Communication Officer

Volunteering Communications & PR

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 mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, advocacy, communications, 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 favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions — his or her rights are violated. To achieve these results, the UNICEF Communication Team works to raise awareness about children’s rights and engage society to take action for children, with special attention to vulnerable communities and children affected by emergencies. To respond to these increasing communication demands, it is necessary to implement a number of communication actions to position the organization, engage key media groups, and highlight UNICEF's results for children. To ensure effective coordination and oversight of institutional communication activities related to UNICEF’s work in Brazil, including UNICEF's regular country programme and the humanitarian response to emergencies, UNICEF is recruiting two UNVs based in Brasilia within the Communication Section to advocate for children’s and adolescents' rights and create visibility for UNICEF’s work. Context Under the general supervision of the Communications Officer, with the overall guidance of the Chief of Communication and Partnerships, these two UN Volunteers will support the implementation of Institutional Communication strategies in the context of UNICEF’s regular programmes and humanitarian responses. The UN Volunteers will produce communication and advocacy materials and content, engage with media and donors, liaise with implementing partners and support high profile field visits. In order to promote the rights of children and adolescents, the UN Volunteers will also support the development of advocacy messages in different formats and for different types of media, including digital platforms.

Within the delegated authority of the Communications and Advocacy Specialist and under her/his supervision, each UN Volunteer Communication Officer will be responsible for supporting field colleagues in a broad range Communication activities, providing national guidance and standardization of Communication processes and visibility requirements according to UNICEF’s commitments and mandate, in line with the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCC).

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 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. • 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 (knowledge management). • 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 • 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.

3. Donor 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 (including multilateral institutions and companies), 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. • 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 donors’ information needs and potential fundraising opportunities. • Fill reports and proposals according to UNICEF standards and produce annual reports when applicable.

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, donor 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.

• Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning • Communication • Flexibility • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance, and commitment towards UNICEF’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

communication, public relations, print/broadcast media or interactive digital media.
• Strong writing and communication skills. • Experience of working in field locations and background/familiarity with humanitarian operations is considered an asset. • Experience in working with international organizations is an asset

The assignment will be in Brasilia, the nation's capital. Brasilia is a family duty station, Hardship A. Security level in Brazil is moderate (3). 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.

The living conditions in Brasilia are good as well as the access to health services. The accommodation facilities are in general good, and the choice is wide. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.

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

Apply now

Added 5 hours ago - Updated 5 hours ago - Source: unv.org