency Management Agency, there are nearly 1.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in six north-eastern states as a result of the insurgency. OCHA’s role is to support humanitarian actors to ensure that relief assistance reaches the people who need it in a timely and effective manner. OCHA’s support includes reporting on the humanitarian situation and raising awareness on humanitarian needs and gaps in the provision of assistance. In 2015, OCHA will continue to:

• Advocate for access to basic services, especially water, sanitation, education and health for vulnerable communities, including the collection, analysis and dissemination of information to humanitarian partners, and negotiation of access.
• Support the government efforts and humanitarian organizations in relocation of the IDPs and their return.
• Coordinate the implementation of humanitarian response in Nigeria with UN agencies and programmes, national and international NGOs and local authorities/communities as appropriate, with focus on strengthening coordination.
• Enhance a protective environment that respects the human rights of all, including IDPs, returnees and minority clans.
• The Information Officer will focus most on reporting under the direct supervision of the Reports Officer.

Duties and Responsibilities
Conceptualize, draft and edit stories for external communications products and internal reports:

• Compile and process data from a wide variety of sources and prepare a range of reports and humanitarian briefings for public dissemination.
• Draft stories for the Humanitarian Bulletin and support all aspects of its production, including fact checking, proofreading and quality control.
• Edit and draft OCHA web stories and content for publications as required.
• Compile and draft OCHA Nigeria weekly internal reports based on input from sub-offices and heads of units.
• Collect and tailor material for social media purposes.
• Draft daily situation updates as required.
• Collect, organize and disseminate latest information/data on the humanitarian situation in Nigeria
• Proactively identify new publications/releases and other sources of information and ensure its dissemination to appropriate staff and partners.
• Monitor progress of and obtain all major publications related to Nigeria, and ensure their distribution and filing within the unit/office.
• Research/analyze and organize data required for internal and external reporting, including reporting on media coverage and political, security and socio-economic factors affecting humanitarian and development programmes in Nigeria.
• Actively contribute to the development and regular update of coordination and information tools, including OCHA Nigeria website, information fact sheets and OCHA photo database, including through supervision of public information intern and by serving as focal point for information shared with the Information Management Unit.
• Collect and tailor material for social media purposes
• Collaborate closely with OCHA sub-offices and information counterparts in other UN agencies and NGOs to ensure accurate and effective information dissemination on humanitarian issues in Nigeria.
• Coordinate inputs for OCHA Nigeria products and edit/redraft as necessary.
• Maintain photography database including substantive captions for photographs to be used in information products and other OCHA functions.
• Facilitate substantive development of briefing material as well as in the preparation of power point presentations.

Support coordination of strategic communications groups:

• Oversee updating of all OCHA Nigeria public information mailing lists.
• Participate in the monthly communications officer’s group meetings and contribute to the group’s activities as required, brief the PI/ Reports Officer and management as necessary
• Participate in planning, organising and provide detailed and accurate minutes of coordination and communications meetings as required.
• Represent OCHA at meetings as required.

Support media relations and outreach to audiences through engagement with Nigerian and regional media and other sources:

• Support the office in maintaining relations with Nigerian and regional media.
• Oversee maintenance of all media lists and media contact information and take lead in preparing media advisories.
• Support communications staff in organizing local and international media trips and briefings.
• Serve as focal point for organizing special events, including the launch of key publications,.
• Monitor and support capacity-building activities to help the local media better report on UN work.
• Produce, or encourage journalists to cover, human interest stories in collaboration with communications staff.
• Support as necessary on social media tools and development.
• Conduct daily media monitoring of international news sources to supplement other UN offices’ monitoring, ensuring senior management are apprised of humanitarian issues in the international media.
• Assist the PI Unit in identifying and implementing outreach activities.

Build capacity and awareness of importance of accuarate and timely reporting:

• Support and hold reporting training for staff in Abuja.
• Support field colleagues with basic drafting and reporting, as well as story idea generation as requested.
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned.

Impact of Results

• Contribute to strong and analytical communications products through good research and analysis of assigned topics, and through well-reasoned written contributions, effective and timely liaison and interaction with colleagues and concerned parties internally and externally.
• Play a strategic role in identifying trends related to humanitarian issues.
• Develop innovative approaches to deal with technical reporting issues.
• Ensure timely high-quality delivery of outputs, in accordance with overall objectives and policies.
• Serve as an effective spokesperson and form strong partnerships with humanitarian actors to help meet OCHA’s objectives with respect to overall policy initiatives and coordination of humanitarian and emergency assistance.

Competencies
Functional Competencies:

• Preparing information for advocacy
• Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UN’s priorities
• Maintains a functioning network of contacts with a variety of stakeholders to promote a better understanding of OCHA’s work and to support advocacy efforts

Building Strategic Partnerships
Maintaining a network of contacts:

• Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues
• Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches
Enhancing processes or products:

• Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
Basic research and analysis:

• Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise
Fundamental knowledge of own discipline:

• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
• Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current

Client Orientation
Establishing effective client relationships:

• Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients

Core Competencies

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
• Self-development, initiative-taking
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
• Creating synergies through self-control
• Managing conflict
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Informed and transparent decision making

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• A Master's degree or equivalent in international relations, communications, journalism or a related field

Experience:

• Minimum of two years of relevant professional experience, preferably in humanitarian/development reporting and communications work.
• Candidates with experience working in media and/or reporting greatly preferred.
• Fluency in oral and written English required.
• Database management skills a plus.
• Excellent communication, drafting and analytical skills, with attention to detail.
• Good team player and ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Willingness and ability to travel to north-east Nigeria.
• Ability to work with initiative (minimum supervision), efficiency, competence, integrity and people of different national backgrounds.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English.
• Knowledge of Hausa will be an asset.

Application Closing Date
20th May, 2015

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online