Communication Officer (Advocacy)

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.

UNICEF works towards realization of the rights of children as prescribed in the Convention of the Rights of the Children. These rights pertain to child survival, protection, development and participation.

There is an ongoing requirement for production of communication, advocacy and visibility materials that document key children’s issues and ongoing responses in the field through high quality social media content to support UNICEF’s and the Government of India’s communication, advocacy and visibility efforts with legislatures, policy makers, media, donors, partners and the public at large. Effective implementation of any major communication campaign requires a digital strategy and a comprehensive approach to digital engagement. Strategic digital content for all audiences and channels would be required as well as support on knowledge management.

To meet these requirements, UNICEF would like to engage the services of a digital and social media volunteer to support, expand and strengthen the social media activities on key child rights priority issues, with a focus on channel management, community engagement, creating social media content and campaigns and support knowledge management.

UNICEF works towards realization of the rights of children as prescribed in the Convention of the Rights of the Children. These rights pertain to child survival, protection, development and participation.

Advocacy is at the center of UNICEF’s mandate including advocating to decision makers for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.

The Advocacy unit in Communication, Advocacy and Partner Section has three core objectives: • To collaboratively develop, strengthen and implement integrated advocacy campaigns and communications strategies, with robust monitoring and evaluation, on key ICO advocacy priorities • To build and strengthen strategic partnerships for advocacy – with parliamentarians, civil society, influencers, other partners (UN or non-UN), and other actors, to ensure a strategic approach to deploying these partners to increase our advocacy impact. • To develop and implement clear plans to build advocacy capacity across Delhi and Field offices

To meet these requirements, UNICEF would like to engage the services of an advocacy volunteer to support, expand and strengthen the advocacy activities on key child rights priority issues, with a focus on stakeholder mapping, outreach and knowledge management.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Communication Specialist or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Communication Officer (Advocacy Officer) will: • Assist in the development of advocacy strategies and plans to achieve SMART outcomes, under the supervision of Advocacy Specialist • Support the implementation of advocacy strategies, contributing to a range of tactics, such as: production of advocacy assets, writing advocacy briefs, developing narratives, delivering creative campaign activations, and organizing advocacy events • Support with the submission of major publication for the Publication Review Committee (PRC) • Liaise with Brand and Advocacy team to ensure that consistent support on branding and other essential elements • Consolidate and classify the publication and external facing material across the offices (Delhi and State offices) • Work with cross sectoral teams for content development including thematic toolkits for elected representatives • Assist capacity development programmes and research for data visualization for elected representatives • Act as knowledge management focal point for the unit.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • 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. • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. • 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.

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF, India Country Office; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNICEF, India Country Office procedures and rules; ability to apply good judgement; and ability to work as a team under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEF, India Country Office in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity, and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNICEF, India Country Office’s mission and vision, as well as to the UNICEF Core Values (Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability).

communication or other relevant programmes at the national and/or international level ; experience with advocacy and partnership with CSO, UN or other international development organization is an asset. • Knowledge of writing and data visualisation is an asset. • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, and reporting skills in English. • Working knowledge of Hindi and/or any other Indian language is an asset. • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development. • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel. • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment. • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

New Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region is a large and bustling metropolis of some 14 million people undergoing rapid changes. The capital city is an administrative, cultural and commercial center with modern amenities and well connected by air. It is a safe place with large expatriate community drawn from embassies, UN agencies, MNCs and foreign businesses. It has short moderate winter and long hot summer.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. This position is based in New Delhi. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan. National UN Volunteers are expected to be culturally sensitive and adjust to the prevailing culture and traditions.

The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.

The applicable Volunteer Living Allowance is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents - except for UN Community Volunteers), as well as final repatriation (if applicable). You can check full entitlements at https://app.unv.org/calculator .

For information specific to your assignment please see below: • Voluntary Living Allowance (VLA): INR 50,604.24 per month • Entry lump sum (one-time payment): USD 400 (equivalent in INR) • Relocation costs (both ways @ USD 200 at the beginning and end of assignment, if duty station is outside of commuting distance) • Exit allowance (paid on successful completion of the assignment): 1 VLA / 12 Months • Medical and life insurance Cigna Private Insurance • Access to UNV Learning Portal for Online Courses

Leave entitlements: • Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month • Certified sick leave: 30 days • Uncertified sick leave: 7 days • Learning leave: 10 working days per consecutive 12 months • Maternity leave: 16 weeks • Paternity leaves: 10 days

In addition to duty station specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)- endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.