Country: India
Closing date: 11 Oct 2017
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfil their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
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For Every Child, AN ADVOCATE
How can you make a difference?
UNICEF is seeking to recruit Communication Specialist for New Delhi, India Country Office. If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children in the world's thereby ensuring a better future for every child, this is the chance to make a difference. Under the direct supervision and general guidance of Section Chief the specialist will be accountable for developing, managing, co-coordinating, networking, implementing and monitoring an advocacy and communication strategy and associated products and activities on on-going basis with public audiences, with the objective of promoting awareness, understanding, support and respect for children’s and women’s rights, and support for UNICEF's mission, priorities and programmes in the country office/regional office/media hub, and at a global level and those of the UN Country Team.
UNICEF aims to expand its leadership as a credible and trusted voice for children. This is undertaken through engagement with key stakeholders including the government, legislators, civil society, faith-based organizations, private sector, media, and young people etc. The organization envisions a pivotal role for strategic partnerships with these key stakeholders towards achieving programmatic outcomes/goals in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The purpose of the Advocacy role is to identify, establish, deepen and leverage organizational collaboration with key stakeholders and provide an interface for advocacy and communication partnerships focusing on evidence-based advocacy, public engagement and policy towards supporting programmatic results.
The Specialist identifies critical advocacy partners, promotes and builds awareness and capacity of partners and actively facilitates effective collaboration for advocacy and communication goals. The key result is to catalyse social and policy change to the benefit of children through dialogue, engagement and strategic partnerships with networks, key influencers and decisions makers, emphasizing UNICEF’s normative, convening and coordinating roles.
The Specialist is accountable for leading on defining and packaging evidence-based advocacy messages, and materials for diverse influencers and stakeholders to promote action on the realization of children’s rights. The staff member will lead on key end results at both national and state level.
Accountable for developing, managing, coordinating, networking, implementing and monitoring an advocacy and communication strategy and associated products and activities on on-going basis with public audiences, with the objective of promoting awareness, understanding, support and respect for children’s and women’s rights, and support for UNICEF's mission, priorities and programmes in the country office/regional office/media hub, and at a global level and those of the UN Country Team.
KEY END-RESULTS
Advocacy and communication strategy: The Regional/Country Office or Media Hub has a clear advocacy and communication strategy and associated work plan to get children’s issues into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF's mission and objectives, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand.
Networking and partnerships: The Regional/Country Office or Media Hub has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of individuals, groups, organizations and fora whose support is essential to/can assist in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives. Effective working relationships with the UN Country Team and UN communication counterparts are developed, maintained and enhanced.
Evidence-based advocacy and communication: Ensure that the Regional/Country Office/Media Hub has a well maintained and continually updated set of strategic, cost-effective and user-friendly evidence-based advocacy and communication messages, materials and products that support country programme goals.
Partner engagement: The Regional/Country Office or Media Hub has a well maintained and continually developed network and contact list of appropriate, personalities, groups and networks who have been identified, engaged and support UNICEF’s effort and who actively engage in child rights advocacy and participate in special events and activities.
Global priorities and campaigns: The Regional/Country Office or Media Hub has an effective process in place for integrating and taking action on UNICEF’s global communications priorities, campaigns and partnerships, disseminating these elements in a locally-appropriate way.
Management: Human resources (the communication team) and financial resources (budget planning, management and monitoring) are both effectively managed and optimally used.
Monitoring and evaluation: Communication baselines are established against which the achievement of objectives of the communication strategy are regularly evaluated; analysis is undertaken to continuously improve the effectiveness of the advocacy and communication strategy and activities; results and reports are prepared and shared.
Capacity building and support: The Representative/Senior or Regional Communication Specialist and the country programme team are provided with professional expertise and advice on all aspects of advocacy, advocacy partnerships and external relations communication as required.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES & TASKS
Within the delegated authority and the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be accountable for all or assigned areas of the following major duties and end results.
Advocacy and Communication strategy Ensure that the Regional/Country Office/Media Hub has a clear advocacy and communication strategy and associated work plan to support the country programme objectives and get children’s issues into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF's mission and objectives, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand.Develop, maintain and update the country advocacy and communication strategy and associated work plan. Strategy and work plan include: an environmental and stakeholder assessment; objectives; target audiences; messages and media mix; resources; specific actions, activities and products; monitoring and evaluation of impact; success and opportunity for improvement; ongoing refinement of the strategy. UNICEF’s rights- and results-based programming approach is appropriately reflected in the communication strategy, work plan and products. Maintain close collaboration with Regional Communication Advisers and HQ Communication Officers for effective overall coordination.
Networking and partnerships Ensure that the Regional/Country Office/Media Hub has a well maintained and continually developed networks and contact list of individuals, groups, organizations and fora (including Government, UN, and bilateral counterparts), whose support is essential to/can assist in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives of the communication strategy. Establishes effective partnerships with civil society, legislators, influencers, faith based organization, youth networks, relevant government institutions and others through platforms, networks and alliances to support effective evidenced-based advocacy towards sustained and proactive commitment to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF programmatic priority areas and the Sustainable Development Goals. Ensures risk analysis and risk mitigation are embedded into overall management of the partnerships. Identifies other critical partners, promotes awareness and builds capacity of partners on advocacy and actively facilitates collaboration and ensures effective working relationships with the UN Communication Group and UN counterparts are developed, maintained and enhanced. Maintain close collaboration with regional and global communication staff for effective overall coordination and knowledge sharing. Develops, maintains and grows partnerships with organizations and individuals whose reach extended beyond national borders and coordinates closely with the Regional Office in extending the impact and reach beyond national borders. Scans and scouts external environment within designated advocacy partnership area for opportunities and risks and shares information in a timely fashion with relevant UNICEF staff. Provides strategic guidance to partners and to UNICEF staff to support the office to interact, negotiate and advocate for policies and changes in policies and programmes with high level and senior government officials, key influencers as well as NGOs and civil society. Leads on all stages of advocacy partnerships related to evidenced-based advocacy from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable results. Develop, maintain and update partners and key stakeholder contact list/database. Help establish, document, review and refine process of working collaboratively with partners, including meetings, joint projects, information sharing etc. Ensure or enhance the quality, consistency and appropriateness of country-specific advocacy and communication materials, activities, processes and messages shared with partners. Identify opportunities to strengthen the capacity of partners through appropriate advocacy and communication training, access to information, supplies and equipment and through knowledge sharing. Monitor, evaluate and share results and findings with partners.
Evidence-based advocacy and communication Ensure that the Regional/Country Office/Media Hub has a well maintained and continually updated set of strategic, cost-effective and user-friendly evidence-based advocacy and communication messages, materials and products that support country programme goals. Leads on strategies for the development of evidence-based advocacy materials and assets that best inform, equip and influence partners, stakeholders, and decision makers. Prepares reports and briefs documenting the work with and through partnership for advocacy. Coordinates the collection, analysis and user-friendly presentation through correct and compelling use of data, key messages and briefing material in support of advocacy and communication initiatives. Contributes to strategies for the development of communication products to enhance UNICEF’s visibility, influence as well as the agencies’ normative, convening and coordinating roles with existing and prospective partners and key stakeholders. Coordinates and enhances the quality, consistency and appropriateness of country specific communication materials, activities, processes and messages are shared with staff and partners.
Partner engagement Ensure that the Regional/Country Office/Media Hub has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of appropriate personalities, groups and networks who have been identified, engaged and support UNICEF’s effort and who actively engage in child rights advocacy and participate in special events and activities that support country programme goals. Develop and maintain deep knowledge and familiarity with current and prospective partners and relevant stakeholders. Continues to maintain and expand UNICEF’s network of key interlocutors to build stronger relationships between UNICEF and government, other key-decision makers and civil society networks, including elected representatives, faith-based networks, think-tanks, academic bodies, professional associations as well as opinion leaders. Engagement with youth groups and platforms for participation and to amplify their voices will be a key element to achieve results on equity. Work effectively with key stakeholders and coordinates the development and management of initiatives for high-level outreach with the key partners, including through platforms to ensure that child rights are regularly brought up at policy making fora.Lead on identification and pursuit of opportunities for outreach, engagement, policy influence and collaboration, including on how to anticipate and respond to partners’ concerns and priorities, while he/she ensures that UNICEF’s interests, perspectives, and knowledge are taken into account in relevant policy and institutional processes, and ensure that they are fully aware of UNICEF’s perspectives, policies, priorities and capabilities.Coordinate responses to ministries on questions to parliament and ensures proper monitoring and analysis.Establish, document, review and refine process of working with stakeholders and influencers, including special events, joint projects, information sharing, media opportunities, field trips and other activities. Participate in global and regional advocacy activities by planning visits of advocacy partners and stake holders including National Committee representatives, Executive Board members etc. including preparing information materials (e.g., programme summaries, fact sheets and key messages), and necessary logistic arrangements. Highlight the achievements of the country programme. Maintain close collaboration with Regional Communication Advisers and HQ Communication Officers for effective overall coordination.
Global priorities and campaigns In addition to local/national campaigns, ensure that the Regional/Country Office/Media Hub has an effective process in place for integrating and taking action on UNICEF’s global communications priorities and campaigns, both disseminating these elements in a locally-appropriate way, as well as providing/enabling coverage of the work in the country for global use. Support the UNICEF global communications objectives and strategies through development of complementary country specific and local community materials and activities. Work plan should anticipate the inclusion of work on global priorities and campaigns. Develop and deploy country office communication capacity to gather/facilitate the content and coverage of relevant country efforts. Use the opportunity to identify/highlight effective programme activities and results. Ensure regular communication and co-ordination with relevant communication focal points in regional offices and headquarters divisions.
Management Ensure that human resources (the communication team) and financial resources (budget planning, management and monitoring) are both effectively managed and optimally used. Develop a work plan for advocacy communication activities, monitor compliance and provide support and guidance to ensure objectives are met. Plan and monitor the use of the sections’ budgetary resources and HACT requirements. Approve and monitor the overall allocation and disbursement and liquidation of funds. Take appropriate actions to optimize use of funds across the section. Identify, recruit and supervise staff, technical resources and consultants as necessary. Conduct and Implement effective performance planning, monitoring, performance development programme as required. Ensure communication effectiveness, efficiency and delivery as well as a rigorous and transparent approach to planning, monitoring and evaluation. Manage and coordinate technical support for partnership and advocacy initiatives, ensuring it is well planned, monitored and implemented in a timely fashion so as to adequately support scale-up and delivery. Ensure regular communication and coordination with relevant focal points in headquarters divisions, regional offices, country office and state offices with regard to partnerships for advocacy. Ensure communication effectiveness, efficiency and delivery as well as a rigorous and transparent approach to results-based planning, monitoring and evaluation in relation the sections overall work.
Monitoring and evaluation Ensure that communication baselines are established against which the achievement of objectives of the communication strategy are regularly evaluated; analysis is undertaken to continuously improve the effectiveness of communication strategy, approach and activities; results and reports are prepared and shared on a timely basis. Ensure that a set of advocacy, communication and partnership key performance indicators is identified and adjusted as necessary, and these indicators are incorporated or fed forwarded in the Annual Management Plan, Annual Work Plan, RAM report, Annual Report etc. Develop plans, tools and systems to capture advocacy and partnership initiatives and advocacy partnerships prior, during and after initiatives and activities take place and monitor compliance and provide support and guidance to ensure objectives are met. Conduct timely and accurate monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure the advocacy, communications and partnership objectives are met and the strategy is effective. Undertake lessons learned review of successful and unsuccessful communication experiences and share observations/findings with country, regional and HQ communication colleagues so that best practices benefit UNICEF’s communication work. Assist with technical input on (social) media monitor and evaluate the use and effectiveness of the monitoring reports, results and findings as to inform strategy development. Support and contribute to effective and efficient planning, management, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the overall Communication and Advocacy strategy, annual work plans and budgets. Ensure that the country office evidence-based advocacy priorities are represented in global, regional and national reports, frameworks and documents. Ensure regular communication and coordination with relevant focal points in headquarters divisions, regional offices, country office and state offices with regard to the sections’ reporting, monitoring and evaluation requirements.
Capacity building and support Ensure that the Representative/Senior or Regional Communication Officer and the country programme team are provided with professional expertise and advice on all aspects of advocacy, advocacy partners and external relations communication as required; opportunities are identified and addressed for building communication capacity among country communication team, media and other relevant partners.
Advise UNICEF management, colleagues and staff on advocacy and engagement strategy and implications for action and policies proposed. Lead on advocacy and communication objectives and activities through knowledge management, information exchange and building capacity of the country team. Enable appropriate advocacy and communication training, access to information, supplies and equipment, and developing training and orientation material.
To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…
QUALIFICATION and COMPETENCIES
Education Advanced university degree in international development, public affairs, public policy international relations, political science, Communication, Public Relations, or related field. (Or an undergraduate degree plus at least seven (7) years of demonstrated professional experience in lieu of above.)
Work Experience At least five (5) years of progressively responsible, professional and relevant professional work experience in high level partnership management, advocacy, lobbying, external relations, liaison, public affairs, social or public policy, programme or project management and/or any diplomatic related activities, preferably in an international organization is required.
Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset. Only applications of short listed candidates will be acknowledged. Competency Profile (For details on competencies please refer to the UNICEF Professional Competency Profiles.)
Core Values (Required) Commitment • Diversity and Inclusion • Integrity
Core Competencies (Required)• Communication [ III ] • Working with People [ II ] • Drive for Results [ II ]
Functional Competencies (Required)
•Leading and Supervising [ I ]
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts [ II ]
•Relating and Networking [ II ]
• Entrepreneurial Thinking [ II ]
•Persuading and Influencing [ II ]
• Applying Technical Expertise [ II ] iii) Technical Knowledge
Specific Technical Knowledge Required (for the job) (Technical knowledge requirements specific to the job can be added here as required.) Specific, detailed and up-to-date knowledge of: Executive Board and other policy documents. Executive Directives Mid-Term Strategic Plan (MTSP) UN/UNICEF Policy Papers UNICEF programme policy, procedures and guidelines. Rights-based and Results-based approach and programming in UNICEF General administrative and financial guidelines. Human resources manual UNICEF communication and other DOC guidelines Communication toolkit Brand Toolkit and Brand Book UNICEF Stylebook Ethical Guidelines on Reporting on Children
b) Common Technical Knowledge Required (for the job group)
General knowledge of:
Communication management. Knowledge of theories and practices in communication research planning and strategy.
Fundamentals for working in various media formats – print, audio, video, web etc.
Computer systems/applications and network, including internet navigation, office applications, and specifically, interactive digital media.
Knowledge of United Nations or other international organizations;
Global human rights issues, specifically relating to children and women.
UNICEF communication goals, policies, guidelines and strategies.
UNICEF policies and strategy to address national and international issues.
Gender equality and diversity awareness.
Remarks:•Selected applicant will have an initial two (2) year fixed-term contract, with possibility of extension, subject to satisfactory performance.•Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.Candidates are informed that all applications are subject to background verification which may include academic and professional experience.UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.
How to apply:
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=507418