Head of External Relations and Communications, CST Level II, Dhaka, Bangladesh (Re-advertisement)

Terms and Conditions

Type of Contract: International Consultancy (CST Level II)

Position Title: Head of External Relations and Communications

Unit: Partnerships, Reports and Communications

Duty Station: Dhaka, Bangladesh

Duration: 11 Months

About WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

Background and Purpose of the Assignment

WFP started operations in Bangladesh in 1974. Since 2017, in response to the influx of over 745,000 Rohingya refugees, WFP has been providing food assistance and nutrition services as well as life-skills training, disaster risk reduction (DRR) activities and common engineering services to the camp population every month. WFP also supports Bangladeshis in the host communities through longer-term interventions, including nutrition assistance, school feeding, livelihoods programmes and DRR activities.

In 2022, WFP began implementing its new Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for 2022-2026. The CSP reinforces the commitment of WFP to provide food assistance in emergencies, strengthen the capacities of government counterparts and strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities.

WFP Bangladesh is committed to supporting the Government to reach its Sustainable development goals though capacity strengthening, building resilient communities, food security and nutrition interventions, emergency response and supporting school meals.

The job holder should have the specialized knowledge and experience required to analyze and advise on complex partnerships activities. They identify and pursue strategic opportunities with a host of public, private sector and external entities. These can include governments, UN agencies, intergovernmental institutions and their member states, international financial institutions, individuals, corporations, foundations and NGOs.

Key Responsibilities (not all-inclusive)

• Design and lead the implementation of a work plan for partnerships and communications units to enable WFP Bangladesh to identify, develop and strengthen quality partnerships in support of the country strategic plan.
• Support WFP Bangladesh’s effective positioning vis-à-vis national governments and international institutions, based on solid socio-political understanding, to influence the policy agenda in support of the SDGs, Zero Hunger and WFP Bangladesh’s role therein.
• Guide functional unit in the country office on partnership strategies (including Partnership Action Plans); Extend support/guidance on partnership/contribution management, including quality proposal and report writing, by engaging with other WFP entities and external stakeholders.
• Lead and motivate a team of Partnerships Officers, Communication Officers and Reports Officers by providing coaching, training and guidance to ensure appropriate development and enable high performance.
• Promote the use of key information systems (e.g. Salesforce, WINGS, WFPGo) amongst the team to facilitate sharing of quality donor intelligence (incl. forecasting), and assess results.
• Plan and oversee the execution of communications campaigns that favourably impact the views of the public, opinion leaders and donors in order to raise WFP’s profile and support fundraising activities.
• Ensure effective design and delivery of communications products that effectively convey the desired message to targeted audience(s).
• Lead, oversee and coordinate all Operational Information Management & Performance Reporting (OIM & PR) activities contributing to the establishment and presentation of standard and consistent operating picture of WFP operations and associated results that facilitate informed and timely decision-making at all levels throughout the country office.
• Lead and oversee the implementation of the Annual Country Report, (ACR), including its writing, for the Annual Reporting Exercise in collaboration with the country office programme, M&E and logistics functions to coordinate and ensure coherence and quality of information.
• Collaborate cross-functionally supporting performance of activities and ensuring an aligned and consistent approach to information management, analysis and performance reporting.

Deliverables at the end of the Contract

• Has mapped and implemented the resource mobilization work plan by delivering specific activities as defined.
• Has broadened and strengthened WFP’s image in Bangladesh.
• Has assisted in drafting resourcing analysis and collaborated with accurate and timely briefs as well as reporting to donors.
• Has overseen communications and reporting outputs carried out by the CO.
• Has developed a cohesive external relations unit including partnerships, communications and reports experts ensuring the information flow between these functions.

Qualifications & Experience Required

Education:

• Bachelor and/or Master’s degree in political science, international development, development economics, communications, international relations or related field.

Experience:

• Minimum 8 years relevant experience with a Master’s degree or 10 years’ experience with a Bachelor degree. Previous experience with the United Nations will be considered as an asset, especially experience with multi-donor, global and thematic funds.
• Previous experience in emergency and post-conflict/transitional settings is an advantage.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Relationship management, including an ability to build and sustain effective collaborative relationships with stakeholders
• Resource mobilization and grant management
• Project specific reporting
• Strong writing skills and ability to write clearly and concisely in English
• Ability to analyze data and conceptualize issues
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to gather and analyze information
• Proven ability to lead a team and coach/mentor staff

Languages:

Fluency in English language. Any additional command of other UN languages is an advantage.

Deadline For Applications

Monday, 06 June 2022 (Midnight Bangladesh time)