United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF) Is Hiring A Communications Officer APPLY NOW
Background
UNICEF, originally called the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund in full, now officially United Nations Children’s Fund, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide.
About UNICEF
UNICEF, which stands for the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that focuses on promoting the well-being and rights of children worldwide. It was established in 1946 to provide humanitarian assistance and support to children affected by World War II.
Key points about UNICEF:
- Mission: UNICEF’s primary mission is to protect the rights of every child, focusing on their survival, development, protection, and participation. The organization aims to ensure that every child has access to health care, nutrition, education, clean water, sanitation, and protection from violence, exploitation, and discrimination.
- Global Reach: UNICEF operates in more than 190 countries and territories, working with governments, civil society organizations, and other partners to address the needs of children and their communities. It provides both emergency response in times of crisis and long-term development programs to improve the lives of children.
- Core Areas of Focus: UNICEF’s work encompasses several core areas, including health and nutrition, education, child protection, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and social inclusion. It also prioritizes addressing the specific needs and challenges faced by marginalized and vulnerable populations, such as girls, children with disabilities, refugees, and those affected by conflict or natural disasters.
- Advocacy and Policy Influence: UNICEF advocates for the rights of children and works to influence policies and legislation at national and international levels. The organization uses evidence-based research and data to inform decision-making and promote the adoption of child-friendly policies and programs.
- Partnerships and Collaboration: UNICEF collaborates with governments, civil society organizations, UN agencies, private sector entities, and communities to maximize its impact. These partnerships help mobilize resources, build capacity, and implement programs effectively.
- Funding: UNICEF is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from governments, foundations, businesses, and individual donors. It relies on these financial resources to carry out its programs and respond to emergencies.
- Convention on the Rights of the Child: UNICEF is instrumental in promoting and upholding the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The CRC outlines the fundamental rights of children and serves as the foundation for UNICEF’s work.
- Public Engagement: UNICEF engages the public through campaigns, fundraising initiatives, and advocacy efforts to raise awareness about children’s rights and mobilize support for its programs. It also collaborates with ambassadors and advocates, including celebrities and influencers, to amplify its messages and reach a broader audience.
- Innovation and Research: UNICEF embraces innovation and invests in research to develop and scale up effective solutions for children. It seeks innovative approaches, technologies, and partnerships to address complex challenges and improve outcomes for children.
- Long-Term Commitment: UNICEF’s work is driven by a long-term commitment to improving the lives of children and promoting their rights. It strives to create sustainable and lasting change, ensuring that children have the opportunities and resources they need to thrive and reach their full potential.
Why work at UNICEF
Working at UNICEF offers several compelling reasons for individuals interested in making a positive impact on the lives of children and contributing to global development. Here are some reasons why people choose to work at UNICEF:
- Mission and Impact: UNICEF’s mission is centered on the well-being and rights of children, aiming to ensure every child has a fair chance in life. Working at UNICEF provides an opportunity to directly contribute to improving the lives of children and making a lasting impact on their well-being and future.
- Global Reach and Diversity: UNICEF operates in more than 190 countries and territories, providing the opportunity to work in diverse cultural and geographical contexts. This global reach allows employees to gain exposure to different perspectives, challenges, and solutions, fostering personal and professional growth.
- Meaningful Work: Working at UNICEF offers the chance to engage in meaningful and fulfilling work. Whether in program implementation, policy advocacy, research, or innovation, employees have the opportunity to contribute their skills and expertise to address pressing issues affecting children worldwide.
- Collaborative and Multidisciplinary Environment: UNICEF values collaboration, teamwork, and diversity of expertise. Working alongside dedicated colleagues from various backgrounds, including development professionals, humanitarians, researchers, and policymakers, fosters a stimulating and supportive work environment.
- Professional Development: UNICEF invests in the professional development of its staff. Employees have access to training opportunities, mentorship programs, and resources to enhance their skills, knowledge, and career progression in the fields of child rights, development, and humanitarian work.
- Innovation and Research: UNICEF embraces innovation and invests in research to find new solutions for children’s challenges. Working at UNICEF offers the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research, pilot projects, and innovation initiatives that can have a tangible impact on children’s lives.
- Advocacy and Policy Influence: UNICEF plays a vital role in advocating for children’s rights and shaping policies at the national and international levels. Employees have the opportunity to contribute to policy development, engage with governments and stakeholders, and drive change to improve children’s well-being and protection.
- Collaborations and Partnerships: UNICEF collaborates with a wide range of partners, including governments, NGOs, academia, private sector entities, and communities. This collaborative approach provides opportunities to work with diverse stakeholders and leverage collective efforts to achieve sustainable results for children.
- Work-Life Balance: UNICEF recognizes the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. While the nature of the work may involve challenges and occasional emergencies, the organization strives to support its employees’ well-being and provide flexible work arrangements.
- Global UN Network: UNICEF is part of the broader United Nations family, providing opportunities for collaboration with other UN agencies and access to a wealth of resources, expertise, and networks. This interconnectedness amplifies the potential for impact and fosters a broader understanding of global development issues.
It’s important to note that individual experiences may vary, and personal motivations for working at UNICEF can differ from person to person.
Duties & Tasks
- Implement the tasks in the country communication work plan and strategy as assigned.
- Gather content and coverage of relevant country efforts to identify effective relevant country programme activities and results. Develop complementary, country specific and local community materials and activities.
- Support the production of communication materials (e.g. briefing notes, images, video. Web pages etc.) that meet the country and global standards as set out in the Communication Toolkit.
- Assist in drafting and editing articles, press releases, human interest stories and other advocacy/information materials for both web-based and traditional media, as appropriate.
- Follow up on the production of advocacy and communication materials (e.g., films, videos, audio-visuals, etc.), and oversee the qualitative aspects of production, (e.g., quality control, translations, reviews of layout and graphic design etc.) to meet standards as set out in the Communication Toolkit.
- Maintain an up-to-date documentation centre for communication materials including publications, press releases and clippings, photographs, audio-visual materials, web resources etc.
- Recommend appropriate information and communication materials for use in media, and other advocacy and communication activities;
- Recommend established contacts, networks, resources and processes to support communication activities.
2. Media relations
Effective and timely professional assistance and support are provided in developing, drafting and maintaining contact information, materials and relationships with journalists and media outlets covering all media – print, TV, radio, web etc. – in the country, to communicate the story of UNICEF’s cooperation to a wider audience.
Duties & Tasks
- Maintain and update media relations contact list/database. Ensure rapid and accurate information dissemination to the media.
- Assist in developing and maintaining close collaboration with mass media, as well as with groups and organizations whose support is essential to the achievement of advocacy and communication objectives.
- Assist in drafting and editing articles, press releases, human interest stories and other advocacy/information materials in all media formats, as appropriate.
- Prepare background communication and promotional materials for briefing and visits of media and other special interest groups. Assist in the planning, logistic and administrative arrangements for them.
- Assist in collaborating with the media through activities such as organizing project site visits, facilitating photo coverage and TV footage and utilizing both web-based and traditional media as appropriate.
- Monitor and evaluate the use and effectiveness of media materials. Maintain a library of coverage (clippings, coverage etc.)
3. Monitoring and evaluation
Regular monitoring and evaluation activities are undertaken according to the work plan to ensure maximum impact and continuous improvement of country communication efforts. Ensure results and reports are prepared and shared on a timely basis.
Duties & Tasks
- Assist in coordinating appropriate audience research and compiling and analysing relevant data.
- Monitor and evaluate the appropriate and timely dissemination of advocacy and communication materials to target audiences, and participate in the evaluation of their impact. Monitor and evaluate the use and effectiveness of media materials. Maintain a library of coverage (clippings, coverage etc.)
- Monitor the public perception of UNICEF in the country and recommend appropriate action to maintain a positive image for the organization.
- Assist in providing feedback to DOC on the use and appropriateness of global communication materials such as publications, images and multimedia products.
- Ensure good quality data collection, analysis and evaluation and reporting to ensure effective communication strategies, planning and effective and efficient advocacy.
- Undertake lessons learned review of successful and unsuccessful communication experiences as directed by supervisor.
- Celebrities, partners and special events
Ensure that the Country Office’s contact list of individuals, groups, organizations and fora (including Government, UN, and bilateral counterparts), are maintained and further developed, whose support is essential to/can assist in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives and who support and are able to actively participate in special events and activities that further the country programme goals.
Duties & Tasks
- Help organize and generate public support for special events and activities to promote country programme goals.
- Assist in developing and maintaining close collaboration with mass media, as well as with groups and organizations whose support is essential to the achievement of advocacy and communication objectives.
- Maintain and update celebrity and partner contact lists/database for country office.
- Monitor/document process and effectiveness of working with these individuals/organizations.
- Prepare background communication and promotional materials for briefings and visits of media, Goodwill Ambassadors, donors, National Committee representatives and other special interest groups. The task includes preparing information materials (e.g., press releases, programme summaries, country fact sheets and media kits), and assisting in the planning, logistics and administrative arrangements
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education: University degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field.
Work Experience: One-year practical professional work experience in communication, print and broadcast media, or interactive digital media.
International and national work experience (for IP). Field work experience (for NO)
Background/familiarity with Emergency situations.
Experience in the Rohingya Response is an added advantage.
Strong Photography and video skills is desirable.
Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
