Chief Communication (Advocacy and Partnerships), P4 on Fixed Term, Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 130,087 USD and 167,720 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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 fulfill 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.

For every child, a champion

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Job organizational context:

Chief, Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships, P4 will report to the Representative, P5 and will manage newly established Communication in Tajikistan CO to ensure that new Country programme is effectively and efficiently designed, coordinated, implemented, supported, and reported. The Chief will lead the team of 5 staff including one P-3, three National Officers and one GS staff.

Purpose for the job: The Chief, Social Policy reports to the Representative for general guidance and direction. The chief will be accountable for developing, managing, coordinating, networking, implementing and monitoring partnership, advocacy and communication strategy and associated products and activities on on-going basis with partners and 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, and at a regional/global level and those of the UN Country Team. Advice on the articulation of policies and strategies, with an emphasis on those that promote gender equality and equity.

How can you make a difference?

Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Communication strategy

2. Advocacy strategy

3. Networking and partnerships including private sector engagement
4. Quality control

5. Management

6. Monitoring and evaluation

7. Capacity building and support

8. Communication strategy: Ensure that the Office has a clear 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 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.

• In collaboration with heads of programmes, take the leadership in transforming national strategic documents, statistics and legal frameworks into policy briefs, short advocacy infographics/materials, etc. to promote awareness, understanding, support and respect for children’s and women’s rights among decision makers, aiming at maintaining children priorities central to national development and resource allocation agenda including by development partners.

• UNICEF’s rights- and results-based programming approach is appropriately reflected in the communication strategy, work plan and products.

2. Advocacy strategy: Ensure that the Office has a clear advocacy startegy and associated work plan to ensure effective and result oriented advocacy efforts to ensure children rights are central to national policies, legal frameworks and plans. A coordination, management and monitoring/evaluation mechanism/s is/are in place to measure advocacy effectiveness and successes.

• Oversee the development a robust advocacy strategy and associated work plan, with SMART outcomes, compelling calls to action, and a clear theory of change to ensure children rights are central to national policies, legal frameworks and plans. Analyze political, economic and cultural trends from a wide range of sources and identify potential advocacy opportunities and challenges.
• Propose new approaches and innovative ideas as part of the strategy development process.
• Coordinate the implementation of advocacy strategies and plans, working across teams to deliver a range of advocacy tactics, such as developing advocacy briefs and products, producing advocacy narratives, shaping creative activations to drive public engagement, working with the media, and organizing advocacy events.
• Ensure coordination, management and monitoring/evaluation mechanism/s is/are in place to measure advocacy effectiveness and successes.

**3. Networking and partnerships including private sector engagement*: The Office has a clear partnership and resource mobilization strategy and associated work plan to ensure effective and results oriented partnerships with public and private sector entities. This should include a well maintained and continually developed partnerships intelligence platform. Effective working relationships with the UN Country Team and Development Partners are developed, maintained and enhanced. Country level fundraising activities are supported by effective advocacy and communication strategy and activities. Engagement strategies with the private sector are designed in line with UNICEF’s best practices.***

• Develop, maintain, and update the country partnership strategy and associated annual work plans. Strategy and work plan include: an environmental and stakeholder assessment; objectives; target audiences; messages; resources; specific actions, activities, and products; monitoring and evaluation of impact; success and opportunity for improvement; ongoing refinement of the strategy.
• Conduct a partnership mapping exercise and ensure its regular update. Develop and maintain deep knowledge and familiarity with current and prospective partners and relevant stakeholders, contributing to a database of key contacts and to UNICEF’s base of knowledge on partnership and resource mobilization.
• Ensure that country level fundraising activities are supported by effective advocacy and communication strategy and activities.
• Oversee the development and implementation of the Private sector engagement strategy of the country office. Maintain general knowledge of UNICEF’s programme work in Tajikistan and design engagement strategies with the private sector that will further UNICEF’s programmatic goals.
• Act as a focal point for identification and pursuit of opportunities for outreach, engagement, policy influence and collaboration, including on how to anticipate and respond to partners’ concerns and priorities, ensure 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. Contribute to the development and management of initiatives for high-level outreach, including for UNICEF’s Senior Management.
• Seeks, promotes, and manage partnerships and resource mobilization portfolio, closely work with relevant UNICEF colleagues to identify partnership and resource mobilization needs and broker resource mobilization agreements to meet those needs.
• Expands UNICEF’s network of key interlocutors to build stronger relationships between UNICEF and governments, other key decision-makers, regional development institutions, foundations, civil society organizations, international financial institutions and/or other relevant constituencies.
• Provides strategic, logistical, and programmatic support to senior management and other UNICEF staff in corporate engagement and interaction with assigned partners.
• Receives and screens inquiries from existing and potential collaborators and facilitates communication with appropriate UNICEF staff. Scans and scouts external environment within designated partnership area for opportunities and risks and shares information in a timely fashion with relevant UNICEF staff.Establish, document, review and refine process of working collaboratively with partners, including meetings, joint projects, information sharing etc. Contributes to the development of new partnership and resource mobilization practices and approaches by formulating recommendations for action based on on-going monitoring, analyzing current trends within designated partners and formulating recommendations for strategy approaches and message development.
• Establish, document, review and refine process of working collaboratively with partners, including meetings, joint projects, information sharing etc. Contributes to the development of new partnership and resource mobilization practices and approaches by formulating recommendations for action based on on-going monitoring, analyzing current trends within designated partners and formulating recommendations for strategy approaches and message development.
• 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

• 4. Quality control: The Office has clear and effective quality control mechanism to ensure all commitments that include donor visibility, budget utilization, timely and quality reporting communications with partners and donors are respected and of high quality. This includes and not limited to high quality assurance of concept notes, proposals, reports, policy briefs, brouchers or any other public materials.

• Contributes to strategies for engagement and the development of communications and advocacy products to enhance UNICEF’s visibility and influence with existing and prospective partners and key stakeholders by providing analysis of the current environment and trends and formulating recommendations for strategy approaches and message development.

• Works closely with UNICEF’s colleagues to ensure that policy advocacy and outreach is strongly grounded in the experience and insights of the programmes that UNICEF’s supports. Quality assure written inputs for communications instruments that best inform and influence decision makers.
• Ensure and enhance the quality, consistency and appropriateness of country-specific communication materials, activities, processes and messages shared with partners and donors that include and not limited to concept notes, proposals, reports, policy briefs, brouchers or any other public materials.
• Identify strategies for engagement and development of communications products to enhance UNICEF’s visibility and influence with existing and prospective partners and key stakeholders taking into consideration analysis of the current environment and trends and formulating recommendations for strategy approaches and message development.
• Works closely with UNICEF’s colleagues to ensure that policy advocacy and outreach is strongly grounded in the experience and insights of the programmes that UNICEF’s supports.
• Quality assure written inputs for communications instruments that best inform and influence decision makers.
• Ensure UNICEF values, programme priorities, and advocacy positioning are appropriately reflected in its partnerships and engagement with public and private sectors

5. 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 communication activities, monitor compliance and provide support and guidance to ensure objectives are met.
• Plan and monitor the use of communication budgetary resources. Approve and monitor the overall allocation and disbursement and liquidation of funds. Take appropriate actions to optimize use of funds.
• 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.
• Effectively mitigate and manage risks related to information sharing and internal or external communication, as well as reputational risks and crisis communication management, which may have a negative impact on UNICEF’s reputation.

6. Monitoring and evaluation: Ensure that communication baselines are established against which the achievement of objectives of the partnerships and communication/advocacy strategies are regularly evaluated; analysis is undertaken to continuously improve the effectiveness of the partnership and communication strategies, approach and activities; results and reports are prepared and shared on a timely basis.

• Provide technical support to ensure that a set of communication performance indicators is identified and adjusted as necessary, and these communication indicators are incorporated or fed forwarded in the Annual Management Plan, Annual Work Plan, etc.
• Conduct timely and accurate monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure the communications 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.

7. Capacity building and support: The Representative or Regional Chief of Communication and Partnership Advisors are supported and provided with required professional expertise (including writing effective and professional communication scripts and speeches for the Representative). The country programme team are provided with professional expertise and trained in effective methods of resource mobilization, provided with required advice and donor intellegency that supports their resource mobilization plans and familiar with the key elements of writing effective proposals and donor reports.

• Advise UNICEF management, colleagues and staff on partnerships and media strategies and implications for action and policies proposed.
• Support communication and partnerships activities through knowledge management, information exchange and building capacity of the country communications/partnerships team.
• Ensure timely development of communication scripts and speeches for the Representative.
• Enable appropriate advocacy, communication and partnerships trainings, access to information, supplies and equipment, and developing training and orientation material.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen the capacity of partners through appropriate advocacy and communication training.

Impact of Results

The Chief Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships is a seasoned professional in the field of external relations, partnership development and resource mobilization. The quality of work performed by the Chief directly impacts the overall reputation of UNICEF. S/He follows established procedures but is expected to make recommendations on strategies for engagement and communications products. The Chief is accountable for quality, substantive input, and ability to project a competent and trusted image of UNICEF to partners and realizing its advocacy and communication objectives.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:

Education:

Advanced degree in Business Administration, Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, International Development, or related field. (Or an undergraduate degree plus at least 12 years of demonstrated professional experience in the field of journalism, communications, external relations, public affairs, public relations, or corporate communications)

****Experience:****

Eight years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in communication, print, broadcast, new media and/or partnerships management.

International and national work experience.

Background/familiarity with Emergency situations.

Experience in building and maintaining complex partnerships and additional expertise in working with a variety of donors including International Financial Institutions would be an asset.

Experience in managing small or medium team would be an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Core Values

 Care  Respect  Integrity  Trust  Accountability

Sustainability Core competencies

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.