Communication Officer, NO-1, Fixed Term Appointment, No. 16125. Havana, CUBA

Contract

This is a NO-1 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-1 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, an advocate

Cuba Program Priorities and Partnerships

The program is aligned with three of the four results of the Framework of United Nations Cooperation for Sustainable Development 2020-2024 and with the goals and objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The program will be implemented through strategic partnerships with the Government national and territorial level, academic institutions, civil society organizations civilian and other United Nations organizations, under the direction and coordination of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment.

Cuba program will focus on three priority areas, identified in consultation with national entities and that will be aligned with the National Development Plan Economic and Social until 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals and three of the five goals of the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2018-2021:

• Every child survives and thrives

• Every child learns

• Every child is protected from violence and the exploitation and

• Program effectiveness

How can you make a difference?

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

Accountable for developing, managing, coordinating, networking, implementing, monitoring and evaluating an advocacy and communication strategy to get children’s and women’s issues into the public domain, contribute to programmatic objectives, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF’s mission and objectives in the country and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand.

KEY END-RESULTS

1. Communication strategy: The production of quality communication products and materials are timely executed and followed up to support country communication strategy, regional and global campaigns and priorities, and to support resource mobilization as set out in the work plan.
2. Media relations: 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 support programmatic objectives and communicate the story of UNICEF's cooperation to a wider audience.
3. Monitoring and evaluation: Communication baselines are established and regular monitoring and evaluation activities are undertaken according to the work plan to ensure maximum impact and continuous improvement of country communication efforts. Results and reports are prepared and shared on a timely basis.
4. Networking and partnerships: The Country Office has a well maintained and continually development contact list of individuals, groups, organizations, including GWA whose support is essential to/can assist in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives. Effective working relationships with the UN Country Team and UN communication counterparts.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES & TASKS

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.

• Communication strategy

Ensure that the production of communication products and materials is timely executed and followed up to support country communication strategy, regional and global campaigns and priorities and to support resource mobilization as set out in the work plan.

Duties & Tasks

• Develop, implement and update the country advocacy and communication strategy and associated work plan in synergy with the programme areas behavioural change objectives.
• UNICEF´s rights and result based programming approach is appropriately reflected in the communication strategy work plan and products.
• Gather content and coverage of relevant country efforts to identify effective relevant country programme activities and results. Support the programme areas in the development of complementary country specific and local quality community materials and activities.

Oversee the qualitative aspects of the production of creative communications materials (e.g briefing notes, images, videos, films, audios, web page, articles, press releases, human interest

• stories and other advocacy /information materials for both web based and traditional media, etc) that meet the country and global standards as set out in the Communication Toolkit.
• Maintain an accessible and up to date digital archive for communication materials including publications, press releases, photographs, audio visual materials, web resources, etc.
• Supervise the Country Office web page and institutional social media accounts to ensure regular updates and content quality and relevance.

• Recommend appropriate information and communications materials for use in media ad other advocacy and communication activities.

• Media relations

Ensure that the Country Office has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of journalists and media outlets covering all media -print, TV, radio, web, etc. and a successful process of communications and maintaining regular contact and close collaboration with the media to communicate the story of UNICEF´s cooperation and deliver key behavioural change messages to a wider audience.

Duties & Tasks

• Maintain and update media relations contact list/database with mass media, as well as with groups and organizations whose support is essential to the achievement of advocacy and communication objectives.

• Ensure regular, rapid and accurate information dissemination to the media, National Committees, NGOs, Regional Office or HQ and other appropriate audiences as required.

• Drafts briefs, talking points and presentations and assess the Representative in interactions with the media and the wider public (interviews, quotes, discussions)

• Produce articles, press releases, human interest stories and other advocacy/information materials in all media formats for national and international press, meeting the standards set out in the Communication toolkit. Adapt regional or global press releases to the national context, interests and priorities.

• Prepare background communication and promotional materials for briefing and visits of media, donors, GWA and other special interest groups. Assist in the planning, logistic and administrative arrangements for them.

• 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. Maintain a library of coverage (clippings, coverage etc.)

• 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.

Duties & Tasks

• Provide technical support to ensure that a set of communication performance indicators is identified and adjusted as necessary and these communication indicators are incorporated in the Annual Management Plan, Annual Work Plan, etc.
• Assist in coordinating appropriate audience research and compiling and analysing relevant data.
• Ensure good quality data collection, analysis and evaluation and reporting to ensure effective communication strategies, planning and effective and efficient advocacy.
• Undertake lessons learned review of successful and unsuccessful communication experiences as directed by supervisor.
• Compile and generate information in emergency situations as the Focal Point for Situation Reports, ensure rapid and accurate information dissemination to UN System, Regional Office and HQ as required, and facilitate the delivery of key messages to the population.

• Coordinates Publications Plan corresponding to each program area, providing technical advice.

• Networking and Partnerships

Ensure that the Country Office has an ongoing process of collaborative work with key individuals, groups, organizations and fora (******including Government, UN, and bilateral counterparts)******, whose support is essential to /can assist in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives of the communication strategy.

Duties & Tasks

• Help identify, document, review and refine ongoing process of collaborative work with current and potential partners and collaborators, including meetings, joint projects, information sharing, MoUs, etc. to achieve the objectives of the communication strategy and work plan.
• Establish, monitor and evaluate an annual work plan with GWA, according to profiles and communication and program priorities. Ensure training, regular meetings and information sharing.
• Ensure or enhance the quality, consistency and appropriateness of country specific communication materials, activities, processes and messages shared with partners.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen the capacity of partners through appropriate advocacy and communication training access to information, supplies, and equipment and trough knowledge sharing
• Monitor, evaluate and share results and findings with partners.

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

• Education: University degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or related field.
• Experience: A minimum of one year (1) of practical professional work experience in communication, print and broadcast media, or interactive digital media. Field work experience and background/familiarity with Emergency situations is an asset.
• Languages: Fluency in Spanish and English is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others. (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people (1)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. 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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable persons living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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 are also 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.