Communications Officer - Head of Communications

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

19 November 2026-23:59-GMT+03:00 East Africa Time (Mogadishu)

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of extreme weather shocks.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.
• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.
• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.
• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

JOB PURPOSE:

The Partnerships and Communications team is responsible for strategic advocacy, resource mobilization and the development of partnerships to support the achievement of the WFP Somalia CSP. The Head of Communications will lead the communications team to plan and execute strategies for external communications that will strengthen and harmonize narratives to support advocacy and resource mobilization, including by acting as spokesperson for WFP Somalia. The Head of Communications will also lead on planning and execution of strategic internal communications to drive ownership of the CSP at all levels of the organization and will support the programme unit in ensuring effective two-way communication with the populations served by WFP Somalia.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority):

People management and leadership:

• Lead the communications team, ensuring the effective implementation of the WFP Somalia communications strategy, providing strategic direction and oversight for all communication activities.

• Manage and develop a team of communications staff. Maintain in-person briefings with team members to ensure proper information sharing and communication within the team/staff members under direct supervision or coordination. Actively build the capacity of team members.

• Provide strategic advice and support to senior management on all communications-related matters.

• Establish robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to continuously assess and improve communication strategies and activities.

External Communications:

• Lead the multimedia production portfolio, including field missions, scriptwriting, reviewing, editing, and guiding the communications team.

• Increase reach of WFP Somalia through social media, supporting flow of quality content on accounts to highlight strategic issues, donor support, achievements etc.

• Ensure high standards of accuracy and editorial content in all external outputs.

• Lead media engagement, including developing and maintaining media contact lists, coordinate responses to media requests, and organize press briefings and media training.

• Support high-profile visibility events, arrange media interviews, review speeches, and prepare media lines to take.
• Act as a spokesperson for WFP Somalia, handling media queries, conducting interviews, and representing the organization at press events.

Internal Communications:

• Lead internal communications efforts on matters important to the strategic direction and operationalization of WFP Somalia’s work in Somalia.

• Work with other country office units to prioritize internal communications on key initiatives and streamline information management products.

• Implement innovative communication practices and technologies, leveraging multiple media and digital platforms.

• Lead capacity strengthening initiatives and enhance field colleagues' and all staff's knowledge of WFP Somalia’s work, goals, and achievements, promoting a culture of ethical storytelling.

Community Engagement and Communication for Development (C4D):

• Strengthen two-way communication with the populations served by WFP Somalia, producing culturally relevant communication materials such as SMS messages, radio broadcasts, campaigns, and visual content.

• Support strategy design and development of C4D activities, ensuring the successful and sustainable delivery of Programme results. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure synergy and coherence in C4D activities.

• Organize capacity-building initiatives to enhance the competencies of communities, stakeholders, and partners in C4D planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Advocacy and Resource Mobilization:

• Support the development and application of advocacy strategies to raise awareness and fundraise.

• Lead and oversee all donor visibility and meeting requirements, reviewing case studies and other products such as factsheets, stories, and global content.

• Support the Partnerships team with special projects, including innovation, advocacy, and resource mobilization.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

Education: Advanced University Degree in Communications, Journalism, Media Studies, Public Relations, Advocacy, International Relations, Marketing, Digital Communications, or other related fields, OR a First University Degree with additional years of relevant work experience and/or training/courses.

Experience: At least five (5) years of relevant experience with an Advanced University Degree OR a First University Degree with a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in communications, media relations, advocacy, public information, or related fields. Experience in developing communication strategies, managing media engagement, producing communication products, and coordinating with diverse stakeholders is highly desirable. Previous experience with the United Nations, international organizations, or humanitarian contexts is an added advantage.

Language Proficiency: Fluency (level C) in English. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second UN language is a plus.

Other Skills:

• Excellent writing and analytical skills, public speaking, political awareness, social media management and project management. Prior knowledge of Somalia or WFP strongly preferred.

This position is open to qualified international candidates. The candidates must be nationals of a country other than the country of assignment. Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply. WFP offers female friendly spaces in the workplace.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact:  [email protected]

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

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.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.

• We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, you may contact us at [email protected]. Please note that this email is only for technical issues with an application - unsolicited applications or documents sent to this inbox will not receive a reply.

• At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process.

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.