Communications Assistant

The FAO Representation in Oman works closely with the Government of Oman and other national and development partners to support the country s priorities in food and agriculture, sustainable natural resource management, climate resilience, and related areas, in line with FAO s mandate and the Country Programming Framework. FAO Oman implements and supports a range of programmes and initiatives in collaboration with national counterparts and other stakeholders, with the aim of contributing to sustainable agricultural development, food security, and resilient food systems. Within this context, the Communication Assistant will support FAO Oman in effectively communicating its programmes, activities, results, partnerships, and key messages to relevant stakeholders and the wider public. The position will contribute to strengthening the visibility and outreach of FAO s work in Oman and ensuring that communication materials and activities are aligned with FAO s corporate communication standards and the country office s priorities. The incumbent will work as part of the FAO Oman team and will coordinate, as required, with relevant colleagues at the Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (FAO-RNE), FAO Headquarters, and other FAO offices and communication focal points.

Reporting Lines

The Communications Assistant will work under the overall supervision of the Head of FAO Oman Office and will receive day-to-day guidance from the designated supervisor/communication focal point. The incumbent will collaborate with OCC, RCO, technical officers, programme colleagues, and other relevant focal points in support of communication activities.

Technical Focus

Communication support, digital and social media content, visibility, stakeholder outreach, and communication of FAO programmes and results

Tasks and responsibilities

In close collaboration with Office of Communications (OCC) branches and appropriate Communication focal points, the incumbent will:

• Support the implementation of FAO Oman s communication activities and contribute to communication workplans.
• Collect and compile relevant information, photographs, videos, stories, success stories, and other content from FAO projects, programmes, and activities.
• Assist in drafting, editing, and adapting communication products, including news items, stories, briefs, presentations, newsletters, infographics, videos, webpage content, and other digital materials.
• Support FAO Oman s official social media platforms by preparing and scheduling content, including posts, visuals, infographics, short videos, and monthly content calendars, in line with FAO communication guidelines.
• Monitor social media engagement and compile relevant statistics and reports.
• Assist in preparing and adapting communication content in both Arabic and English, as appropriate, to support effective outreach and engagement, particularly with government counterparts and local stakeholders.
• Support communication and visibility activities related to FAO Oman s engagement with existing and potential partners, including the preparation of briefs, presentations, factsheets, and content highlighting programme results and success stories.
• Support communication activities for awareness-raising campaigns, workshops, events, and other activities related to FAO s programmes and priorities.
• Upload all relevant FAO Oman communication and publication materials to the Corporate Publication Workflow System (PWS) for quality assurance and clearance processes.
• Attend regular monthly meetings and any additional regional coordination meetings, as requested by the Regional Communication Office in Cairo.
• Participate in events, field visits, campaigns, and other activities to support communication coverage and content collection.
• Liaise with relevant communication and technical focal points, including OCC, RCO, and FAO-RNE colleagues, as appropriate, to obtain inputs and support the review and clearance of communication products.
• Ensure that communication products are accurate and consistent with FAO corporate communication standards, branding, terminology, and applicable guidelines.
• Perform any other related duties as required.

FAO Standards and guidelines:

Liaison with OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, aligned messaging, and appropriate review and clearance processes. All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:

• FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en
• FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia
• Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.13044/cb5044en
• FAOSTYLE https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.13044/cb8081en
• FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm
• FAO Names Of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en
• Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff).

Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

Desired Candidate Profile

• University degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Media, Marketing, or a related field.
• Two years of relevant experience in communications, journalism, public relations, media, digital communications, or a related field.
• Working knowledge of English and Arabic.
• National of Oman or resident of the country with valid work permit.
• FAO Core Competencies: Results Focus, Teamwork, Communication, Building Effective Relationships, Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
• Technical/Functional Skills: Experience in preparing and editing communication materials for different audiences and communication channels. Experience in social media content preparation and digital communications. Experience in preparing visual and multimedia content, including basic photography, video, infographics, or other digital materials. Good writing and editing skills in English and Arabic. Familiarity with communication and social media platforms and tools. Experience working with government institutions, development partners, international organizations, or other relevant stakeholders is an asset.