The Position:

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Representative, the Communications Specialist in Bangladesh Country Office implements the corporate communications strategy, designs, manages and facilitates the implementation of the Country Office communications and publication strategies with a view to influence the development agenda, to promote public and media outreach and to mobilize political and financial support for UNFPA.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The Communication Specialist leads UNFPA Bangladesh communication management and is responsible for ensuring development and effective implementation of UNFPA’s knowledge and advocacy strategy. You will provide substantive communication support regarding UNFPA Bangladesh focus areas, e.g., sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender, adolescent and youth, humanitarian, population and development. You will be working closely with the UNFPA Representative, and be an integral part of the communications team, and engage closely and consistently with the whole country team to capture and communicate key knowledge from our country-wide work, using communications to accelerate our value and impact for the people we serve. You will manage the feedback loop, harvesting and systematizing UNFPA Bangladesh’s lessons learned, and infuse these back to effective programming and operations, as well as using lessons learned in advocacy to effectively leverage new results. The Communications Specialist supervises and leads communications staff of the country office and has a regular working relationship with the Regional Communications Advisor. The Communications Specialist also works in close collaboration with the Country Office Programme and Operations teams, staff of other UN Agencies, UNFPA HQs staff (Communications Office) and Government officials, international and local media, subject matter experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society, ensuring successful UNFPA communication strategy implementation.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Advanced university degree in digital communications, educational technology, journalism, public relations, or related fields.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum of 5 (five) years professional experience in the field of advocacy and online communications, web publishing, electronic networks or related fields;
• Knowledge and expertise in UNFPA mandate areas a distinct advantage.
• Experience working in a multicultural and web-based environment;
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage online applications;
• Demonstrated team player in an international team environment;
• Excellent English language writing and editing skills;
• Excellent communication and advocacy skills.

Languages:

Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of other official UN language is desirable.