National Consultant on Communications and Advocacy

The Position

The National Consultant on Communications and Advocacy will support managing the planning and implementation of communication strategies to ensure the visibility of UNFPA’s mandate, targeting a broad and diverse audience. This includes monitoring local trends to align advocacy efforts with global standards and ensuring that all communication products are integrated into the country office’s strategic objectives. Additionally, the consultant will maintain the momentum of ongoing initiatives and facilitate a seamless handover of responsibilities during the recruitment, onboarding, and probation period of the new Fixed-Term Appointment (FTA) staff member.

How you can make a difference

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

Purpose of the Consultancy

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

The purpose of this consultancy is to ensure the continuous delivery of UNFPA Myanmar’s communication and advocacy portfolio during the recruitment transition of the fixed-term Communications and Advocacy Analyst post. The consultant will facilitate in onboarding the Comms Analyst, managing a systematic handover of ongoing projects, and maintaining the visibility of UNFPA’s strategic priorities.

Working within a complex country environment, the consultant will support the visibility of UNFPA’s mandate in sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, and population dynamics while facilitating a systematic handover of ongoing initiatives.

The Consultant will report directly to the Representative and work closely with the entire office team to ensure well-coordinated communication efforts.

You would be responsible for

1. Research and Analysis

• Assist in promoting awareness about the centrality of the ICPD agenda in the Humanitarian, Development and Nexus interventions through the dissemination of strategic information and materials;
• Support the incoming Communications and Advocacy Analyst by sharing existing analytical frameworks, knowledge assets, and research materials to ensure programmatic continuity.
• Provide support in tracking local media trends and public information to support the team in identifying relevant issues and operational context.
• Make recommendations on the design and delivery of institutional image and advocacy activities;
• Monitor, collect, compile relevant information on sexual reproductive health and rights (including HIV/AIDS), adolescents and youth, SDGs, gender equality, GBV and humanitarian assistance for CO communication products.

2. Developing promotional projects and organizational messages

• Support the development and review of advocacy materials (factsheets, presentations, briefs, web stories, and human-interest stories) to enhance the visibility of UNFPA’s mandate.
• Co-draft organizational messages and communications materials for use by UNFPA staff when engaging with local partners and media.
• Review communication documents and materials intended for external distribution to ensure consistency with UN editorial guidelines and validity of information.
• Cooperate with maintaining active communication networks with internal and external partners, including other UN agencies, UNFPA Myanmar staff, NGOs and Networks;
• Help conducting assessments of activities to improve impact and effectiveness.
• Work alongside the newly recruited FTA staff during their transition period, sharing practical context on key partner networks and ongoing promotional initiatives.

3. Formulating strategies for communications and media

• Support the implementation of established UNFPA branding guidelines and media strategies, provides advice on objectives, content and direction of corporate communication activities
• Closely work with FTA staff exploring new professional trends and updating professional contacts with media networks, social media platforms, and local journalists.
• Help draft media briefings, press releases, and background materials, and assists in organizing press conferences or partner events.
• Monitor press coverage of UNFPA issues, helping track media reach and campaign performance in line with Organizational communication strategy and guidelines
• Foster and develop communications procedures, digital photo/video archives, and online resource folders to facilitate an organized handover to the permanent communication

4. Raise awareness about UNFPA CO activities

• Support in preparing communication inputs, articles, and success stories for regional/HQ platforms and UNFPA’s newsletter “Voices”.
• Support in organizing the organization of advocacy campaigns for World Population Day (WPD), the State of World Population (SWOP) report release, and other international days observed by UNCT Myanmar.
• Provide support to the communication team in updating the UNFPA Myanmar website and official social media channels with approved press releases, human-interest stories, and program updates.
• Support the Representative and senior team leads in inter-agency communication mechanisms, acting as an alternate technical support focal point for the UN Communications Group (UNCG).
• Conduct field missions to project sites across Myanmar (subject to security clearance) to capture high-quality visual and narrative documentation, including professional photographs, video clips, and human-interest stories;
• Engage on campaign activities providing peer-to-peer orientation on field documentation standards, ethical storytelling protocols, and day-to-day workflow management.
• Facilitate practical communication and story-gathering workshops for local partners and field staff to improve the quality of ground-level reporting and visual documentation.
• Coordinate efforts with internal and external partners by supporting monitoring and reporting on progress activities, taking appropriate follow-up action, and analyzing the outcome.
• Undertake other related operational communications tasks as requested by the UNFPA Representative or supervisor.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Political Science, Media Studies, Communication, Public Relations, Population, Demography and/or other related social science related fields.

Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum 2 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the field of communication.

• An understanding of the UN system in general, and especially UNFPA mandate, and operations.
• Good knowledge of current development issues in Myanmar.
• Good understanding of Myanmar culture, history and political contexts.
• Good communications approaches for planning, executing, and monitoring communications strategies.
• Experience as a spokesperson for an international organization will be an added advantage\
• Excellent computer/information systems skills.

Languages

• Fluency in oral and written English and Myanmar is essential with ability to write clearly and concisely and to compose correspondence and documents in both languages. Knowledge of local languages in one of UNFPA target states and regions is an asset.

Duration and Working Schedule

The assignment is for a period of six (6) months on a full-time basis, starting from the contract commencement date.

Place where services are to be delivered

UNFPA Work Environment

Disclaimer

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.