I have delivered a range of communications strategies, projects, and content for prominent international development organizations including UNICEF, UNOPS, the European Commission, and an EU development communications agency. This work has been achieved by coordinating and leading diverse teams as well as advising and collaborating with diverse stakeholders – including executives and senior leaders, technical experts, business partners, regional and country focal points, and external partners – towards shared strategic goals.
Delivering impactful results
COMMUNICATIONS AREAS
BRAND BUILDING: I have led development and positioning for several brands, including the Global Sanitation Fund (GSF) and UNICEF Careers. Learn more
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS: Throughout my career, I have led impactful and innovative internal communications, while building the communications capacity of internal stakeholders through targeted tools and resources. Learn more
PROGRAMMES & THEMATIC AREAS: I have led communications for a range of programmes and thematic areas covering water, sanitation, and hygiene, innovation, sustainability, change management, organizational culture, gender equality, and much more.
CHANGE MANAGEMENT: I have designed and delivered targeted communications strategies and content for a range of change management initiatives. Learn more
ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE: Working closely with diverse stakeholders and teams across the organization, I have led, coordinated, and contributed to a range of communications strategies supporting UNICEF’s ongoing organizational culture change journey. Learn more
MEDIA RELATIONS: In addition, I have coordinated media relations and successfully promoted content through partnerships with The Guardian, Devex, The Economist, HuffPost, Global Citizen, and Thomson Reuters Foundation News.
PLATFORMS, CHANNELS & PRODUCTS
PUBLICATIONS: I have managed the production and multi-platform dissemination of flagship communications publications covering a range of development and humanitarian themes. This includes a UN-wide publication on procurement and sustainability, The Courier magazine covering ACP-EU cooperation, the flagship Global Sanitation Fund (GSF) Progress Report, a flagship GSF partnership brochure, and the UNICEF HR Strategy. This work has helped transform evidence-based advocacy and has led to increased media coverage, engagement, and partnerships. See publications
CAMPAIGNS: I have also developed and implemented a range of successful global campaigns, including ‘SheBuilds’, the first ever UNOPS online campaign. Moreover, I delivered targeted GSF social media campaigns that helped boost engagement by more than 50%, while doubling traffic to the respective website. See campaigns
DIGITAL CONTENT & PLATFORMS: In addition, I have led the development and dissemination of targeted digital content. This includes UNOPS and UNICEF newsletters that benefited from major year-on-year increases in reader engagement, a revamped UNOPS website that increased traffic by 25%, a revamped intranet for UNICEF HR, and a new UNICEF Careers website. See online products and platforms
SOCIAL MEDIA: My achievements include leading and coordinating a range of social media campaigns and strategies for international organizations, including UNICEF and UNOPS. See social media content
AUDIOVISUAL PRODUCTION: I have led the development, production, and dissemination of a range of engaging and widely viewed and shared videos, including a popular water, sanitation, and hygiene behavior change video. See audiovisual content
WRITING & EDITING: I have also written/edited compelling and widely accessed content covering a range of development and humanitarian themes. See writing/editing samples
EVENTS: Another key achievement has been coordinating strategic advocacy for key events such as the European Development Days, AfricaSan, World Water Week, and a global learning event showcasing innovations from the private sector.
Okechukwu Umelo 