Communication Specialist (Field Content Gathering)

Volunteering

Overview

Join UNICEF Afghanistan as a UN Volunteer in the Communication and Advocacy team to gather impactful stories from the field.

You have:

• 3 years of professional work experience at the international level in communication, partnerships, resource mobilization, fundraising, or other relevant programmes.
• Experience working with multi-lateral or bilateral donors is an asset, as well as grant management skills; drafting, editing and proof-reading skills; production of newsletters and communications products; experience working in the UN or other international development organizations.
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing.
• 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.
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

Contract

This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.

Under UNICEF’s mandate to promote the rights and well-being of every child, communication plays a critical role in making the situation of children visible, documenting results, and mobilising support for programmes that protect and advance children’s rights in Afghanistan. In a complex and rapidly changing operating environment, high-quality, ethical and timely field content is essential to show how UNICEF and partners are reaching children and families, particularly in hard-to-reach, emergency-affected and underserved areas.

Field missions and story gathering are central to the work of the Communication and Advocacy section. The section leads the planning, production and dissemination of human-interest stories, photographs, videos, social media content, web stories, donor visibility materials and other communication products that explain UNICEF’s work, amplify children’s voices, and demonstrate results for children.

To support these efforts, UNICEF Afghanistan is seeking a UN Volunteer to join the Communication and Advocacy team. The UNV will have a strong field orientation, with a primary focus on planning, coordinating and carrying out content-gathering missions across Afghanistan.

The role will include identifying compelling story opportunities, preparing mission plans and interview guides, coordinating multimedia production, gathering accurate and child-sensitive content, and ensuring that all materials are consent-based and aligned with UNICEF communication standards, safeguarding principles and office priorities.

• Plan, coordinate and undertake regular field content-gathering missions to UNICEF field offices, outposts and programme locations, in line with office priorities, security guidance and operational feasibility.

• Develop mission plans and content packages, coordinate content gathering by photographers, videographers and field colleagues, including preparation of briefs, mission schedules, interview guidance, quality control of captions and stories, and follow-up on missing information.

• Gather, draft and produce high-quality human-interest stories, photo essays, captions, web stories, short-form video concepts, social media content and donor visibility materials that document UNICEF-supported results for children and families.

• Work closely with programme sections and field offices to identify strong story leads, verify technical details, document results, secure clearances, and ensure that produced content reflects UNICEF's programme priorities and the realities of communities served.

• Contribute to the section's editorial planning by tracking upcoming field opportunities, maintaining a pipeline of stories and multimedia products, and supporting the timely dissemination of content across UNICEF channels and with regional and global teams.

• Monitor donor visibility efforts and performance and support the identification of areas for improvement to ensure quality, strategic prioritization (e.g., major donors), and alignment with office-wide communication priorities.

• Facilitate internal communication on donor recognition, working with programme sections to ensure awareness of and compliance with donor visibility requirements. Track follow-up on allocation emails and contribute to internal coordination platforms such as programme and management meetings.

(If competency‑based interviews are used, list only those competencies that are directly relevant to the assignment, using the host entity’s competency framework where applicable. The list below is only indicative.) • Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

• 3 years of professional work experience at the international level in communication, partnerships, resource mobilization, fundraising, or other relevant programmes.

• Experience working with multi-lateral or bilateral donors is as asset, as well as grant management skills; drafting, editing and proof-reading skills; production of newsletters and communications products; experience working in the UN or other international development organizations.

• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.

• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing.

• 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.

• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

Due to the prevailing security situation, international staff are required to live within a secured compound, with movement restrictions in place to ensure safety. This setting demands a high level of adaptability, resilience, and cultural awareness. Living and working in a confined environment with limited personal freedoms requires patience, teamwork, and the ability to maintain morale in challenging circumstances.

You may check the full benefits and allowances applicable to the duty station using the UVP calculator. Please see the Conditions of Service for UN Volunteers for more information and details.”

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 15 days ago - Updated 8 days ago - Source: unv.org