Job Description
Job Post: Communication Specialist
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment
Duty Station: Abuja
Location: Nigeria
Categories: Communication
Company Description
UNICEF operates in some of the world’s most challenging regions, striving to reach and uplift the most vulnerable children. Our mission is to save lives, defend rights, and unlock the potential of every child.
Across 190 countries and territories, we tirelessly work for every child, every day, and everywhere, to create a better world for all.
For every child, we are their voice and advocate.
In Nigeria, UNICEF tackles complex humanitarian and development challenges, partnering with the government, civil society, children, and families to protect and fulfill children’s rights. UNICEF Nigeria stands as one of the largest Country Offices, driving positive change in the nation.
Organizational Context and Purpose for the Job:
UNICEF’s fundamental mission is to champion the rights of every child, transcending all aspects of our work, be it in programs, advocacy, or operations. Our equity strategy underscores our commitment to the most marginalized and excluded children and families. Equity, for us, means that every child should have equal opportunities to survive, thrive, and reach their full potential, free from discrimination or bias. Addressing inequities is crucial for ensuring the human rights of all children, aligning with the universal mandate of UNICEF as stated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also contributing to the equitable progress of nations.
UNICEF’s Goals in Nigeria:
In Nigeria, given the challenges of poverty, conflict, weak infrastructure, and socio-political issues, our objectives include:
1. Promoting access to quality education, especially for girls and children in disadvantaged regions.
2. Improving child and maternal health by facilitating access to necessary medical services and promoting good health practices.
3. Supporting the Nigerian government’s efforts in improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities and practices, thus reducing disease transmission.
4. Advocating for and protecting children from violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect.
5. Addressing the effects of poverty and malnutrition through policy advocacy and programmatic interventions.
Role of the Communication Specialist:
The Communication Specialist plays a crucial role in achieving UNICEF’s objectives in the following ways:
1. Advocacy and Public Awareness: Creating effective communication strategies that highlight the issues UNICEF addresses, raising public awareness, influencing policy and decision-makers, and garnering support from donors, partners, and the public.
2. Strategic Communication: Ensuring that UNICEF’s mission, values, and objectives are effectively communicated to diverse stakeholders, including the government, NGOs, the private sector, and the public.
3. Media Relations: Fostering positive relations with the media to accurately represent UNICEF’s work and impact, including organizing press conferences, giving interviews, and responding to inquiries.
4. Crisis Communication: Managing clear, timely, and accurate information dissemination during crises or emergencies, guiding the narrative around the crisis response.
Purpose of the Job:
The Communication Specialist is responsible for developing, managing, coordinating, networking, implementing, and monitoring advocacy and communication strategies to promote awareness, understanding, support, and respect for children’s and women’s rights. This role contributes to the success of UNICEF’s mission, priorities, and programs at the country, regional, and global levels, as well as those of the UN Country Team.
Key Functions and Accountabilities:
1. Communication Strategy: Creating and implementing a comprehensive communication strategy to elevate children’s issues, strengthen political will, enhance UNICEF’s credibility, and reinforce the organization’s brand.
2. Media Relations: Cultivating strong relationships with media outlets and journalists to effectively communicate UNICEF’s cooperation story.
3. Networking and Partnerships: Building and maintaining contacts with individuals, groups, organizations, and fora crucial to achieving advocacy and communication goals, including fostering positive working relationships with the UN Country Team and UN communication counterparts.
4. Celebrities and Special Events: Engaging nationally-known personalities to actively participate in and support UNICEF’s efforts during special events and activities.
5. Global Priorities and Campaigns: Integrating and acting on UNICEF’s global communications priorities, campaigns, and partnerships to disseminate them appropriately at the local level.
6. Resource Mobilization Support: Supporting fundraising activities with effective advocacy and communication strategies.
7. Management: Efficiently managing the communication team and financial resources.
8. Monitoring and Evaluation: Regularly evaluating communication strategy objectives, analyzing effectiveness, and preparing and sharing reports.
9. Capacity Building and Support: Providing expertise and advice on external relations communication to the Representative/Senior or Regional Communication Specialist and the country program team.
Qualifications:
Education:
– Advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, and Public Relations. (A first University combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree in related fields.)
Experience:
– Five years of progressive and relevant professional work experience in communication, print, broadcast, and/or new media.
– Fieldwork experience and familiarity with Emergency situations are assets.
Language Requirements:
– Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.
To apply for this position, demonstrate UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability. The competencies required include building and maintaining partnerships, self-awareness, drive to achieve results, innovation, managing ambiguity, strategic thinking, collaboration, and nurturing and managing people.
UNICEF values diversity and inclusion in its workforce and encourages candidates of all backgrounds, genders, nationalities, religions, and ethnicities, including persons with disabilities, to apply. Flexible working arrangements are supported.
UNICEF maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards conduct incompatible with the United Nations and UNICEF’s aims, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. Child safeguarding principles are strictly adhered to, and selected candidates undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Remarks:
- UNICEF actively promotes diversity and inclusion, encouraging eligible female candidates to apply for this position.
- Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF.
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
- UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance and visa requirements. Background checks are conducted, and government employees may be required to resign from their government positions before joining UNICEF.
Method of Application
Click Here To Apply
Deadline: West Central Africa Standard Time
