🇸🇱 Job Vacancies @ UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) – Communications Analyst
Freetown, Sierra Leone
Job Info
Job Identification 32607
- Posting Date 03/16/2026, 12:19 PM
- Apply Before 03/30/2026, 12:00 PM
- Job Schedule Full time
- Locations Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Grade NOB
- Vacancy Type Fixed Term
- Rotational/Non Rotational Non-Rotational
- Contract Duration 1 Year with Possibility for extension
- Education & Work Experience Master's Degree - 2 year(s) experience
- Other Criteria OR a Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of 4 years of relevant professional experience
- Required Languages Fluency in English is required
- Desired Languages Knowledge of local languages (e.g., Krio) is an advantage
- Vacancy Timeline 2 Weeks
Job Description
The position:
The Communications Analyst fosters a dynamic and visible presence for UNFPA Sierra Leone, facilitating a narrative environment that drives advocacy and maintains high levels of stakeholder engagement to meet the strategic goals of the country office. By serving as a supportive bridge between UNFPA and the public, you ensure that the impact of our work is communicated with clarity and purpose. You will report directly to the Representative.
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.
UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.
Job Purpose:
The Communications Analyst will advise on and lead the development and implementation of the Country Office's External Communications and Advocacy Strategy, and implement the Census project Communications and Advocacy plan, including by analyzing relevant political, social and economic developments.
Working within a Country Office environment, you will document and disseminate UNFPA's work, engage traditional and new media to create visibility for UNFPA's mandate and activities in the country, including major programme events and breaking news on UNFPA achievements at national, regional and global level.
Monitor and analyze the political, social, and economic landscape in Sierra Leone to identify trends relevant to UNFPA's mission and recommend and implement high-impact interventions to enhance UNFPA's visibility and maintain a positive corporate image.
You would be responsible for: Communication:
Leads the implementation of the UNFPA Sierra Leone's programme initiatives aimed at raising awareness, engaging communities and promoting reproductive health, gender equality, adolescents and youth empowerment, and population and development communication and practices with communities;
- In liaison with programme teams, design and implement programme communication strategies aligned with corporate strategic goals and country programme milestones
- Creating relationships with media houses, individual editors and journalists to facilitate interest in, and accurate analysis of reproductive health, gender and youth issues and regular coverage in the public media;
- Planning and executing media campaigns on the UNFPA mandate
- Mobilizing for space and airtime in the media, including writing and circulating press statements, generating op-eds and sharing statements related to UNFPA's work for publication in local media, radio and TV programmes, talk-shows, news items and interviews with designated country office senior staff;
- Engaging in public events, including public dialogues, public events, International UN Days commemoration in order to ensure accurate messaging and visibility of UNFPA's mandate;
- Coordinating the drafting and editing of media articles, press releases, human interest stories and other advocacy/information materials for both the web and media, as appropriate;
- Preparing background communication and promotional materials for briefings and visits of media, donors, international advisors and other special interest groups, and assisting in the planning arrangements;
- Ensuring regular analysis of media reporting and media reviews in order to assess the effectiveness of the country office's media activities;
- Coordinating the production and ensuring quality assurance of media materials (films, video, audio-visual), to complement media packages for communicating UNFPA's mandate, messages for media, web, events, and campaigns.
- Carry out any other duties as may be required by the Supervisor in line with the position.
Advises management and the programme teams in developing partnerships in support of resource mobilization, including organizing donor meetings where needed;
Programme Communication:
- Builds the capacity of the national partners and CSOs in effective communication approaches related to behavior and social norms change in support of country programme delivery;
- Undertakes communication research to better understand audiences targeted by programme interventions.
Advanced university degree in journalism, communications, public relations, or other related fields.
Donor Relations:
Minimum two years of professional experience in the field of public relations and communication required if the candidate has an advanced university degree.
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
Knowledge and Experience:
Exemplifying integrity,
- At least four (4) years of relevant working experience for holders of Bachelor degree in the field of public relations and communication.
- Excellent oral and written communication and editing skills;
- Strong interest and deep understanding of development work, especially the mission of UNFPA and of the UN system in general;
- Familiarity with communication approaches related to UNFPA's mandate;
- Excellent skills in computer and information systems.
Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda
Languages:
Achieving results,
Fluency in English is required
Providing strategic focus,
Knowledge of local languages (e.g., Krio) is an advantage.
Required Competencies:
Values:
- Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
- Embracing cultural diversity,
- Embracing change
Functional Competencies:
- Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
- Delivering results-based programme
- Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization
Core Competencies:
- Being accountable,
- Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
- Thinking analytically and strategically,
- Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
Managerial Competencies:
- Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders,
- Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance
- Communicating for impact
- Making decisions and exercising judgment
Compensation and Benefits
UNFPA offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
Disclaimer: UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm
