Communication Officer Media (Polio), NOB, Karachi, Pakistan

Contract

This is a NO-2 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-2 contracts.

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, Health!

Pakistan was the sixth country in the world to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, less than one year after it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. However, children and adolescents living in Pakistan still face acute challenges.

UNICEF supports the Government of Pakistan to accelerate progress for children, work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and help children realize their rights under the Convention on the Rights of Children. This will be made through, among others things, strong partnerships with provincial authorities, teachers and health professionals, frontline workers and social mobilisers, communities and families, and of course the children and adolescents themselves.

In particular, UNICEF will work so that:

• Every child survives and thrives -- being in good health, immunized, protected from polio and accessing nutritious food.
• Every child learns.
• Every child is protected from violence and exploitation and registered at birth.
• Every child lives in a safe and clean environment, with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.

To learn more about UNICEF’s work in Pakistan, please visit the country website www.unicef.org/pakistan and videos on YouTube and Vimeo

The Communication Officer (Temporary Appointment) will work under the general supervision of Health Specialist Fixed Term (the Provincial Team lead of the Polio Programme), and under the technical guidance of the Communication Specialist (Media) based in Islamabad and in close collaboration with the government, WHO and other GPEI counterparts, will support in implementing, monitoring and evaluating media and advocacy strategies to promote Polio vaccination into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of Polio eradication in the country, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand. S/he will contribute to polio campaign efforts in reducing missed children towards the achievement of Polio eradication in Pakistan.

To make a difference, you will be responsible for the following key end results and major accountabilities:

Key End-Results Expected

1. Within the delegated authority and the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be accountable for all or assigned areas of the following major duties and end results.

• Implementation of media strategy in line with the Polio Programme’s work plan following the National Eradication Action Plan
• Assist in drafting and editing articles, press releases, human interest stories and other advocacy/information materials for both web-based and traditional media, as appropriate.
• Follow up on the production of advocacy and communication materials (e.g., films, videos, audio-visuals, etc.), and oversee the qualitative aspects of production, (e.g., quality control, translations, reviews of layout and graphic design etc.) to meet standards as set out in the Communication Toolkit.
• Prepare press release, talking points and other materials including publications, and clippings, photographs, audio-visual materials, web resources etc.
• Use appropriate information and communication materials for media, and other advocacy and communication activities; recommend the appropriateness, quality and dissemination of printed and audio-visual materials.
• Established contacts, networks, resources and processes to support communication activities.
• Lead Provincial Media Task Team and provide guidance.

2. Media management and partnerships

1. Effective and timely professional assistance and support are provided in developing, drafting and maintaining contact information, materials and relationships with journalists and media outlets covering all media – print, TV, radio, web etc. – in the country, to communicate the story of Polio programme to a wider audience.

• Maintain and update media relations contact list/database. Ensure rapid and accurate information dissemination to the media.
• Assist in developing and maintaining close collaboration with mass media, as well as with groups and organizations whose support is essential to the achievement of advocacy and communication objectives.
• Assist in drafting and editing articles, press releases, human interest stories and other advocacy/information materials in all media formats, as appropriate.
• Prepare background communication and promotional materials for briefing and visits of media and other special interest groups. Assist in the planning, logistic and administrative arrangements for international and high profile visits.
• Provide support for organising international media team visits, produce content (story, photo essay) for global and well as donor reports.
• Develop content and regularly feed the provincial social media page of the PEI programme and provide content for centrally managed social media platforms.
• 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.
• Provide support to implement partnerships and advocacy initiatives to promote Polio eradication.

3. Crisis Communication Management

Regular monitoring of media including social media and maintain two-way communication with the focal points working at the lowest tier of the organisation.

• Manage crisis communication following the SoPs.
• Periodic review of SoPs and update as per need of the programme.
• Maintain liaison with the federal Media focal point, consult and update as and when any event takes place.
• Provide periodic orientation to the focal points working at different levels for managing crisis communication.

4. Monitoring and evaluation

Regular monitoring and evaluation activities are undertaken according to the work plan to ensure maximum impact and continuous improvement of country communication efforts. Ensure results and reports are prepared and shared on a timely basis.

• Contribute to developing an advocacy and communication strategy by coordinating appropriate audience research and compiling and analysing relevant data.
• Monitor and evaluate the appropriate and timely dissemination of advocacy and communication materials to target audiences, and participate in the evaluation of their impact. Monitor and evaluate the use and effectiveness of media materials. Maintain a library of coverage (clippings, coverage etc.)
• Ensure good quality data collection, analysis and evaluation and reporting to ensure effective communication strategies, planning and effective and efficient advocacy.
• Undertake lessons learned and review of successful and unsuccessful communication experiences as directed by supervisor.

ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES

1. Implementation of Mass media strategy for the Polio Programme:

• Provide technical support and creative guidance to provincial communications task teams to ensure all media strategies are in place in the province. Plans must address the appropriate challenges based on the analysis of media, campaign and surveillance data;
• Develop, implement and monitor the technical and financial aspects of the media campaigns through the production and placement of materials in collaboration with the country office through implementing vendors.
• Identify, develop, distribute and evaluate a variety of media materials in multiple, appropriate formats. Ensure or enhance the quality, and appropriateness of specific communication materials, activities, processes and messages transmitted to the media, press, partners and public.
• Lead the Provincial Polio Emergency Operations Centers Media and Advocacy Task team and provide guidance on provincial polio programme media plans.

2. Media relations and Partnerships:

• Explore, identify, and develop partnerships with potential media and civil society organizations for further strengthening the mass media component of the Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative in the province
• Maintain and continually developed contact list of journalists and media outlets covering all media – print, TV, radio, web, photo etc. – and a successful process of communicating and maintaining regular contact and close collaboration with the media to promote polio vaccination.
• Collaborate with mass 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.
• Manage the provincial social media page of the PEI programme and provide content for centrally managed social media platforms.
• Ensure an effective process is in place for integrating and taking action on UNICEF’s global communications priorities, campaigns and partnerships, disseminating these elements in a locally-appropriate way.

3. Crisis communication management

• Collaborate with internal Polio team, other UNICEF colleagues, and Provincial Polio Emergency Operations Centre to update and roll out provincial crisis communications standard operating procedures;
• Establish and maintain an active provincial polio crisis communication cell and update SOPs as required.
• Accountable and respond to issues following established crisis communications standard operating procedures and practice.

4. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Collaborate with partners to ensure media baselines are established against which the achievement of objectives of the media strategies are regularly evaluated; analysis is undertaken to continuously improve the effectiveness of communication strategy and activities; results and reports are prepared and shared.
• Undertake lessons learned review of successful and unsuccessful media communication experiences and share observations/findings with federal and provincial colleagues and partners
• Establish and maintain an up-to-date documentation centre for audio-visual campaign media content and case studies.

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

• An Advanced University degree (Master’s or above) in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or a related field
• A first University Degree (Bachelor's) in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• Minimum two years practical professional work experience in communication, print and broadcast media, or interactive digital media.
• Field work experience background/familiarity with Emergency situations.
• Fluency in English and Urdu is required. Knowledge of other local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS).

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1), Works Collaboratively with others (1), Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1), Innovates and Embraces Change (1), Thinks and Acts Strategically (1), Drive to achieve impactful results (1), Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

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.

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:

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• Verified educational certificates/ HEC Attested Degrees are a pre-requisite for employment at UNICEF. During the recruitment process candidates will be required to present HEC attested degrees/certificates.
• UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates will be prioritized.