Assistant Digital Communication with Communities (CwC) Officer (UNOPS LICA-8 home-based)

Duties and Qualifications

Assistant Digital Communication with Communities (CwC) Officer (UNOPS LICA-8 home-based) Duty Station: home-based Section-Unit: Regional Bureau for the Americas, RBAC UNHCR Innovation and Protection Units ICA Level: LICA-8, corresponding level: NO-A

General Background

To date, UNHCRs Communication with Communities (CwC) has largely been through traditional forms of communication, including the Participatory Assessment and Community Based Protection (CBP) approaches through face-to-face interactions. However, it has been well documented that refugees’ communication preferences have significantly diversified – with traditional channels including radio and face-to-face still being used, alongside an increasing uptake of digital platforms and social media. As UNHCRs operations adapt to IDPs and refugees¿ changing communication preferences, new communications approaches are being adopted.

In line with UNHCR’s accountability to affected people (AAP) commitments, the organization has been recently investing in meaningful engagement initiatives that put refugees, asylum seekers, and IDPs’ preferences at the centre of its design. As a result, there has been an increased demand by operations in the Americas to implement digital communication channels for effective information-sharing and engagement with forcibly displaced persons using trusted tools.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The Digital CwC Consultant will work under the supervision of the Community-based Protection and Innovation units in the Americas Bureau and in very close cooperation with UNHCR Community-Based Protection teams in Central America (CA), namely Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. S/he will be contributing to strengthening UNHCR CwC strategies and activities in each of the countries with a special focus on digital engagement channels.

Main duties and responsibilities:

– Support the implementation of a regional automated information WhatsApp line in Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador to increase informed decision-making by refugees, asylum seekers, and IDPs along their displacement cycle. This includes: – Guiding the development of the Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA) in various countries; – Deliver training to relevant colleagues in the operations on the use of the platform to manage conversations; – Assist in the content development for each of the operations: – Support organization of user testing to finetune content and user experience; – Promote accessibility and inclusion through the development of audio&video materials; – Assist in the expansion of the project to additional operations to meet evolving needs; – Carry out communication activities around the project activities and their impact.

– Design an action plan following the information and communication ecosystem analysis carried out by Internews in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. This action plan, to be developed jointly with relevant field colleagues, will aim at implementing the recommendations included in that report.

– Follow up and guide CA operations in effectively designing their national CwC strategies.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

A workplan will be but together at the beginning of the consultancy together with the incumbent and operations defining key activities and project timelines to ensure an efficient delivery of expected outputs. Weekly calls will be organized between the supervisors and the consultant to discuss advances, track progress, and discuss how to overcome potential challenges.

Qualifications and Experience

a. Education

Undergraduate degree (essential) or Advanced degree (desired) in Social/ behavioural sciences-Anthropology, Communications, International Protection, Sociology, Gender or a related field.

b. Work Experience

– Minimum 2 years of experience working in Forced Displacement contexts and engaging with communities through digital platforms; – Knowledge of existing guidance pertaining to the application of social media and digital tools in humanitarian contexts – including Data Protection, Data Privacy and Online Safeguarding concerns; – Understanding of key frameworks/tools outlining key AAP commitments; – Experience working through partnerships/interagency contexts and demonstrating leadership; particularly on topics pertaining to International Protection, AAP or PSEA; – Demonstrated experience developing operational level/policy level guidance, particularly for organizations operating in refugee or other humanitarian contexts and ideally pertaining to the use of social media; – Experience remotely working with operations to document practices.

c. Key Competencies

– Demonstrable experience in effectively coordinating multistakeholder projects; – Excellent of Spanish (both written and spoken) essential, Fluency in English (both written and spoken) desirable – A versatile and skilled writer with demonstrated experience in quickly articulating complex and/or technical concepts in simple terms; – Strong skills in drafting documents and reports of high quality and clarity; – Highly organized and autonomous, able to multitask and prioritize workload when necessary; – Strong time management skills, including the ability to work quickly and meet deadlines; – Ability to work as a team, including remotely; – Strong interpersonal skills, including across cultural contexts.

Additional Information

Please note that this position is offered under UNOPS LICA-8 level contract (ICSC level NO-A) until December 2022.

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed and might be requested to sit for a test. Only short-listed candidates will be notified. No late applications will be accepted.

UNHCR/UNOPS does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19.