External Relations and Communications Officer (NO-B)

Job Posting Organization:
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on April 7, 1948, WHO's mission is to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. With a workforce of over 7,000 employees, WHO operates in more than 150 countries, working to improve health outcomes and ensure access to essential health services globally. The organization focuses on various health issues, including communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, health systems, and emergency response.

Job Overview:
The External Relations and Communications Officer (NO-B) position is designed to enhance WHO's engagement with external stakeholders, improve institutional visibility, and expand fundraising capabilities in Cabo Verde. This role is structured around two main pillars: External Relations and Communications & Advocacy. In the External Relations pillar, the officer will be responsible for mapping and analyzing the local landscape of donors and partners, developing and negotiating partnership proposals that align with WHO's Country Cooperation Strategy and national health priorities, drafting concept notes, project proposals, and donor reports, and monitoring donor contributions to ensure transparency and visibility of impact. The officer will also facilitate institutional dialogue with government, UN agencies, civil society, and the private sector, ensuring cultural and political sensitivity in all partnership and communication efforts. In the Communications and Advocacy pillar, the officer will plan and execute communication strategies to promote WHO's work, advance health issues in Cabo Verde, and attract partner support. This includes producing tailored content such as press releases, success stories, and social media updates, as well as documenting and sharing impact stories in newsletters and annual reports, and training staff in partner-sensitive communication approaches.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will perform a variety of duties, including but not limited to: facilitating dialogue and engagement with government, UN agencies, donors, civil society, and private sector partners; ensuring cultural sensitivity and alignment with national political and development contexts in all partnership and communication activities; preparing briefing documents, talking points, and reports for high-level meetings and donor engagement; mapping and analyzing the local partnerships and donor landscape to identify synergies and opportunities; providing support to develop and implement a WCO resource mobilization strategy; supporting the development and negotiation of partnership and funding proposals; drafting concept notes, project proposals, and donor reports in compliance with WHO and partner requirements; maintaining and updating the office's database of partners, donors, and resource mobilization intelligence; supporting monitoring and reporting of donor contributions to ensure accountability and visibility of results; developing and implementing communication strategies and campaigns to enhance WHO's visibility and advocacy; producing communication products tailored for partners and stakeholders; documenting and disseminating program achievements and impact stories; monitoring and analyzing stakeholders' perceptions of WHO; providing guidance and training to staff on partner-sensitive communication approaches; and developing health promotion communication content to raise awareness of evidence-based health interventions in Cabo Verde.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a first university degree in international relations, communications, political science, public health, social sciences, or a related field. Desirable qualifications include training in resource mobilization, donor relations, public health, or communication techniques such as graphic design, visual language, and the use of social media. Candidates should demonstrate knowledge of partnerships, external relations, and resource mobilization, along with strong communication, media, and stakeholder engagement skills. Proven ability to draft proposals, reports, and donor communication products is essential, as is knowledge of national political, social, and cultural dynamics. Proficiency in digital communication tools and platforms is also required, along with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to conceptualize ideas and advocate for consensus.

Educational Background:
The essential educational background for this position is a first university degree in international relations, communications, political science, public health, social sciences, or a related field. Desirable educational qualifications include additional training in resource mobilization, donor relations, public health, or communication techniques such as graphic design and social media usage.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 2 years of experience in communications, partnerships, resource mobilization, and related fields. Proven experience in writing and producing communications materials is essential. Desirable experience includes working with major donors and partners in the health sector and experience in program/project management at the national level.

Languages:
Expert knowledge of Portuguese is essential for this position. Intermediate knowledge of English and French is desirable, as it may enhance communication with a broader range of stakeholders and partners.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as a National Professional Officer role, meaning that only applications from nationals of Cabo Verde will be accepted. The remuneration for this position includes an annual base salary starting at CVE 3,199,724, subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance. The position offers 30 days of annual leave. Additional information includes that only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted, and a written test or asynchronous video assessment may be used as part of the screening process. Candidates will need to provide scanned copies of their educational qualifications if selected for an interview. WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and encourages applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, and other types of abusive conduct.