Communications and Advocacy Specialist (polio and immunization)

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

The UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO) is based in Dakar, Senegal, covering 24 countries in the region. The Communication and Advocacy team leads the regional office’s communication and advocacy efforts, collaborating across sections and supporting country offices to get children’s issues into the public domain, strengthening political will in support of UNICEF's mission, and enhancing the organization’s credibility and brand in West and Central Africa. Immunization, including polio eradication, is one of the Communication and Advocacy team’s thematic areas of work. West and Central Africa is the region with the lowest immunization coverage in the world due to a combination of factors that include poverty, weak national health systems, conflicts, the impact of climate change and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic. When children are not vaccinated, they are not immunized against diseases and therefore at greater risk of life-long disabilities or even death – and so are the communities they live in. According to the latest global data, the DTP3 coverage (3rd dose of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis combined vaccine) for the whole region was 69 per cent in 2022, down from 72 per cent in 2019, with 4.4 million children that did not receive a single dose of vaccine. Over the past years, many countries in the region have seen the reemergence of preventable diseases that for decades have been fought tirelessly to control, including polio. In 2023, 59 per cent of the outbreaks reported in the WHO Africa region occurred in West and Central Africa alone, often simultaneously and spilling over borders. Outbreaks of the variant poliovirus were recorded in 13 out of the region’s 24 countries in 2022. Additional countries are considered at high risk of polio infection or re-infection due to low levels of immunity and surveillance, according to the Global polio eradication initiative (GPEI). That is why it is critical that UNICEF and partners work with governments to regain lost ground on immunization and polio eradication and ensure that all children are vaccinated. Eradicating all forms of poliovirus and accelerating routine immunization requires an urgent, deliberate and dedicated effort to bring together all partners around these common goals, including by improving access, information campaigns, the surveillance system and sufficient domestic resources.

Note:

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.

As part of the joint efforts to eradicate all forms of poliovirus and accelerate routine immunization, the UNICEF West and Central Africa regional office is looking for a UN Volunteer expert in advocacy and communication. Under the supervision of the UNICEF WCARO Communication Specialist and in close collaboration with UNICEF colleagues at the country, regional and headquarters level as well as with key external partners, the UN volunteer will support the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of advocacy and communication efforts related to polio eradication and routine immunization in the region, more particularly in priority areas and countries facing outbreaks.

Duties include: • Assist UNICEF country offices in West and Central Africa in the development of their advocacy and communication strategies and/or plans related to polio eradication and immunization, more particularly in priority areas of the region and as part of the emergency response to polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases outbreaks. • Support the implementation of these advocacy and communication plans, contributing to a range of tactics such as the regional amplification and/or support to the production of multimedia advocacy assets including in the field and for digital platforms, advocacy briefs, various user-friendly materials, messages, creative campaign activations and the organization of special events. • Travel to the field to support countries in the region in their advocacy and communication efforts as part of their emergency response to outbreaks, including by producing and/or leading on the timely production of qualitative multimedia assets (photo, videos, stories, infographics, etc.). Several 1-2 weeks field missions are planned during the year. • Develop assets for use on the regional web and social media platforms on a regular basis, in close collaboration with the UNICEF regional digital colleague, and contribute to social media listening. • Support the production of photo, video and other content, including through the management of external providers as necessary. • Assist in editing/re-writing human interest stories, blogs, articles, speeches, concept notes, reports, etc. for use at the regional level. • Facilitate media interview requests at the regional level. • Assist in the day-to-day delivery of the advocacy and communication efforts, developing and tracking project plans to ensure progress and address obstacles and bottlenecks, including by supporting effective budget management, projections and tracking. • Support the establishment of baselines against which advocacy and communication outcomes are regularly monitored to analyze the effectiveness of strategies, approaches and activities; produce and disseminate advocacy M&E results on a regular basis. • Assist in building advocacy capacities among both internal staff and external partners, including by documenting and disseminating advocacy and communication good practices. • Ensure strong coordination with global and regional polio eradication and routine immunization partners, supporting the flow of information to / from key stakeholders, including by participating to multi-partners meetings or events, sharing information as relevant. • Research current and potential advocacy partners. Assist and maintain a database of formal and informal partnerships and networks whose support is essential to achieving advocacy objectives. • Undertake other key responsibilities to support the performance and impact of the Communication and Advocacy Section as required.

Core Values: • Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, Sustainability

Core competencies skills: 1. Builds and maintains partnerships; 2. Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness 3. Innovates and embraces change 4. Drive to achieve results for impact 5. Manages ambiguity and complexity 6. Thinks and acts strategically 7. Works collaboratively with others

campaigning, developing and implementing advocacy, communication and media plans at a national, regional and/or global level.

• Demonstrated experience in supporting and/or managing projects to completion in collaboration with multiple partners. • Strong ability to write clearly, succinctly and to develop strong, creative and accurate content and materials for diverse audiences, including media. • Ability to ideate, shoot, produce and edit multimedia content for digital platforms and other channels. • Excellent IT skills, especially with design, photo and video editing software. • Creative, enthusiastic, solution-oriented, with a sound judgement. • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging and multicultural environment. • Ability to respond to short deadlines and demonstrate a quick turn-around and execution of creative work. • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision. • Knowledge of international development, humanitarian issues and children’s rights. Knowledge of child health, immunization and polio eradication more particularly an asset. • Experience working for an advocacy or campaigning organization e.g., international or national NGO, UN or other multilateral organization an asset. • Experience working in West and Central Africa, or sound knowledge and understanding of the regional context, an asset. • Experience in advocacy, communication and/or media training and facilitation an asset. • Experience using social media metrics to assess digital performance, monitoring and addressing misinformation on social media an asset.

Dakar, the bustling capital of Senegal, presents UN Volunteers with a vibrant tapestry of culture, community, and coastal charm. Accommodations in Dakar are generally built to ensure safety and comfort, offering living spaces equipped with essential amenities. Healthcare needs are well-catered for through comprehensive medical insurance coverage and access to a range of healthcare facilities. While safety is prioritized, volunteers are encouraged to remain vigilant and adhere to security protocols. Transportation options are plentiful, facilitating smooth travel within the city, while the tropical savanna climate requires volunteers to be prepared for warm and humid conditions, especially during the rainy season.

Immersing in Senegal's rich cultural heritage, volunteers have the opportunity to engage with diverse communities and experience the warmth and hospitality for which Senegal is renowned. French proficiency enhances communication with locals, but English is slowly becoming more widely spoken. Through meaningful service and cultural exchange, volunteers in Dakar contribute to sustainable development initiatives while embarking on a fulfilling journey of personal and professional growth. Join us in Dakar for an enriching experience that combines urban excitement with cultural immersion and impactful service to communities in need.

Security: With the exception of the natural region of Casamance, Senegal is at Security Level 2 which corresponds to “Low”.

Health: The yellow fever vaccine is mandatory to enter Senegal. A international vaccination card with the yellow fever (yellow fever) vaccine is registered (presented at the airport upon arrival). Vaccines, against hepatitis A and B, are strongly recommended as well as treatment antimalarial. Vaccination against COVID-19 is mandatory at UNICEF.

Blaise Diagne Airport is located 50km from Dakar, accessible by exit no. 13 of the toll highway (exit after the third toll).

Travel time: without traffic jams: allow a minimum of 55 minutes of travel time from Almadies to reach the airport. In case of traffic jams, allow 1h30 to 2h00. Traffic jams are generally to be expected in the evening, when people return from their workplaces in Dakar to the outskirts.

You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.”