Communication Assistant

Contract

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

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, advocacy and 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 favouritism.

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 in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

In Roraima, UNICEF programme focuses in 3 main axes: the migration response, the UNICEF Seal Strategy and attention to indigenous populations.

As a result of the Venezuela migration crisis, an estimated 6 million Venezuelans – around 30% of them children – have left their home country. Refugee and migrant children and families face challenges to regularizing their immigration status, which can affect their access to social protection, healthcare, early childhood development, education, sustainable livelihoods, and child protection. Meanwhile, the lack of comprehensive public policies on migratory issues in host countries is putting children at higher risk of discrimination, violence, family separation, xenophobia, exploitation and abuse. Since 2018, UNICEF Brazil runs a multisectoral humanitarian response for migrants from Venezuela, based in the northern state of Roraima, with an office in Boa Vista and outpost in Pacaraima.

All 18 Roraima municipalities participate in the UNICEF Municipal Seal of Approval, an initiative to promote the rights of children and adolescents by providing to the municipalities the needful tools and knowledge to enhance public policies.

Moreover, UNICEF is engaged in the Yanomami Public Health Emergency of National Importance, in coordination with Brazilian authorities at the national and local level in the emergency response. UNICEF has scaled-up interventions to respond to the humanitarian crisis focusing on immediate health, nutrition and WASH assistance in the capital Boa Vista and started a second phase expanding the response to selected priority communities with focus on medium and long-term support.

The Yanomami response is intertwined with UNICEF’s indigenous advocacy and programmatic work with indigenous groups from both migrant and host populations in the state, working closely with indigenous organizations to protect the rights of native people of the state.

In order to ensure effective coordination and oversight for Institutional Communication activities related to both development and emergency work in Roraima, UNICEF will recruit an UNV who will be based in Boa Vista, within the Communication Section, in order to liaise with media, government and other stakeholders, to advocate for children and adolescent`s rights and create visibility of UNICEF’s response.

Under the general supervision of the Chief of Field Office in Boa Vista and the Social & Behaviour Change Officer in Brasilia, with the overall guidance of the Chief of Communication and Partnerships, as well as in close cooperation with the Emergency Manager, the individual contractor will support the implementation of Institutional Communication strategies in the context of UNICEF’s response in Roraima, with focus on migrants, indigenous populations and host community, but also responding to other UNICEF’s emergency needs, when requested.

The UN Volunteer will produce communication and advocacy materials, engage with the media, liaise with implementing partners and organise high profile visits to Roraima. In order to promote the rights of children and adolescents, the UNV will also support the development of advocacy messages in different formats and for different types of media, including digital platforms.

The UN Volunteer will:

1. Communication materials UNICEF regularly disseminates compelling and informative communication materials through different channels (print and digital) to different audiences which illustrates and explains the situation, the challenges and potential of vulnerable children and adolescents and their families including reports, human interest stories and testimonies as well as photos and videos. UNICEF also regularly disseminates information on its development and humanitarian response to reports, infographics and other materials.

Duties & Tasks • Implement communication strategies related to UNICEF’s mandate and activities. • Produce advocacy and communication materials (e.g., briefing notes, images, videos, web stories, printouts, etc.) that meet UNICEF’s needs and standards as well as visibility of partners and donors. • Liaise with UN agencies, government and social organizations to align communications and advocacy messaging, participating in joint actions. • Produce human interest stories and other advocacy/information materials for both web-based and traditional media, as appropriate. • Establish or maintain an up-to-date documentation repository files for communication materials including publications, press releases, and clippings, photographs, audio-visual materials, web resources, etc. • Recommend and develop appropriate information and communication materials for use in media, and other advocacy and communication activities; recommend the appropriateness, quality, and dissemination of printed and audio-visual materials. • Recommend established contacts, networks, resources, and processes to support communication activities, monitoring and reporting on results achieved. 2. Media relations UNICEF’s activities are regularly featured in local, national and international media. Relevant UNICEF staff, including the Representatives and staff working on the ground are regularly interviewed by the media to create visibility of the situation and UNICEF’s activities. UNICEF has an updated media contact list available including local, national and international journalists. 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 local media as well as national and international media covering the situation of population in northern Brazil. • Draft and edit articles, press releases and other advocacy/information materials in all media formats, as appropriate. • Pitch story ideas and facilitate regular coverage of the situation and UNICEF’s activities by local, national and international media. • Facilitate interviews with relevant UNICEF staff on a regular basis. • 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. Celebrities, donors partners and special events Organise and coordinate within the team visits from high profile visitors whose support is essential in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives as well as support and actively participate in special events and activities that strengthens programme goals.

Duties and Tasks • 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 for the successful completion of visits. • Help organize and generate public support for special events and activities. • Ensure adequate and appropriate visibility of UNICEF and partners in the field. • Work with Programmes to maximize donor recognition through strengthened reporting visibility and engagement activities, including donor recognition/engagement strategies according to donor interests, information needs and potential fundraising opportunities.

4. Support UNICEF’s implementing partners Liaise regularly with implementing partners to ensure visibility and outreach activities are consistent to UNICEF’s mandate, priorities and key messages.

Duties and Tasks • Support and approve communication and visibility materials produced in the context of partnerships (whether digital, printed or in the field). • Oversee implementing partners in media activation moments. • Provide general guidance in branding and communication ethical guidelines to implementing partners and UNICEF’s staff.

Results/expected outputs:

• As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment

• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in, and capacities developed.

• Communication materials: UNICEF regularly disseminates compelling and informative communication materials through different channels (print and digital) to different audiences which illustrates and explains the situation, the challenges and potential of vulnerable children and adolescents and their families, including reports, human interest stories and testimonies as well as photos and videos.

• Media relations: UNICEF’s activities are regularly featured in local, national and international media. Relevant UNICEF staff, including the Representatives and staff working on the ground are regularly interviewed by the media to create visibility of the situation and UNICEF’s activities. UNICEF has an updated media contact list available including local, national and international journalists.

• Celebrities, donors partners and special events: Organise and coordinate within the team visits from high profile visitors whose support is essential in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives as well as support and actively participate in special events and activities that strengthens programme goals.

• Support UNICEF’s implementing partners: Liaise regularly with implementing partners to ensure visibility and outreach activities are consistent to UNICEF’s mandate, priorities and key messages.

KEY COMPETENCES Builds and maintains partnerships; Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness; Drive to achieving achieve results for impact; Innovates and embraces change; Manages ambiguity and complexity; Think and acts strategically; Works collaboratively with others.

CORE VALUES 1. Care 2. Respect 3. Integrity 4. Trust 5. Accountability

communication, public relations, print or broadcast media or interactive digital media – 3 (three) years if only with Secondary Education.
• Strong writing and communication skills. Proven experience in producing high-quality communication materials, including texts and human-interest stories, printed materials and videos for digital and traditional platforms should be presented. • Experience of working in field locations. Background/familiarity with humanitarian operations is considered an asset.

The assignment will be in Boa Vista. Boa Vista is considered a family duty station and classified B (hardship). No furnished housing available. Power cuts are frequent but short.

Basic health services are available but specialized services are not offered locally. Travelers are advised to carry a supply of the necessary prescription medications. The yellow fever vaccine is mandatory, and evidence of yellow fever vaccine is required (at least ten days before the trip to the area). Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya and yellow fever are transmitted by the same mosquito, Aedes Aegypti. Preventive measures are key. The mosquito feeds mainly at dusk and dawn, indoors, in shaded areas or when the weather is cloudy. Wear long-sleeved clothing, use insect repellents, place windows with screens, keep residences cool with air conditioning and use mosquito nets

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging their own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.

Brazil is security level 3 (moderate). United Nations Department of Safety and Security UNDSS Brazil advises to exercise a high degree of caution in Brazil due to high levels of serious and violent crime, particularly in major cities. Violent crime as muggings, armed robbery, kidnappings, and sexual assault, is very high. Avoid shanty towns (favelas) in the big cities and if you are attacked or robbed, do not resist. Demonstrations can occur at any time and may turn violent with little or no warning. All United Nations personnel must scrupulously comply with UNDSS procedures and recommendations during their assignment in Brazil. For missions in rural areas or indigenous reservations, special procedures may apply; UN personnel should consult with the local DSS office in advance.

Specific UN Volunteer entitlements, including insurance coverage, Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA), and Deployment / Repatriation lump sums, among others, are available at https://app.unv.org/calculator . The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos