Communication Officer(Emergency), P2, Appointment, Cotonou/Benin, 364 days

Contract

This is a P-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 82,109 USD and 111,525 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, [insert tagline]

UNICEF Benin is in the fourth year of implementing its 2019-2023 Country Programme. While this program supports policies, strategies and systems for a child-friendly environment at the national level, it coordinates interventions in a convergent manner in the four departments chosen on the basis of child deprivation, and also supports emergency preparedness and response. COVID-19 response Since 2020, UNICEF Benin is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting the Government in implementing its National COVID-19 Response Plan. UNICEF also works with partners to roll-out risk communication and community engagement interventions, particularly with youth, civil society, media and influencers. As part of these efforts, UNICEF is also supporting actions aimed at encouraging the public to get vaccinated against COVID-19, combatting rumors and disinformation, and strengthening public trust and confidence in the importance of vaccination, as one of the most cost-effective public health measures to prevent infectious diseases. Sahel spillover preparation/response Since 2019, the spillover of violence from the Sahel countries has started to affect the vulnerability of children and their families in Northern Benin. More than 20 attacks against security forces and park rangers took place since the end of 2021. This security context, coupled with growing food insecurity, highlights the precarious and fragile environment for children and their families. In a country where 65 per cent of the population is under 25 and three in four youth are underemployed, this exposes youth, and girls in particular, to higher risk of school dropout, exploitation, abuse and other forms of violence. To reinforce prevention mechanisms and strengthen community resilience, UNICEF is focusing its efforts on strengthening community resilience, including with youth, and ensuring basic service continuity delivery in areas of high vulnerability. UNICEF Benin seeks to recruit a Communication Officer who will focus on implementation, follow-up and monitoring of communication activities related to the two priorities listed above, ensure the visibility of UNICEF Benin’s work, and strengthen collaboration with partners.

How can you make a difference?

Under the direct supervision of the Communication Specialist (Communication, Partnerships and Youth Engagement Section), the Communication Officer (Emergency) will be responsible for implementing communication-related activities and contributing to communication and advocacy strategies and plans to support UNICEF Benin’s prevention, preparation and response efforts in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Sahel spillover.

Key Functions/Responsibilities

1. Communication projects and activities: Ensure implementation, follow-up and monitoring of UNICEF Benin emergency-related communication projects, activities and special events (including efficient management and optimal use of financial resources and planning) and analyse impact and results of interventions to adapt as needed.

2. Donors visibility: Contribute to production and dissemination of communication and visibility materials to drive advocacy, fundraising and donor engagement efforts (factsheets, HIS, infographics, newsletter, social media publications) and ensure Country Office regularly communicates the story of UNICEF’s impact and cooperation with partners to a wider audience, including national and international media, the public and UNICEF NatComs.

3. Celebrities and special events: Ensure that the Regional Office has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of appropriate, nationally known personalities who have been identified, engaged and support UNICEF’s prevention and response efforts and who actively participate in special events and activities that support programme goals. 4. Resource mobilization and advocacy: Ensure that Country Office advocacy and fund-raising activities to respond to emergencies are supported by effective advocacy and communication strategy and activities. 5. Capacity building and support: Ensure that UNICEF Benin team and implementation partners are provided with professional expertise and advice on all aspects of communication during emergencies, as required.

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

• A university degree in communication, journalism, public relations, international relations, marketing and other related fields.
• A minimum of three (3) years of relevant professional experience in the field of communication, project management, advocacy and partnerships. Experience in emergency preparedness and/or response is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with a variety of partners and stakeholders, including the private sector, young people, technical and financial partners, national authorities and influential people (artists, opinion leaders, etc.).
• Excellent writing, communication and presentation skills in French, with ability to write press releases, human-interest stories, key messages, social media publications.
• Demonstrated experience working in teams and in a cross-sectoral position, requiring collaboration with programmes and operations. Managerial experience would be an asset (the incumbent will have managerial responsibilities, supervising four National UNV positions).
• Fluency in French and English are required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a language spoken in the region is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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:

[Remove below text if not a child safeguarding elevated risk role]

[If applicable] This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either: a role with direct contact with children, works directly with child, is a safeguarding response role or has been assessed as an elevated risk role for child safeguarding. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) applies.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert diversity profile] are encouraged to apply.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.