Global Accelerator Communications and Outreach Officer

Introduction

The position is located in the Universal Social Protection Department (SOCPRO) at ILO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland and will work on the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions (Global Accelerator). 

The Global Accelerator was launched in September 2021 by the UN Secretary-General and promotes a job-rich recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as just ecological, technological and societal transitions to more sustainable and inclusive economies and societies. 

Three complementary and mutually supportive areas of work are envisaged under the Global Accelerator: 1) the in-country development of integrated and coordinated employment and social protection policies and strategies that facilitate just transitions; 2) the establishment of national financing frameworks and the mobilization of public and private domestic and international resources to invest in universal social protection and inclusive, environment- and gender-responsive employment interventions with a view to creating quality jobs; and 3) the improvement of multilateral cooperation on jobs and social protection for just transitions, including with international financial institutions. 

These three interlinked pillars aim to increase the level and coordination of the multilateral system’s efforts to help countries create millions of decent jobs, including in the green, digital and care economies, and to extend social protection coverage to the 4 billion people currently excluded. A joined-up effort of this scale and nature is critically needed to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities, and thus pave the way for achieving the SDGs. 

The purpose of this position is to strengthen the visibility and outreach of the Global Accelerator, to ensure that the initiative maintains a high-level of visibility and profile, that its knowledge products and reports are published and disseminated, and that its results are monitored, consolidated, and widely disseminated. This includes providing communication, publication, and monitoring support to the portfolio of global projects which are implemented as part of the support provided by the Technical Support Facility. 

The incumbent will work in close cooperation with technical specialists and experts from the Universal Social Protection Department, the Employment Policy Department, the Enterprises Department and from other departments of the ILO involved in the implementation of the Global Accelerator. S/He will contribute in particular to Outcome 8 on Integrated policy and institutional responses for social justice through decent work, Outcome 7 on universal social protection and Outcome 3 on employment in the ILO Programme and Budget for 2024-25, and the respective areas under the ILO’s Strategic Plan 2022-25. 

Reporting lines: 

The incumbent will report to and be supervised by the Deputy Director of the Universal Social Protection Department, and will liaise closely with the Head of the Department Management and Coordination unit of EMPLOYMENT who are both managing the GA. 

The incumbent will receive technical support and oversight from the Social Protection Communication & Public Information Officer/SOCPRO, and work with the Senior Communications Officer/EMPLOYMENT. He/She will work in close collaboration with the GA coordination team, which includes SOCPRO, EMPLOYMENT, ENTERPRISES and other Departments, units and focal points, including ILO offices in the regions, DCOMM, PARTNERSHIPS and INFOTEC, as well as communication focal points of UN agencies involved in the Technical Support Facility (UNICEF; UNDP; FAO; WFP and UN WOMEN). 

Description of Duties

1. Support the development of the GA communication strategy and maintain and oversee its implementation, in consultation with relevant stakeholders. Provide technical inputs to strategies and communication plans developed in the framework of GA projects.

2. Assist in ensuring the visibility of the GA across global, regional, and country level activities. This includes the development of draft communication and promotional material in one official language and translating them (or coordinating translation) in the two other official languages (English, French and Spanish), the preparation and publication of regular newsletters, regular updates to the GA website, the development of the annual GA progress report, and preparation of regular social media posts in support of new knowledge products, high-level initiatives, and events and liaising with ILO communication department (DCOMM) and communication departments of other participating UN agencies. 

3. Support the development, production and dissemination of the annual GA progress report and other knowledge products such as working papers and advocacy/awareness raising materials such as news items. This involves proposing or adapting a Template in line with the GA graphic charter; supervising the formatting of the text; editing and proofreading the text; managing versions; coordinating the work of editors and translators; revising and validating translations; ensuring that products conform to ILO standards; collecting and verifying technical terminology and references; producing and revising bibliographies, and acting as focal point for liaison with the relevant ILO departments responsible for publication production (PRODOC, OFFDOC and DCOMM/PUBL). 

4. Support the maintenance and further development of the GA website, including the online dashboard of pathfinder countries and the Results Monitoring Tool (RMT). This includes acting as a focal point for liaison with relevant ILO departments (INFOTEC), ILO expert in charge of the IT developments and updates, and external collaborators. 

5. Support the maintenance of the GA Results Monitoring Tool (RMT) which is an IT software connected to the GA website to collect and consolidate information on Global Accelerator projects, activities, results, and impact. The RMT is administered by the ILO on behalf of the UN TSF, and information is inputted by country and thematic focal points from UN agencies, as well as other partners. The RMT is a key tool for communication and advocacy on the results of the GA. Results are displayed in the RMT, and through country and thematic pages. In this context, the incumbent will liaise with country focal points in UNCTs and ILO Offices to understand the progress made in GA design and implementation, supporting them to fill the RMT with information on projects, baseline data, activities, results, and impacts, and supporting them in updating the country pages to showcase the results achieved. The incumbent will also liaise with experts of the Hub of expertise to create and update thematic pages reflecting the support they have provided to UNCTs on specific aspects of the GA design, financing, and implementation, and the knowledge and expertise developed through this support. The incumbent will work closely with ILO expert in charge of the RMT IT developments to test various iterations of the application, suggest improvements, report bugs and train users. The incumbent will also communicate on a regular basis with UNDCO’s monitoring team in charge of the UN INFO reporting tool to ensure complementarities and synergies between the RMT and UN INFO.

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6.Support the maintenance and further development of databases and mailing lists of target audiences and provide updates including about newly published news items, newsletters, and progress reports. 

7. Maintain regular contact with field and HQ colleagues at the ILO, as well as identified colleagues at other UN agencies, and colleagues at the Joint SDG Fund to promote better understanding of and support for the latest initiatives and activities under the Global Accelerator, obtain information, verify information, and publish material, and ensure broad visibility of the GA at global, regional and country levels. 

8. Assist in monitoring the impact of the various communications products and the dissemination of knowledge products, using established measurement metrics tools, for example, Google Analytics, and Twitter/X Analytics.

9. Support the organization of meetings and events, with the production and publication of content for internal and external communication channels (intranet, web portal, newsletters, social media, etc.) and the coordination with communication departments of the ILO (DCOMM) and other UN participating agencies as required.

10. In coordination with the Social Protection Communication & Public Information Officer/SOCPRO, support the updating of the webpages of the ILO Global Flagship Programme on Building Social Protection Floors for All, establishing links to selected country pages from the site to the GA pathfinder countries web pages for the English version and coordinate the translation and production of the French and Spanish pages.

11. Promote the inclusion of gender equality and non-discrimination matters in all aspects of the work.

12. Any other duties as assigned by the Global Accelerator lead coordinators in EMPLOYMENT and SOCPRO.

Required qualifications

Education

First level university degree in social sciences, economics, journalism, communications, edition, or liberal arts. Advanced University degree in relevant field would be an advantage

Experience

At least three years of professional experience in public information, content production, communication, outreach, and advocacy. Experience with the International Labour Organization or another international organization in the field of social protection and/or employment would be an advantage. Knowledge of desktop publishing software (InDesign). Experience in use of social media platforms, databases, and reporting systems.  

Languages

Excellent command of English is essential and working knowledge of one of the other official languages of the ILO (French, Spanish) is required. Working knowledge of additional languages would be an advantage.  

Competencies

Technical Competencies: 

• Excellent drafting and oral skills
• Attention to detail
• Knowledge and understanding of social protection, employment and/or enterprise policies and ILO’s vision and most relevant international labour standards
• Ability to follow complex processes and reflect them in a manner that is both understandable and accurate
• Ability to develop accurate written materials
• Ability to identify opportunities for the development of communication products
• Action oriented
• Capability to drive the annual development and production of the Global Accelerator progress report
• Familiarity with information management systems, in particular, within the ILO’s information infrastructure as well as social media and web content
• Good analytical and problem solving skills
• Ability to evaluate information needs and to provide appropriate and targeted information accordingly. 
• Knowledge of audio/visual production techniques and methods.
• Ability to use standard MS office products (excel, word, power point) 

Behavioural Competencies: 

• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviors and attitudes
• Ability to work in a team and to establish good working relations