Advocacy, Communication, and Social Behaviour Change Specialist

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is present with 10 offices across Brazil, including one national office in Brasília and 9 Zone Offices. UNICEF has recently launched and is actively implementing its 2024-2028 Country Programme in Brazil. This programme incorporate significant components related to communication, advocacy, and social & behaviour change (SBC). The Communication Section plays a crucial role in these areas by raising public awareness on child rights issues, creating visibility for UNICEF's initiatives, and collaborating with local communities to foster behavioural changes and advance children's rights.

The Communication Section is responsible for achieving outcomes related to communication, advocacy, and SBC. The Communication Team is composed of two parts: the Brasília Team, which oversees national communication, and the Zone Office Teams, which manage local communication. The Zone Offices are organized by territories, including the Amazon, the Northeast and Southeast regions. Within the Amazon Region, the Manaus Zone Office is responsible for Amazonas, Acre, and Rondônia.

This assignment, based in Manaus, aims to support the Communication Specialist based in Belem and the Chief of the Manaus Zone Office in developing and implementing communication, advocacy, and SBC strategies for the states and municipalities under the coordination of the Manaus Zone Office (Amazonas, Acre, and Rondônia). It includes the following objectives: 1) Supporting the development and execution of local communication and advocacy strategies for children's rights. 2) Strengthening UNICEF's relationships with the local media. 3) Assisting in the design and implementation of tailored SBC strategies.

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Manaus Zone Office, and having the Communication Specialist for the Amazon region as a second supervisor, the UN Volunteer will support the Communication Team in implementing communication, advocacy and SBC strategies, undertaking the following tasks:

Advocacy • Support the Communication Specialist and the Chief of Manaus ZO in outlining and implementing advocacy strategies focused on the states and municipalities coordinated by the Manaus ZO (Amazonas, Acre and Rondônia). • Coordinate the development of materials for policy advocacy opportunities. • 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.) in the Amazon region. • Ensure good quality data collection, analysis, evaluation and reporting to ensure effective communication strategies, planning and advocacy. Ensure good quality data collection, analysis, evaluation and reporting to ensure effective communication strategies, planning and advocacy.

Media Relations • Ensure rapid and accurate information dissemination to the media. • Develop and maintain close collaboration with mass media, as well as with groups and organizations whose support is essential to the achievement of advocacy and communication objectives. • Draft and edit 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. • Collaborate 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. • Support the Communication Specialist based in Belém and the Communication Section in Brasília in compiling a daily media monitoring report that analyses UNICEF’s presence and topics of interest for advocacy and fundraising in the media. • Undertake a lesson learned review of successful and unsuccessful communication experiences as directed by supervisor.

Social Behaviour Change Communication • Support the strategy design and implementation of SBC activities and participation mechanisms in both development and humanitarian contexts, if applicable. • Research and/or participate in conducting comprehensive SBC situation analysis of social, cultural, economic, communication and political issues in the country/region. Collect and synthesise qualitative and quantitative information and data to support the establishment of comprehensive and evidence-based information for developing and planning SBC interventions. • Assess the impact of SBC activities on the CO and UNICEF goals to achieve measurable behavioural and social change. • Provide technical support to the design of SBC strategies, to ensure maximum outreach and impact on behavioural and social change of target audience, recommending strategies, approaches, plans, methods and procedures. • Assess and recommend potential contacts, networks, resources and tools to support the maximum outreach of SBC initiatives. • Collect and assess information for budget planning and management of programme funds, monitor/track and report the use of resources as planned and verify compliance with organisational guidelines. • Build and maintain partnerships through networking and proactive collaboration with national and international civil society organisations, UN agencies and public authorities to reinforce cooperation through engagement, empowerment and self-determination of target vulnerable groups.

Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness - Self-aware of own strengths, limitations, working style and deeply held convictions and biases; Display ethical awareness through behaviors that are consistent and compliant with the standards of conduct for international civil servants; Seek feedback from multiple sources on own behaviors, including unconscious biases and potential blind spots; Recognize personal stress and seek help to maintain personal well-being; Display appropriate ethical behaviors, promoting zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and any type of discrimination; Challenge unprofessional, unethical and unsafe behaviors; Voice opinion in a truthful and respectful manner; Apply UNICEF’s core values in personal and professional life, demonstrating consistency between words and actions. Works Collaboratively with others - Establish and maintain mutually supportive working relationships, demonstrating sensitivity to people of diverse backgrounds, respecting differences and ensuring that all can contribute and succeed; Encourage others to contribute ideas and listen without interruption; Support colleagues in achieving their goals; Earn the trust and confidence of colleagues through respectful, honest behaviours, displaying openness and tolerance. Builds and Maintains Partnerships - Build a network of external stakeholders and alliances with counterparts in order to promote and advance the work of the organization; Develop a network of formal and informal contacts through participation in professional networks; Adopt a consultative approach and solicit the support of key stakeholders at critical stages of one’s work. Innovates and Embraces Change - Adapt and respond positively to change; Review work practices, analyzing evidence-based trends to apply new methods and techniques; Respond flexibly to changing circumstances, priorities and deadlines; Display creativity, experiment with new approaches and demonstrate openness to changing existing practices. Thinks and Acts Strategically - Understand the big picture and show ability to identify potential opportunities for action and challenges; Analyze and evaluate data from a wide range of sources, assessing reliability and presenting conclusions to enable informed decision-making; Adapt workplans in response to emerging situations and new requirements; Consider the long-term impact and risks. Drive to achieve impactful results - Commit to action and assumes responsibility and ownership for own performance and the associated outcomes; Pay attention to detail, producing work of a high standard; Monitor activities on a regular basis, reviewing work plan to ensure progress and delivery; Ensure the completion of tasks, while addressing obstacles and bottlenecks; Involve key stakeholders in activities that impact them, keeping them informed of potential delays and problems. Manages ambiguity and complexity - Demonstrate resilience and composure despite challenges; Maintain performance levels in pressure, adverse and uncertain environments; Demonstrate flexibility; Identify key issues and priorities, maintaining personal effectiveness in complex situations.

communication, as communication advisor, public relations or related area. • At least 3 years of practical experience in communications, print and broadcast media, public relations, or private sector communications.

Common Technical Knowledge Required • Communication practice, methodology and practical application. Knowledge of current theories and practices in communication research planning and strategy. • Fundamentals of working in various media formats – print, audio, video, web etc. • Computer systems, including internet navigation, office applications, and specifically, interactive digital media. • Knowledge and expertise in communication strategy and networking.

Additional skills-assets • Excellent inter-personal and networking skills • Excellent writing skills • Familiarity with the UN system is a plus. • Experience with emergencies a plus. • Strong sense of organization, consistency, and coherence in all processes. • Experience of working in field locations. Background/familiarity with humanitarian operations considered an asset. • Experience in working with international organizations considered an important asset. • Motivated to contribute towards peace and development and to serve others. • Good interpersonal, networking and communication skills. • Willingness to contribute and work as part of a team. • Flexible and open to learning and new experiences. • Respect for diversity and adaptability to other cultures, environments and living conditions. • Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e., studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded.

Manaus is the largest city in population in the state of Amazonas and in the Northern Region of Brazil. The municipality has about 2,219,580 inhabitants. The city still has a high population density for the standard of northern Brazilian municipalities. Manaus population is characterized by miscegenation, especially of Portuguese and indigenous people. In addition, the municipality received many immigrants throughout the 20th century, due to the rubber economic cycle and the industrialization process.

In demographic terms, the city of Manaus has presented a high population growth in the last decades, recognized, even, as a process of population explosion. The motivation for this phenomenon is linked to the city's role as an attractive center for migrants from the northern states of the country, since it is the main economic and political center of this region. In addition, the birth rate of the municipality is positive and life expectancy has increased over the years.

Manaus' human development index is considered high. However, the city has elevated poverty rates. The disorderly growth, in terms of population and urban structure, has generated consequences such as violence and environmental degradation. In addition, the city of Manaus has a significant level of social inequality among its population.

Manaus' economy is based on the manufacturing industry and public administration. The secondary and tertiary sectors are the main ones of the Manaus economy. The growth of secondary activities was the result of the creation of the Manaus Free Trade Zone, an area aimed at attracting and installing companies through the offer of tax incentives, which was created in the municipality in 1967.

The city of Manaus is a large urban center and has an extensive infrastructure, but very uneven between the different regions of the municipality. The Manaus territory is served by a network of highways, but the main connection between Manaus and the rest of the Brazilian territory is through the air modal. River transport is very important to the transfer between Manaus and the cities in the interior of Amazonas. The main transport structures in Manaus are the Port and the Airport of Manaus.

With regard to access to basic services, such as energy and sanitation, the city of Manaus has many structural problems, especially in water supply and sewage collection. In addition, despite the city having the main health and education facilities in the Amazon, there is difficulty in accessing and offering quality for the population. The health crisis experienced by the municipality due to the coronavirus pandemic is an example of the precariousness of the local health system.

The disorderly growth of the city had a direct impact on its structure. The lack of urban planning culminated in the creation of many housing areas of irregular occupation, which have precarious housing conditions. The city is divided into 7 geographic zones, which have a total of 63 official districts. All United Nations personnel must scrupulously comply with UNDSS procedures and recommendations during their assignment. For missions in rural areas or indigenous reservations, special procedures may apply; UN personnel should consult with the local DSS office in advance.

As this is a national UN Youth Volunteer assignment, the UN Youth Volunteer will be responsible for arranging their own housing and other living essentials.

Information on full entitlements at the duty station is available at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.