Communications Officer

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Job Description

Context

Generation Unlimited (GenU), launched by the UN Secretary-General in 2018 and led by UNICEF, is a global partnership uniting leaders and youth to create solutions that empower the world’s 1.8 billion young people. GenU aims to have all young people aged 10-24 in school, training, or employment by 2030.
In Rwanda, the multi-sector GenU partnership will help meet the need for (i) Education and training, helping young people build skills for productive lives (ii) Employment, increasing quality work opportunities for young people (iii) Entrepreneurship as a mindset; and (iv) Equity and engagement, promoting equitable access to opportunities, equipping young people as problem-solvers and engaged members of society, and addressing mental health concerns.
Through partnerships with Rwanda’s Ministry of Youth and Arts, Ministry of Public Service and Labor, and UNICEF, the initiative launched the Ingazi platform, a free digital resource that offers job-relevant learning materials and career connections to support Rwanda’s vision for a knowledge-based economy. The UNV, Communication Officer, will be assigned to the Ministry of Youth and Arts to support Ingazi communication related tasks.

Task description

Under the supervision of Chief Education at UNICEF, the Communications Officer will work closely with the Ingazi (Passport to Earning Rwanda) Comms taskforce led by the Ministry of Youth and Arts, to support the following activities:

Support drafting of key documents including concept notes, progress reports and briefing notes, as inputs to local and global reports, funding and partnership proposals and other stakeholder communication materials.
Support the management of vendors, including supporting the development of Ingazi communications materials, payment tracking, filing of contractual documents and ad-hoc communications.
Draft regular updates to inform partners and other stakeholders of progress and milestones.
Support scheduling of meetings (technical and steering committee), preparation of agenda, PowerPoints, minutes, and follow-up of agreed action points.
Monitor and update social media pages including scheduling and publishing posts, responding to queries shared on the timelines and via direct message, and escalating critical feedback to the technical team for timely attention and action. Summarize key highlights from social media feeds (positive and negative) for monthly progress reports.
Monitor and respond to queries channeled through the Ingazi social media, email and platform channels, and escalating complaints or operational feedback to the relevant teams for timely action, within a 48-hour turnaround time.
Collect and consolidate feedback on the platform from users, including suggestions and to identify trends in the sector to inform the continued enhancement of the Ingazi platform.
Draft content to be published on the Ingazi website to inform implementing partners and other stakeholders of implementation progress, including quarterly newsletters, project milestone highlights, articles, content summary for social media content, scripts for influencer campaigns, press releases and briefing notes or presentations for project representatives attending different fora.
Support documentation of positive Human-Interest Stories in collaboration with the Communications Taskforce, initiate social listening surveys and incorporate feedback into the monthly reports.
Compile performance metrics shared by Ingazi ambassadors into a consolidated report which can be circulated among stakeholders to inform them on the uptake and performance of Ingazi among youth across Rwanda.
Provide administrative support including event coordination, travel planning and logistic coordination, invitations and participation tracking, documentation, catering arrangements, coverage arrangements, etc.
Draft monthly status reports including platform performance analytics, social media reach and engagement analytics, career hub milestones and lessons learned, etc. to update key stakeholders on progress, in coordination with the IT officer.
Any other coordination support required to ensure the seamless implementation of the Ingazi (Passport to Earning) project and other GenU activities in Rwanda.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.
Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Requirements

Required experience

3 years of experience in NGO, Governmental organizations, or a relevant field. Experience in an international setting is an added advantage.

Experience working with UNICEF, or the Government of Rwanda is an added advantage.
Experience working on youth engagement and participation or youth upskilling and employment initiatives, particularly, the communications/marketing/promotion of said youth empowerment initiatives is an asset.
Demonstrated understanding of the school-to-work transition landscape for youth in Rwanda.
Strong familiarity with the cultural and political context of Rwanda.
Excellent oral and written skills; excellent research, drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development.
Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
Have affinity with or interest in youth empowerment, technology for development, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

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