National Communication Consultant- Libya Country Office

The National Communication Consultant will support UNFPA Libya in planning and implementing coherent, high-quality communications to advance the Country Programme, increase visibility, and engage priority audiences in Arabic and English. The role involves strategic communications planning, content production, digital channel management, media relations, event support, and communications capacity building.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, regularly update and support implementation of the Country Office communications plan, editorial calendar, audience priorities and performance framework.
• Advise the Representative and senior management on strategic messaging, positioning, communications opportunities and reputational considerations related to UNFPA’s mandate and programme results.
• Translate Country Programme priorities, donor-funded results and field evidence into clear communications objectives, key messages and audience-specific products.
• Develop communications and visibility approaches for priority programme initiatives, including national policy processes, campaigns, launches, international days, field missions and high-level visits.
• Maintain an efficient internal workflow for requesting, drafting, reviewing, clearing, publishing and archiving communications products.
• Draft, edit, proofread and adapt high-quality materials in Arabic and English, including press releases, web stories, human-interest stories, social-media copy, speeches, talking points, briefing notes, fact sheets, brochures, newsletters, campaign materials, donor updates and annual reporting inputs.
• Work with programme and field colleagues and implementing partners to identify strong, evidence-based human-interest stories that demonstrate results and centre the voices, agency and dignity of women, girls, adolescents, young people and affected communities.
• Prepare communications and background materials for the Representative, senior UNFPA officials, donors, media and other special-interest groups, including support before and during missions and visits.
• Ensure technical accuracy, consistent messaging and plain-language presentation of sensitive subjects, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, maternal health, gender-based violence, youth participation, population data, displacement and humanitarian needs.
• Coordinate translation, editing and quality assurance of externally produced or partner-submitted materials before public release.
• Manage and regularly update UNFPA Libya’s website and social-media channels with relevant, timely and engaging content, in accordance with corporate guidance and approved access arrangements.
• Plan digital campaigns and content series; adapt products to platform-specific formats; and use accessible practices such as subtitles, accurate captions, descriptive text and readable graphics where appropriate.
• Monitor audience engagement and channel performance, identify trends and opportunities, and provide practical recommendations to improve reach, relevance and engagement.
• Maintain an up-to-date digital content calendar and coordinate inputs from programme, operations, monitoring, field and management colleagues.
• Monitor digital conversations, misinformation and emerging issues relevant to UNFPA’s mandate and promptly alert the supervisor to potential communications or reputational risks.
• Develop and maintain constructive working relationships with national and local media, journalists, photographers, content producers and other communications partners.
• Maintain an updated media map and contact database and support targeted dissemination of press releases, statements, invitations and advocacy materials.
• Monitor relevant mainstream and online media coverage and provide concise alerts, summaries and recommendations to the Country Office.
• Support the planning and delivery of media engagements, press events, programme launches, donor visibility moments, campaigns, international days, public events and high-level visits.
• Contribute actively to joint United Nations communications initiatives, including coordination with the UN Communications Group and relevant regional or headquarters communications teams.
• Support procurement-related technical inputs and quality assurance for communications services and products, ensuring cost-effectiveness, brand compliance and timely delivery within the consultant’s delegated role.
• Provide high-quality photography and short-form videography for UNFPA events, programme activities and field missions, and edit or retouch material for appropriate public use.
• Develop or adapt simple, professional graphics and multimedia products and coordinate with specialized designers, photographers, videographers and production companies when required.
• Support planning and logistics for photography and film assignments, including shot lists, interview preparation, consent processes, captions, metadata and safe storage.
• Establish and maintain an organized, searchable communications archive covering publications, press releases, media coverage, photographs, videos, designs, source files, consent records and final approved products.
• Ensure that the use of images and personal stories complies with UNFPA standards on informed consent, safeguarding, confidentiality, data protection and protection-sensitive communication.
• Track implementation of the communications plan and report regularly on outputs, reach, engagement, media uptake, campaign performance, lessons learned and recommended adjustments.
• Maintain clear evidence of publication and visibility and provide communications inputs to donor reports, proposals, situation reports, annual reports, results summaries and resource-mobilization materials.
• Support programme and partner colleagues to improve the quality of stories, photographs, captions, visibility materials and communications requests through practical guidance, templates and short coaching sessions.
• Perform other relevant communications tasks requested by the supervisor and consistent with the purpose, level and duration of the consultancy.

Requirements

• A first-level university degree in communications, journalism, public information, media studies, digital communications, political science, international relations or another relevant field is required.
• An advanced university degree in a communications-related field is a strong asset.
• A minimum of two years of relevant professional experience at national or international level in communications, public information, journalism, digital media, multimedia production or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience producing high-quality communications materials for different audiences and formats, including web, social media, print, campaigns and public events.
• Proven bilingual writing, editing and storytelling experience in Arabic and English, supported by relevant samples.
• Proven experience in photography, videography and/or graphic design, supported by a portfolio or comparable evidence of previous work.
• Experience managing social-media channels, website content, digital campaigns and communications analytics.
• Good knowledge of the Libyan institutional, media, civil-society and sub-national context, including sensitivity to regional and conflict dynamics.
• Previous experience with a United Nations entity, international development or humanitarian organization, government institution or civil-society organization is an asset but is not required.
• Knowledge of and experience in context and gender-sensitive reporting, including communicating on sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, gender equality, adolescents and youth, population data or humanitarian action is highly desirable.
• Excellent writing, editing, interviewing, storytelling and message-development skills, with strong attention to detail and factual accuracy.
• Proficiency in current office applications, social-media platforms, content-management systems and digital analytics tools.
• Working ability with commonly used photography, video-editing and graphic-design software. Familiarity with tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Canva or equivalent applications is an asset.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills, including the ability to handle competing priorities, respond quickly to emerging needs and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Sound judgment in handling sensitive information, protection risks, consent, reputational considerations and communications involving vulnerable people.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with government, media, civil society, communities, donors, UN agencies and colleagues from different technical backgrounds.
• Fluency in Arabic and English, written and spoken, is required.
• Ability to draft clear, accurate and audience-appropriate public communications in both languages is required.

Skills

• Communications Strategies
• Public Information
• Journalism
• Digital Media
• Multimedia Production
• Bilingual Professional Writing
• Editing
• Storytelling
• Photography
• Videography
• Graphic Design
• Social Media Management
• Website Content Management
• Digital Campaigns
• Communication Analytics
• Context-Sensitive Reporting
• Gender-sensitive reporting
• Sexual and Reproductive Health
• Project Management
• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Illustrator
• InDesign
• Adobe Premiere
• Canva
• Content Management Systems
• Office Applications

Languages

Arabic, English