Project Assistant (Communications)

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and malnutrition. The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

Under the SIFAZ (GCP/ZAM/080/EC) project, FAO in Zambia has collaborated with the European Union, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) to implement a 7.5-year program on Sustainable Intensification of Smallholder Farming Systems in Zambia (SIFAZ). The project focuses on scaling up of sustainable food production and building resilience of food systems by smallholder farmers with an additional focus on climate change mitigation measures through building demonstrable synergies between research and promotion of appropriate sustainable agriculture intensification practices.

As part of the activities for the SIFAZ project, adaptive research, agribusiness, and agronomy strategies are put in place to establish economically viable, cost effective and cooperative based business models and transfer knowledge and skills on SIPs to sustainably allow smallholder farmers adoption and continued practicing of the SIPs. Specifically, the research, agribusiness, and agronomy strategies of the SIFAZ project will achieve the following:

•    To facilitate organization of smallholder farmers into baby and mother farm level trails for testing socio-economic and agronomic performance of sustainable intensification practices technology packages.
•    To facilitate organization of smallholder farmers into effective groups that can effectively participate in selected farming value chains for selected crops and agriculturally based enterprises.
•    To facilitate smallholder farmer and community level availability and access to critical inputs for ensuring farmer practice of recommended SIP packages, reduction of yield gaps and climate change mitigation.
•    To facilitate effective partnerships between smallholder farmer groups and small to medium enterprises that undertake mechanization equipment and services input and output marketing for selected crops and services by smallholder farmers.
•    To facilitate smallholder farmers adoption of SIPs for sustainable intensification of crop production whilst at the same time improve and preserve the natural resource base.

Reporting Lines

The Project Assistant (Communications) will work under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative in Zambia and the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) for the SIFAZ Project. They will directly report to Programme Specialist – Communication and Reports. The incumbent will work in close collaboration with implementing partners from Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), NGOs, private sector, and relevant FAO technical units in FAO Zambia.

Technical Focus 

The incumbent will support preparation of work plans for the communication and visibility activities under the project, and support routine solicitation and collation of communication and visibility content from the project technical teams. In addition, the incumbent will support in the preparation of graphic designs, infographics, photography, social media content on the project.

Tasks and responsibilities

In close collaboration with Office of Communications (OCC) branches and appropriate Communication focal points, the incumbent will:

•    Support graphic designing, infographics production, photography, social media content development for the project communication and visibility materials. This will also include branding of electronic and print media content produced under the project.
•    Support timely and up-to-date compilation of information on the project progress and results into communication and visibility products. This will include supporting compiling, organizing, analysing, and preparing data for adhoc reports, fact sheets, resource partner reports, briefing notes, and other reporting and communication products as per the program communication and visibility strategy.
•    Support resource and implementing partner relations by contributing to the production of various communication products and accompanying partners during the field visits in coordination with other program colleagues.
•    Support proactive identification of media opportunities and, in close liaison with program resource and implementation partners, support planning and implementation of media events including press releases, report launches and press conferences. This includes management of social media channels to publicize and highlight purpose, progress, and results of the project.
•    Support the FAO communication and visibility team in production of monthly situation reports, concept notes to resource partners and updates related to food security and agriculture situation in the country. This includes ensuring that SIFAZ achievements and lessons learnt are integrated in the overall FAO situations and concept notes.
•    Support the improvement of information and knowledge management systems in the program by ensuring adequate and frequent updates, access and standardization of program information and agricultural situation analysis in the country. This includes undertaking field visits to gather information on activities and results related to the program and ensuring that all data from the field is captured, documented, and reported in a timely manner for resource partner and internal purposes.
•    Support travel arrangements for communication and visibility implementing partners to any of the communication and visibility events under the project; preparation of travel requests, travel expense claims, payment requests, and other travel-related documents and processes.
•    Ensure that all products to be disseminated via the FAO document repository are timely processed through the corporate Publications Workflow System (PWS), from their planning to production and dissemination.
•    Work in constant contact with the Publishing Group at FAO and ensure that all corporate publishing standards are adhered to in publications and documents.
•    Perform any other related duties, as required for successful execution of SIFAZ activities in the communication and visibility of the project.

FAO Standards and guidelines:

•    Liaison with OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, aligned messaging, and appropriate review and clearance processes.
•    All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
•    FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: HTTPS://WWW.FAO.ORG/STRATEGIC-FRAMEWORK/EN
•    FAO social media policy and guidelines: HTTPS://WWW.FAO.ORG/2/SOCIALMEDIA
•    Social Media Branding Guidelines: HTTPS://OPENKNOWLEDGE.FAO.ORG/HANDLE/20.500.14283/CB5044EN
•    FAOSTYLE HTTPS://OPENKNOWLEDGE.FAO.ORG/HANDLE/20.500.14283/CB8081EN
•    FAO terminology HTTP://WWW.FAO.ORG/FAOTERM
•    FAO Names of Countries HTTPS://WWW.FAO.ORG/NOCS/EN
•    Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff).
•    Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements 

•    University degree in communication, in communications – graphic design, infographics, photography, etc. or any other relevant qualification related to the FAO mandate.
•    At least 2 years of relevant experience in graphic design, infographics, photography, and social media management.
•    Working knowledge of English
•    Zambian national

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work
•    Understanding of FAO policies and programmes is considered a strong asset; and familiarity with UN administrative, operational and financial procedures is an asset.
•    Good knowledge of community level communications channels such as local radio and brochures in local languages.
•    Knowledge of videography, TV production, social media usage and other digital tools.
•    Very good knowledge of the MS Office applications, Internet and office technology equipment.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in graphic design, infographics, photography, and social media management.
•    Extent and relevance of experience working with private sector, NGOs, academic and government institutions in graphic design, infographics, photography, and social media management.
•    Level of communication skills, good writing skills including ability to write concise technical reports in English is a strong asset.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION