Communication for Partnerships Specialist

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

UNICEF develops and oversees an ambitious global partnership strategy that aims to leverage income, influence, innovation and expertise from companies and their foundations to help deliver UNICEF goals. We support and build capacity in markets to secure, renew and grow best-in-class influential partnerships with companies that achieve the greatest possible results for children. One way in which we can incentivize our donors and partners is through improved recognition and visibility for all types of contributions, including for core and flexible funding (global, regional, and thematic). Donor and partner recognition and visibility are intrinsically linked to the implementation of the international aid effectiveness agenda. Globally, there are more demands for public recognition and visibility, both from private and public donors and partners.

Over the past few years, the number of partnerships with corporate sector have increased across Latin America and the Caribbean. Since 2017, UNICEF Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (LACRO) has successfully secured multiple regional corporate alliances with partners from several industry sectors, including FMCG, Airlines, Banking, Telecommunications amongst others, supporting regional and country office programmatic priorities. UNICEF LACRO currently manages several multi-country partnerships with corporations that have large presence in the region.

How UNICEF and partners tell the story of our shared-value partnership and how resources are benefiting children is key to both reinforcing the joint communication and advocacy goals and highlighting the value of strategic partnerships for children. The Communication for Partnership Specialist will harness communication and advocacy opportunities with partners for the benefit of children in the LAC Region. S/he will do so by embedding communication throughout corporate partnership lifecycle and by leveraging partners’ influence and reach to better position UNICEF voice and brand values in new spaces.

The Communication for Partnership Specialist position’s purpose is to deepen collaboration with key stakeholders and provide an interface for environmental scanning, knowledge exchange, resource leveraging and mobilization, policy influence and pro-actively identifying communication and advocacy opportunities within the scope of assignment. S/He may also serve as focal point and resource for colleagues on specific thematic areas of strategic relevance for communication for partnership development. The key result is to ensure greater visibility for UNICEF and influence in support of its mission

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Chief of Communication and Advocacy in close coordination with the Corporate Alliance Specialist, Food Systems Specialist, and Programme Specialists, (predominantly Nutrition) the UNV will undertake the following tasks:

• Implement the work plan for assigned area, in order to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery of results, in accordance with UNICEF’s partnership strategy, digital and communication and advocacy strategies.

• Scans and scouts external environment within designated partnership area for opportunities and risks and shares information in a timely fashion with relevant UNICEF staff.

• Provide support to the regional Communications & Advocacy section and country offices work closely the Private Sector Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP), Survive and Thrive sections, and relevant programme teams to design, coordinate, implement and monitor advocacy and communication plans that aim to maximize the power of business for children, increase support for the cause of children, and tap into the potential of business sector’s influence, innovation and technical expertise for children in the LAC Region.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day). • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers. • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/Expected Outputs:

Communication and advocacy support to the regional programmatic agenda’s: o In close collaboration with COs, PFP and programme teams, including Survive & Thrive Sections, design and roll-out advocacy and communication plans to raise awareness and advance regional advocacy priorities as well as the regional agenda on childhood overweight prevention. o Facilitate and coordinate the production of multimedia packages and compelling storytelling on partnership interventions for dissemination on UNICEF and partner digital platforms as well as on third-party channels (business sector, academia, civil society, UN, among others) to engage major stakeholders and further move the needle towards ensuring children’s rights in the LAC region. o Facilitate partner engagement through field visits, attendance of key events, meetings, and advocacy opportunities. Communication plans for corporate partnerships: o Build and implement communication plans that nurture corporate partnerships and contribute to UNICEF LACRO programmatic objectives, with emphasis in nutrition. Facilitate the development of communication products and materials as part of those regional/multi-country communication plans and provide strategic support to COs when needed.

Partner/Donor Coordination and Harmonization: o Ensure that communication, visibility and recognition can contribute to a mechanism for coordinating efforts among multiple partners/donors. By sharing information about their contributions and activities, partners/donors can avoid duplication, identify gaps, and align their interventions to maximize impact. Increased visibility can foster coordination and cooperation among various actors in the international aid community.

Media relations: o The Communication for Partnerships Specialist contributes to maintaining and updating contact database and relationships with journalists and media outlets – print, TV, radio, digital etc. – to share relevant information regarding UNICEF LACRO corporate partnerships and Child Rights and Business work across the region.

Brand and mitigation measures: o By working in close collaboration with UNICEF staff, S/He will ensure in all partnership agreements that recognition and visibility efforts respect UNICEF policies in relation to brand, cultural sensitivities, protection of the privacy of individuals, and that an informed consent is obtained for any use of personal stories, photographs, or other sensitive information. o S/He will communicate concerns and limitations around communication, recognition and visibility of partnerships to UNICEF and the partner/donor that (potentially) put organization’s reputation in jeopardy.

Knowledge Management, Monitoring and evaluation: o Contributes toward the development of knowledge management tools, systems and products including the facilitation of best practices, case studies, technical guidance and ensures effective sharing of partnership and partnership communication learning and materials internationally, through conferences, workshops and online channels. o Manage financial resources, including budget planning, monitoring, and reporting, for optimal impact. Regularly evaluate reach and impact of corporate partnership communication plans and report back to PFP, Communication and Advocacy and programme colleagues accordingly.

• 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 development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

communications, print and broadcast media, public relationships, and/or corporate communications is required.

Technical Knowledge: • Excellent knowledge of communication and or marketing methodology and best practices. • Knowledge of partnership development and corporate communication and donor engagement strategies. • Familiarity working with various media formats – print, audio, video, web etc. • Good understanding of world affairs and global human rights issues, specifically related to children and women. • Computer-related skills, including internet navigation, office applications, and specifically, interactive digital media. •

Additional skills/assets:

• Excellent inter-personal and networking skills. • Diplomatic communication and negotiation skills to establish and maintain trusted partnerships • Excellent writing skills, in both English and Spanish • Work experience in international environments (foreign countries, multinational companies, etc.) is a plus. • Current knowledge of development issues and strategies, • Familiarity with the Latin American and Caribbean context is a plus. • Familiarity with the UN system is a plus. • Prior experience with the corporate sector is an asset.

Panama is in Central America with a population of 4,300,000 million, the official language is Spanish, but most Panamanians are bilingual. Panama has a lower crime rate than many other countries in the region. Panama City is largely a safe city – but care does need to be taken in some areas and with personal property. It is your choice whether you opt for a house or an apartment. Beautiful spacious houses, with gardens are available. Those staff that have opted for an apartment have done so on the basis that they offer more security and more facilities. The US Dollar is used as a legal currency in Panama. There are also coins of the Balboa, which is the national currency, similar in shape and value to the US Dollar. Please make sure to leave Panama only with US Dollar currency, as there are some international difficulties changing the Balboa abroad. Panama has a tropical climate with practically the same average temperature of 27°C year-round with 78% humidity. The rainy season in Panama is from March until November each year, we recommend you bring an umbrella. The air conditioning may be cool at times in the office and in local shops, so we suggest you bring a jacket or sweater. The voltage in Panama is 110v, 60 cycle with two and three prong plugs. Wall plugs are mostly for 110v. In some properties there may by 220v for air conditioning or similar. Current fluctuations are common and electricity cuts are still possible. There are many clinics and medical centers in Panama: For your information, below the largest private hospitals in Panama City. Hospital Paitilla +507 265 8888 +507 265 8800 Hospital Pacífica Salud [former Punta Pacífica] +507 204 8184 +507 204 8000 Hospital San Fernando +507 305 6305 +507 305 6300 Hospital Nacional +507 306 3300 +507 207 8100 There is also an Emergency Ambulance service, government-owned 911. If you open a local bank account, banks in Panama request the following documents. - Reference letter from your bank. - Present original and bring copy of your national Passport, - Employment letter.