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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built, we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, hope.

For more information about our programme, please visit our website:www.unicef.org/esaro/

How can you make a difference?

Advocacy and Communication are at the centre of UNICEF’s mandate. You will contribute to creating lasting change for children ESAR region wide advocating for their rights, building partnerships, and shaping futures through innovative solutions and impactful action. Accountable for developing, implementing, managing, and monitoring a regional advocacy and communication strategies and associated products, partnerships, and activities. Support resource mobilization, global priorities, and campaign initiatives, especially those of importance to the work of the Eastern and Southern Africa region. Advise, provide guidance, and build communication and advocacy capacity of staff and others throughout the region. Co-ordinate and guide regional monitoring and evaluation of communication. Provide recommendations on global, regional, and country communication and advocacy policy development, and lead on crisis communication for the region. Advise on the articulation of policies and strategies, with an emphasis on key priorities for the region, including education, health, climate, protection, HIV and gender equality and equity.  

1. Management:  The human resources (the communication and advocacy team) and financial resources (budget planning, management, and monitoring) for the region’s communication and advocacy are both effectively managed and optimally used.  
2. Communication and advocacy strategy:  The Regional Office has a clear, regional communication and advocacy strategy to highlight children’s issues to external audiences, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF's mission and objectives. Build awareness, understanding, support and respect for children’s and women’s rights; UNICEF's work for children's rights are kept on the policy agenda; and the organization’s credibility and brand are enhanced.
3. Capacity building and technical support: Opportunities to build communication and advocacy capacity among regional and country communication and advocacy staff, other colleagues, media, and other relevant partners are regularly identified and addressed. Regional policy guidance, advice and technical support are provided to regional and country offices in communication and advocacy on an ongoing basis.

4. Resource mobilization support: Regional support and response to global, regional and country level fund-raising activities led by the partnerships team, are effectively provided and coordinated, keeping GCA, PFP, PPD and EMOPS informed, and country offices receive required advice and support.
5. Monitoring and evaluation: Effective advice is provided to country communication and advocacy teams for monitoring and evaluating their communication and advocacy activities; regional communication and advocacy strategies and activities are monitored and evaluated; regional results and lessons learned are identified, collated, and shared with communication and advocacy colleagues in the region and GCA in a timely manner. Opportunities for continuous improvement in communication and advocacy efforts are identified and shared.
6. Networking and partnerships: Partnerships and networks are maintained and developed with key communication agencies, journalists, advocacy networks, UN communication colleagues and other relevant partners including key internal divisions including GCA, Programmes and National Committees.
7. Regional and Global priorities and campaigns: Leads the implementation of regional advocacy strategies and actions, including campaign initiatives. Amplification and adaptation of global advocacy priorities (GAPs) as and when relevant for the region. 
8. Internal Communication and Staff Engagement: provide strategic advice on strengthening the internal, two way communication with staff across the region and Regional Office, promoting inclusive, transparent, and constructive exchanges, advance programmatic priorities, and co-create a values-based organizational culture.

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

Minimum requirements:

1. Education:

Advanced university degree in Communication and advocacy, Journalism, Public Relations, or other related fields of disciplines.

Or an undergraduate degree plus at least 12 years of demonstrated professional experience in the field of journalism, communications and advocacy, external relations, public affairs, public relations or corporate communications and advocacy.

2. Work Experience

Ten years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience.

International and national work experience in both developed and developing countries.

Professional experience in communication and advocacy, advocacy, print, broadcast, new media.

Background/familiarity with Emergency situations.

3. Language Proficiency [ III]

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Portuguese, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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: UNICEF Values

The 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

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.