Communication Officer

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sierra Leone supports the United Nations system through its integrated offer, using a people-first approach centred on the ‘leave no one behind’ principle, and a human rights- and area-based development strategy. In alignment with the 2030 Agenda, National Development Plan, United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, the African Union Agenda 2063, the programme seeks to reduce multidimensional poverty and enhance justice, peace, social cohesion, and resilience with its focus on two pillars: (a) People-centred sustainable development and resilience, prioritising people’s well-being and planetary health and (b) Inclusive governance, peace, and prosperity, embodying harmonious development, effective resource management, and equitable governance. Furthermore, the UNDP comparative advantage includes leveraging global and regional partnerships, working across economic, social, and environmental goals, strengthening good governance, and providing technical and policy-oriented support, all while ensuring national ownership for sustainable outcomes.

Context

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Communication lead and Communication Analyst, the Communication officer will support United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Office’s communications strategy; by contributing to outreach, visibility, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge management as well as providing inputs to the design, management, and implementation of publication strategies which are geared to influence the development agenda, promote public and media outreach. The Communications Officer will work in close collaboration with the Programme Management Support Unit, Programme and Operations teams, staff of other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff (Communications Office), and Government officials, international and local media, subject matter experts, multi-lateral and bilateral donors, and civil society, ensuring successful UNDP communication strategy implementation. A communication strategy tightly linked to program priorities that helps position the Country Office in key development markets as a leader in ways that boost demand for various service lines and increase overall business opportunities.

Task Description

1. Digital Communication Strategy implementation:

• Support the implementation of a digital communication strategy aligned with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s mission, objectives, and advocacy priorities.
• Utilize data-driven insights to identify and target key audiences through digital channels. 2. Creative Content Development and Monitoring:
• Produce cinematic-quality storytelling: hero profiles, journey films, micro-documentaries.
• Experiment with low-budget, high-impact formats (handheld aesthetics, motion graphics, etc.).
• Integrate creative direction, set design, lighting moods, soundscapes for immersive visuals.
• Develop thematic content: Innovation Diaries, Founder Reality Series, Lab Life Reels, Point of View (POV) researcher vlogs.
• Create meme-based innovation education series to drive youth engagement. 3. Social Media Management:
• Create and support the production of compelling and shareable content for digital platforms, including social media, websites, text and video stories, and newsletters.
• Support the management of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sierra Leone’s social media accounts, including content planning, scheduling, and monitoring.
• Support the implementation of social media campaigns to raise awareness and promote UNDP programmes and initiatives using various digital tools and platforms, including online events.
• Collaborate with influencers, online communities, and partners to amplify campaign messages.
• Utilize analytics tools to measure the performance of digital communication efforts.
• Provide regular reports on key metrics and adjust strategies based on data insights. 4. Multi-Format Innovation Storytelling:
• Podcast-style conversations and urban-talk formats.
• Walk-and-talk interviews across campuses, markets, labs, heritage sites.
• First-person innovation confessionals (“What I learned building my startup…”) “Behind the Idea” behind-the-scenes (BTS) storytelling of prototypes and student research Motion comic explainer videos for science, tech, circularity, Artificial intelligence (AI) content.
• Build creative studio rituals: mood boards, storyboard walls, creative sprints.
• Use AI-assisted creation (AI editing, auto-captioning, colour grading, VO tools).
• Create digital twin narration of heritage spaces (Cotton Tree, Bunce Island, etc.) .
• Develop sound identity for UNDP; theme music, audio signatures. 5. Partnerships & Media Relations:
• Co-produce content with Telecoms and creative studios Local film schools & online creator collectives African YouTube creator communities Support press assets, media kits, and launch campaigns. 6. Digital Communication Strategy implementation:
• Support the implementation of a digital communication strategy aligned with UNDP’s mission, objectives, and advocacy priorities. Utilize data-driven insights to identify and target key audiences through digital channels. 7. Creative Content Development and Monitoring:
• Produce cinematic-quality storytelling: hero profiles, journey films, micro-documentaries.
• Experiment with low-budget high-impact formats (handheld aesthetics, motion graphics etc.).
• Integrate creative direction, set design, lighting moods, soundscapes for immersive visuals.
• Develop thematic content: Innovation Diaries, Founder Reality Series, Lab Life Reels, Point of View (POV) researcher vlogs.
• Create meme-based innovation education series to drive youth engagement. 8. Social Media Management
• Create and support the production of compelling and shareable content for digital platforms, including social media, websites, text and video stories, and newsletters.
• Support the management of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sierra Leone’s social media accounts, including content planning, scheduling, and monitoring.
• Support the implementation of social media campaigns to raise awareness and promote UNDP programmes and initiatives using various digital tools and platforms, including online events.
• Collaborate with influencers, online communities, and partners to amplify campaign messages.
• Utilize analytics tools to measure the performance of digital communication efforts.
• Provide regular reports on key metrics and adjust strategies based on data insights.

Competencies and values

Accountability

• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Working with people

Living conditions and remarks

Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor. Living conditions and remarks Freetown is a vibrant, hilly city, with a population of just over one million. Set on a peninsula, you can see the sea from almost any point in the city, and you are never far away from some spectacular beaches for swimming and surfing. The general security situation is peaceful, and the overall Security Level in Sierra Leone is classified as Low (Level 2) as per the UN security management system. Crime is classified as moderate, with incidents primarily related to property thefts, house break-ins and robberies. Freetown is categorized as a family duty station. There are good communication services, including mobile and internet services, available at a fair price. Local and regional banks deal in both local and foreign currencies. ATMs are available, and credit cards are accepted in some establishments. However, this is generally a cash economy Inclusivity statement United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status. Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy Scam warning The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.