Beirut - Communications Officer SC 9

 About WFP: Assisting 91.4 million people in 83 countries each year, the World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. As the international community has committed to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition by 2030, one in nine people worldwide still do not have enough to eat. Food and food-related assistance lie at the heart of the struggle to break the cycle of hunger and poverty.

      Lebanon currently hosts the largest per capital population of Syrian refugees in the region and worldwide, with over 1 million registered Syrian refugees. In response to this large number of refugees, WFP works to support approximately 700,000 people with regular food assistance using its e-card systems. Program implementation is supported by substantial analytical research, including annual vulnerability assessments of Syrian refugees, market and financial assessments, targeting and validation exercises, and monitoring and evaluation.

      WFP also supports Lebanon’s safety net program for the poorest Lebanese, the National Poverty Targeting Programme (NPTP), through the e-card system and a package of technical assistance to strengthen Government capacity to effectively implement the program. As the Syrian conflict persists, and due to the current economic crisis in Lebanon, effort is ongoing to scale up this operation while strengthening the quality of the existing e-cards system to make it more adaptable and flexible to the needs of the population WFP serves. Strengthening partnerships with Government, local entities, and donors is also part of WFP Lebanon Country Office’s programme strategy.  

To know more about WFP’s mission, please check the below video:

https://www.facebook.com/WorldFoodProgramme/videos/10154930622760178/

Job Purpose:

To implement the communication strategy and position WFP Lebanon and its partners among key interlocutors and the general public by supporting and delivering a range of communications activities and overseeing other communications functions.

Accountabilities:

   Within delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the Country Director (with close coordination with the regional communication team in Cairo), the Communication Officer main accountabilities and responsibilities involve the following:

The incumbent will report to management and will perform the following tasks:

• Implement and review country specific communication work plans designed to maintain and enhance the visibility and reputation of WFP, as well as support fundraising activities, ensuring alignment with overall communications and WFP strategies.
• Manage press relations for the Country Office (CO), engaging with media representatives, and acting as the first stop contact, referring interviews to the Country Director as appropriate.
• Contribute to communications and analysis reporting through good research, analysis of assigned area of work and timely preparation and distribution of information products to target audience(s).
• Maintain a contact list of journalists and media outlets and support the flow of news/information about WFP’s work to the media, in order to support regular and appropriate communications.
• Support the communications team, implementing the social media plan by developing social media content, and utilizing platforms, networks and partners to enhance coverage and support of WFP’s activities.
• Generate donor specific visibility content including, text, photos, videos and audio for use across a range of integrated online platforms, in order to support global and country fund-raising activities, ensuring consistency with corporate messages.
• Monitor and analyse traditional and social media to inform the development and/or evaluation of communication activities and strategies.
• Guide communications staff, overseeing creative content, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with more complex analysis and queries.
• Support communications activities that enable informed decision making and ensures consistency of information presented to the media and other stakeholders.
• Support capacity building of WFP staff on all aspects of communication, provides advice and guidance within area and level of expertise, in order to ensure that all activities meet desired standards of consistency, quality and impact. For example, the design and review of training materials.
• Liaise and interact with WFP staff and external counterparts to support aligned activities and a coherent approach to communications within WFP.
• Follow standard emergency preparedness practices to support WFP to quickly respond and deploy food and needed resources to affected areas at the onset of a crisis.
• Other as required.

        Desired experiences for entry into this role:

• Has proven experience in English and Arabic media relations
• Has proven experience writing and editing in English
• Has gained experience in utilizing specialist communications techniques to enhance functional outputs
• Has provided direction and instruction to more junior staff members within area of expertise

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

Advanced University degree in Journalism, International Relations, Public Relations, Communications or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

Experience:

At least five (5) years of relevant progressively responsible experience in communications, ideally for a humanitarian organisation.

Language:

Fluency in both oral and written communication in English. Knowledge of Arabic and or French language is added advantage.