Immunization Advocacy Officer

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 Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office is based in Panama City, in Panama, operating in 36 territories, including 24 country offices. 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, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF's mission, and enhancing the organization’s credibility and brand in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Immunization is one of the Communication and Advocacy team’s thematic work areas. For many years, Latin America and the Caribbean had one of the highest childhood immunization rates in the world. In the last 10 years, the region had the biggest decline in childhood immunization coverage, leaving 1 in 4 children unprotected from deadly diseases. Childhood vaccination in the region continues to rebound after the COVID-19 pandemic but still falls short of the region’s historically high coverage. It is critical that UNICEF and partners work with governments to regain lost ground and ensure all children are vaccinated.

Under the supervision of the Communication Specialist, the UN volunteer will support the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of regional advocacy and communication efforts related to immunization. S/he will work collaboratively with colleagues across UNICEF at the regional office and country office level. Duties include:

1. Advocacy and communication strategy, development and planning: Assist in developing advocacy and communication strategies or plans to achieve SMART outcomes.

2. Advocacy and communication strategy implementation: Support the implementation of advocacy and communication strategies or plans, contributing to a range of tactics, such as: the production of advocacy assets, developing narratives and key messages, writing advocacy briefs, and delivering creative campaign and content creation activations.

3. Advocacy, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E): Support the establishment of baselines against which advocacy and communication outcomes are regularly monitored; analyze the effectiveness of the strategy, approach and activities; contribute to social media listening analysis; produce and disseminate advocacy M&E results on a regular basis.

4. Project and budget support: Support the day-to-day delivery of key projects/ workstreams, developing and tracking project plans to ensure progress and address obstacles and bottlenecks. Support effective budget management, projections and tracking.

5. Advocacy capacity building: Document and disseminate advocacy and communication good practices to build internal UNICEF capacities in advocacy.

6. Stakeholder engagement:
   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. Support the flow of information to key stakeholders.

7. Others: Undertake other key responsibilities to support the performance and impact of the Communication and Advocacy Section as required.

Core Values attributes

• Care • Respect • Integrity • Trust • Accountability

Core competencies skills

• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1) • Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1) • Drive to achieve results for impact (1) • Innovates and Embraces Change (1) • Manages ambiguity and complexity (1) • Thinks and Acts Strategically (1) • Works Collaboratively with others (1)

advocacy, communications or campaigning, at the national, regional or global level. •Demonstrated experience in supporting and/or managing projects to completion. •Knowledge of international development, humanitarian issues and children’s rights.

Desirable experience: •Experience in training and facilitation is an asset. •Experience working in Latin America and the Caribbean is an asset. •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; •Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; •Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; •Have affinity with or interest in Advocacy and Campaigning, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system.

Panama is a family duty station and considered to be a safe place to live. However, like in any city around the world, it is always good to be aware of your surroundings and to be alert. There is a wide range of goods available in Panama and many modern shopping complexes as well as department stores and designer stores. There are suitable residential areas, accommodation options, good hospitals, schools, universities, banks, and a wide selection of restaurants There are beaches, mountains and national parks in the rainforest that it is said to have the broadest range of flora and fauna in the world. Panama does not have any serious health concerns to worry about, however, it is important to note that in some areas such as the Darien province, it is recommended to take precautions for malaria. Weather: Panama has two seasons, the dry season, which is from January until late April or early May, and the rainy season which is the rest of the year. The daytime temperature ranges between 80- and 90-degrees Fahrenheit with the evenings being cooler by 5 to 10 degrees. The average humidity is 70%. The currency is the Panama Balboa, pegged 1:1 with the US dollar. High-speed internet is readily available in Panama City. Panama is a unique country. It provides for interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness. Flexibility and the ability and willingness to adapt to local conditions are essential.

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.