Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) works closely with the Government of Tanzania to provide policy advice, credible, up-to-date information, and technical expertise on food security and natural resource management through the Country Programming Framework (CPF) 2022-2027. The FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), in collaboration with the Government, aims to strengthen the country’s veterinary services capacities for prevention, detection and rapid response to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, Endemic priority zoonotic diseases, Trans-boundary animal diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance. The position will support, mainly the ECTAD programme.

Reporting Lines

Within the framework of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), under the overall supervision of the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO)/Chief, Animal Health Service (AGAH)/, the functional and administrative supervision of the FAO Representative in Tanzania, and the direct supervision of the ECTAD Country Team Leader in Tanzania the incumbent will:

Technical Focus

The Visibility and Content Creation Specialist will be required to generate content from technical work, reports and projects to enhance the visibility of ECTAD’s work to the United Republic of Tanzania and beyond. The incumbent will need to ensure coherence with FAO’s corporate communication policy and operational guidelines for all communication and information outputs. Furthermore, the incumbent will be required to provide technical advice in the design and implementation of communication and outreach products and ensure that the FAO brand is well represented.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Communication and content creation plan (workplan): In consultation with the projects theme leads and based on the approved ECTAD work plans and budgets, identify activities that would result to interesting stories/ success stories and develop a communication plan
• Technical/Science Communication: Synthesize and repackage technical reports, information and events for the public and policy makers.
• Communication Visibility Materials: Coordinate, produce and disseminate communication and advocacy materials, including brochures, project briefs, policy briefs, posters, and other visibility products in close coordination with projects thematic leads and FAO Tanzania Communications Officer in observance of corporate and branding guidelines. Publicize milestones through message packaging for various channels and diverse audiences.
• Media Relations and Management: Develop a media database and partnerships with media organizations and journalists that can be utilized to pitch stories of interest; organize media field visits and sensitization of reporters and editors. Coordinate and collaborate with projects thematic leads and FAO Tanzania Communications Officer on media engagement during events and missions and collect visual and audio footage for archiving.
• Key Project Events: Manage key project events (e.g., World Rabies Day, World Veterinary Day Celebrations, World Antimicrobial Awareness Week celebrations, high level workshops, ISAVET graduation etc.); prepare updates, news items/ bulletins for FRUT website and other outlets as deemed necessary. Coordinate with project theme leads and FAO Tanzania Communications Officer to coordinate and manage media engagement for high profile events. Enhance FAO and donor visibility during events.
• Digital Content Creation and Management: Coordinate production of stories from the field/web stories such as documentaries and photo essays; this includes drafting TORs for production team, writing script, conducting interviews, etc.
• Social Media Communication: Support the project theme leads to develop relevant tweets and send them to FAO Tanzania Communications Officer. Keep track of all tweets, web stories and all other stories that are developed and shared over the tenure.
• Emergency Communications: In case of crisis related to ECTAD mandate and scope of work, support to gather information from project teams, social media and other sources and draft/update talking points or any other information required.
• Perform other duties as required.

Liaison with the OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, appropriate review and clearance processes.

Minimum Requirements

• National of the United Republic of Tanzania.
• A degree in communication, journalism, or related field. A master’s degree is desirable.
• At least 5 years of relevant field experience, especially in agricultural reporting/science writing or technical writing is required.
• Working knowledge (Level C) of English and Swahili.

FAO Core Competencies

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