Key Functions and Results

COMMUNICATIONS ACTIVITIES: The incumbent tracks, researches and analyses information and gathers stories and data to shape internal and external communications strategies, campaigns and events.

They gather information from diverse sources and help to assess the impact and effectiveness of communications opportunities and activities undertaken. Their work supports the coordination, creation, clearance and distribution of communications content across a wide spectrum of channels, platforms and outlets. In consultation with internal and external partners, the incumbent identifies and proposes communications and visibility opportunities, activities and approaches, taking into account target audiences and corporate and regional priorities. 

MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The incumbent is accountable for IFAD's core values and code of conduct, including integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources. They are also responsible for all communications activities in the region thus are the first point of contact for communication activities in the region, and liaise with UN, project and other communications partners.

INTERNAL COMMUNICATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING: The incumbent supports the implementation of the regional communications approach, in collaboration with the Regional Communication Officer/Chief, Partner and Field Engagement team, and conveys corporate communication goals and best practices to the Regional Director, heads of office and other in-country staff. They support field staff in identifying communications opportunities and risks, in line with IFAD's overall strategic communications approach, outreach and capacity-building efforts.

They promote a communications-conscious culture within the regional or other office, including supporting capacity-building and skills training. They prepare strong communications (in some cases in multiple languages) to expand IFAD's presence in relevant markets. The incumbent monitors complex media and political environments and manages political sensitivities and reputational issues.

They help develop IFAD experts and Country Directors as IFAD's representatives and build their profiles, providing media training and coaching. They participate in missions with the regional or other office team (e.g. supervision), and conduct scoping missions to evaluate communications opportunities and stories.

FIELD-BASED COMMUNICATION, VISIBILITY AND BRANDING OF IFAD: The incumbent contributes to raising IFAD's profile as an advocate for rural people and investor in agricultural and rural development and to boosting IFAD's reputation as an experienced, results-driven organization and partner of choice.

• Based on needs and joint prioritization the incumbent prepares media pitches and reaches out to media under the guidance of the Communication Officer to generate interest in IFAD-funded work, including in relation to missions of IFAD senior managers and other officials (e.g. regional directors, RBA heads, Member State representatives, Goodwill Ambassadors), or major regional/global events taking place in the hub area.
• They coordinate cross-regionally by participating in network of COM regional communications team for consistency and impact.
• CONTENT DEVELOPMENT AND OUTREACH: The incumbent researches and creates content for external outreach locally/nationally and for IFAD's website and IFAD social media channels and promotes existing content (stories from the field, social media posts, etc), as well as collaborates with COM colleagues to place IFAD video and/or video news releases (VNRs) with local television outlets.
• They have responsibility for managing subregional social media accounts and lead the development and delivery of virtual/in-person field visits to IFAD-supported projects.
• PARTNERSHIP BUILDING: The incumbent develops relations with important media (print/broadcast/digital), especially in the office's area of engagement, encouraging, organizing and facilitating coverage of IFAD-supported activities, and providing a regular source of information on rural development issues and helping position IFAD experts with external outlets.
• Maintains contact with Communications Officers or focal points in government (e.g. PMUs), partner institutions and NGOs, as well as the United Nations Communications Group, to enable rapid response to both opportunities and risks, in collaboration with the Regional Communications Officer and other staff.
• STRENGTHENING AWARENESS AND DISSEMINATION: The incumbent manages both print and digital content, and seizes opportunities for advocacy, including supporting field-based communications initiatives, IFAD global campaigns, press trips or the launch of flagship publications such as the Rural Development Report and the IFAD Annual Report, as well as country-specific publications or reports showing evidence of IFAD's results (e.g. impact assessments, IOE evaluations). They increase flow and quality of content and people-centred stories and communications from the field.

Key Performance Indicators

• The work requires analysis of current media trends. While the type of analysis and decision making varies, typical examples include: interpreting a body of rules, regulations and precedents to determine new communication opportunities. Increased familiarity with IFAD's brand and achievements; greater capacity of IFAD Regional or other office and other staff to carry out communications activities in line with IFAD's overall strategic communications approach. The incumbent has access to advice and on-the-job training from more senior officers. Performance will be measured, among others, in terms of increased social media engagement and reach (e.g. followers and impressions), engagement of technical operational and regional staff in communications, building a communications culture, and building capacity of IFAD supported project teams through collecting stories in the field.

Working Relationships

• The work relationships of the incumbent involve close interaction with team members and staff throughout the Fund. This requires skills in building constructive reflective relationships, both internally and externally. They will maintain communication and coordination with key staff in HQ and other offices to maximize visibility for IFAD with key partners and coordinate messaging.
• External contacts are predominantly with current and prospective partners and relevant stakeholders in government (e.g. project and ministry staff), media and civil society.

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies:

Level 1:

• Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains effective working relationships
• Communicating and negotiating - Communicates effectively; creates understanding between self and others
• Demonstrating leadership - Personal leadership and attitude to change
• Focusing on clients - Focuses on clients
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge & innovates
• Managing performance and developing staff 
• Managing time, resources and information - Manages own time, information and resources effectively
• Problem-solving and decision-making - Demonstrates sound problem-solving and decision-making ability
• Strategic thinking and organizational development - Personal influence
• Team working - Contributes effectively to the team

Education:

• Level - Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in a technically relevant area. The advanced university degree may be substituted by a first university degree and at least four (4) additional years of relevant professional experience over and above the minimum number of years of experience as stipulated below.
• Areas - Communications, Journalism, Social Sciences or other relevant discipline
• Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php 

Experience:

• At least four (4) years progressively responsible professional experience in communications in an international organization or media or communications organization.  
• Position-specific experience: Ability to do all-around communications (writing, media, social media, digital, visual etc.) is an asset