Communication for Development Officer, NO-1, Asuncion, Paraguay

Contract

This is a NO-1 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-1 contracts.

BACKGROUND

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has a new cooperation program in Paraguay for the period 2020-2024, which will focus on the most vulnerable children and adolescents, such as those living in poverty, in rural areas, indigenous and disabled populations, promoting the guarantee of the fulfillment of their rights.

UNICEF's cooperation, which has a 5-year cycle, will provide technical assistance, knowledge and international experience, as well as non-reimbursable financing with own and donor resources for four programmatic axes: a) “First years”, which prioritizes integral development of girls and boys from 0 to 10 years old; b) “Adolescents”, which addresses the factors that determine the full development of people aged 11 to 17; c) “Generation of evidence for the strengthening of public policies, plans and programs”, which accompanies the actions; and d) “Program effectiveness”, which deals with coordination, management, monitoring and evaluation. In accordance with the Goal Areas of the UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2018–2021, these priorities will help every child to survive and thrive, learn, be protected from violence and exploitation, live in a safe and clean environment, and have an equitable chance in life.

The country programme will rely on strategies such as evidence-based advocacy to influence public policy and decision-making that favor children, strengthening the capacities of government and civil society institutions, promotion of protective and healthy social practices and norms, promotion and application of innovation, evidence-based management and the promotion of a social dialogue on children´s rights with the participation of adolescents and key actors.

In line with the above, UNICEF's new cooperation program in Paraguay will guide its actions during the period 2020-2024 with a view to contribute to improving the situation of children and adolescents in the country.

The country programme is aimed at supporting government institutions, civil society and other stakeholders to close the gaps and inequalities that particularly affect poor, rural and indigenous children and adolescents and those vulnerable for other reasons, such as disability, and to promote their rights.

For this reason, the Country Office needs a national office that participates in country programme planning and reviews to contribute to discussions on the underlying and contextual issues to be addressed to ensure the successful and sustainable delivery of programme results and provide technical recommendations on approaches, strategies and plans of action for Communication For Development (C4D) to promote behavioral and social change.

PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT:

The specialist provides technical and operational support in the development of a systematic, planned and evidence-based strategy and process for C4D as an integral part of programme development, planning and implementation to promote measurable behavioral and social change through communication, engagement, empowerment and participation of stakeholders, partners, communities and civil society to achieve successful and sustainable concrete results on children´s rights, survival, and wellbeing in the country. This specialist will work with in the regular programme with the programmatic components (Early Years, Adolescents and Generating evidence) and the emergency response plan, UNICEF being one of the leading agencies.

Main Duties/Responsibilities:

1. Support to strategy design and development of C4D activities:

• Review existing global and regional processes and performance related benchmarks and checklists in the area of C4D/social mobilization; UNICEF monitoring standards; and emergencies response efforts.
• Research and/or participate in conducting comprehensive C4D situation analysis of social, communication, cultural, economic and political issues in the country/region. Collect and synthesize qualitative and quantitative information and data to support the establishment of comprehensive and evidence-based information for developing and planning the C4D component of the Country Program of Cooperation.
• Collect, synthesize, draft and/or organize materials and related documentations for evidence-based C4D strategies and plans (as a component of the CO) to ensure optimum impact, scale and sustainability of achievements/results.
• Assess, select and/or recommend appropriate information and materials for C4D initiatives verifying accuracy and quality for dissemination.
• Assess and identify trends and patterns in behavioural and participants analyses conducted at country level or in subsequent response designs (including strategies; plans; M&E frameworks; research methodologies) that may require revisions or course corrections.
• Review existing quantitative and qualitative data including behavioural/anthropological/ ethnographic studies that may be relevant to the specific countries.
• Monitor and assess the impact of C4D strategies and activities on the CO and UNICEF goals to achieve measurable behavioral and social change resulting in the improvement of children's rights and wellbeing. Submit qualitative report/synthesis of results for development planning and improvement.
• Manage evidence and data generation, and document results and lessons learned to better inform C4D/social mobilization preparedness and response efforts for COVID-19 ensuring compliance with UNICEF’s existing monitoring frameworks and systems

2. Support to the implementation of C4D activities:

• Collaborate and/or consult with internal and external partners to provide operational and technical support to research, develop, and produce evidence-based strategies and test, produce and use quality C4D materials and/or organize events and activities to ensure community engagement and participation, and maximum outreach and impact on behavioral and social change .
• Provide technical, administrative and logistical support and background materials to carry out C4D strategies and activities and recommend operational strategies, approaches, plans, methods and procedures to ensure community engagement and participation, and optimum outreach and impact.
• Assess and recommend potential contacts, networks, resources and multiple/social/digital media and tools to support maximum impact and outreach of C4D initiatives.
• Follow up and monitor the production of C4D materials to ensure technical quality, consistency and relevancy of communications materials that are developed, produced and disseminated to target audience (e.g. individuals, communities, government officials, partners, media etc).
• Collect, assess and organize information for budget planning and management of program funds and prepare documentations and related materials for financial plan for C4D initiatives. Monitor/track the use of resources as planned and verify compliance with organizational guidelines, rules and regulations and standards of ethics and transparency.
• Establish standards around monitoring and evaluation methodologies and indicators to assess the behavior change and social mobilization efforts.

3. Advocacy, networking and partnership building:

• Build and maintain partnerships through networking and proactive collaboration with national and international civil society organizations, community groups, leaders and other critical partners in the community and civil society to reinforce cooperation through engagement, empowerment and self-determination and to pursue opportunities for greater advocacy to promote UNICEF mission and goals for child rights, social equity and inclusiveness.
• Collaborate with internal global/regional communication partners to harmonize, link and/or coordinate messaging to enhance C4D outreach and contribution to programmatic outcomes.

4. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building:

• Institutionalize/share best practices and knowledge learned/products with global/local partners and stakeholders to build capacity of practitioners/users and disseminate products to key audiences including partners and donors.
• Support the organization, administration and implement capacity building initiatives, including partnerships with training and academic institutions, to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders/partners across programme sectors in C4D planning, implementation and evaluation in support of programs/projects. Develop training materials for training activities, and revise and update them as necessary.

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

• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: social and behavioral science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication, public relations or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of one year of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development programme planning, communication for development, public advocacy or another related area. Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset. Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Availability to undertake field missions/trips on a regular basis and as required by the country programme is a condition of national officer professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the civil service.

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

**This post is for a National Officer; therefore, it is available only for Paraguayan candidates**