National Communications Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) is the lead UN agency focused on sexual and reproductive health and rights, aiming to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. Established in 1969, UNFPA operates in over 150 countries, employing thousands of staff dedicated to advancing gender equality and empowering women and girls. The organization is committed to addressing the challenges posed by natural disasters and humanitarian crises, particularly those that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including women and girls. UNFPA's strategic plan for 2022-2025 emphasizes the importance of ending preventable maternal deaths, fulfilling family planning needs, and eliminating gender-based violence and harmful practices. The organization actively collaborates with various stakeholders, including governments and civil society, to build resilience and improve access to essential services in emergencies.

Job Overview:
The National Communications Consultant will play a crucial role in developing culturally sensitive and actionable Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials aimed at addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs in emergency contexts. This position requires close collaboration with the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens and the GBV Sub-Cluster, ensuring that the materials developed are contextually relevant and effective in high-risk areas. The consultant will conduct stakeholder consultations, facilitate focus group discussions, and lead validation workshops to gather inputs and finalize the IEC materials. The overarching goal is to enhance community preparedness and response mechanisms for GBV and SRH during humanitarian crises, thereby safeguarding the health, safety, and dignity of affected populations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for conducting consultations and stakeholder meetings at both federal and provincial levels, engaging with the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, GBV Sub-Cluster members, and implementing partners to gather inputs and define priorities for the IEC materials. They will design and develop IEC materials that are culturally appropriate and actionable, ensuring alignment with national policies and guidelines. The consultant will organize and facilitate focus group discussions with women and girls in high-risk provinces to collect feedback and ensure the materials are contextually relevant. Additionally, they will lead provincial-level validation workshops to finalize the IEC materials, incorporating feedback from stakeholders, including local authorities and community representatives. The consultant must ensure that the IEC materials are accessible, inclusive, and practical for use by diverse stakeholders, including communities and service providers.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in journalism, mass communication, public health, gender studies, or a related field. They should have at least 2-5 years of experience in developing and designing communication materials, particularly IEC materials for humanitarian or development contexts. Proven ability to create culturally sensitive, high-quality communication materials tailored to diverse audiences is essential. A demonstrated understanding of GBV, SRH, and their significance in emergency settings is required, along with experience working with diverse teams, including government stakeholders and civil society in Nepal. Strong writing, storytelling, and design skills are necessary for producing impactful communication materials, as well as excellent interpersonal and communication skills to engage effectively with stakeholders.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s degree in journalism, mass communication, public health, gender studies, or a related field. This advanced education is crucial for understanding the complexities of communication in humanitarian contexts and for developing effective IEC materials that address sensitive issues such as GBV and SRH.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have a minimum of 2-5 years of relevant experience in developing and designing communication materials, particularly in humanitarian or development contexts. This experience should include a proven track record of creating culturally sensitive communication materials and an understanding of the specific challenges faced in emergency settings, particularly regarding GBV and SRH.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken Nepali and English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of additional local languages spoken in high-risk provinces is considered an advantage, as it enhances the consultant's ability to engage with diverse communities and ensure the materials are accessible to all stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package, including a competitive net salary, health insurance, and other applicable benefits. UNFPA promotes a work environment that reflects values of gender equality, diversity, integrity, and a healthy work-life balance. The organization encourages applications from women, individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups. UNFPA is committed to ensuring equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation, and selection for all candidates, regardless of personal characteristics.