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 for as long as we are needed. 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 professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, the right to hope! 

The Partnerships, Advocacy, and Communications section supports the UNICEF’s West and Central Africa Regional office's public and political advocacy, partnerships, strategic alliances, and resource mobilization efforts to influence public policy, fuel social engagement, and direct private and public resources to benefit children.

UNICEF must therefore continuously and strategically place key childhood issues on the international stage, in national dialogue, and at the heart of the country's public and political agenda.

The section ensures that the organization is positioned as a credible and trusted voice for children and is perceived as relevant to guide and influence the dialogue on children's rights in West and Central Africa region.

UNICEF must continue to disseminate persuasive messages through various innovative communication and advocacy channels, exploring key opportunities to activate our audiences around child rights advocacy priorities.

To this end, UNICEF’s West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO) based in Dakar, Senegal, is looking for a Communication Officer (Digital) to support all communication and advocacy efforts.

How can you make a difference? 

The Communication Officer (Digital) will be responsible for supporting UNICEF WCARO’s partnership, communication and advocacy efforts.

Specifically, the Communication Officer (Digital) works under the guidance and supervision of the Regional Adviser Partnerships (Public), with support of other sections of the Regional Office to develop, coordinate and implement UNICEF WCARO's digital communications, and lead the production of digital content such as social media cards, videos and others as needed.

In addition, he/she assists in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating an advocacy and communication strategy to get children’s and women’s issues into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF's mission and objectives in the region, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand.

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.

1. Developing and implementing community engagement strategies that align with UNICEF’s Regional Agenda for Children.
2. Developing a visual identity for Children’s Rights in the region, in collaboration with Unicef WCA country offices and regional networks. 
3. Managing and growing UNICEF WCARO’s online community presence across various social media platforms, including focal point for WCARO Senior Management (e.g. Regional Director) social media accounts.
4. Fostering a positive and inclusive online community environment, encouraging active participation and interaction.
5. Monitoring and responding to followers’ inquiries, comments and feedback in a timely and professional manner.
6. Collaborating with internal teams, including the front office, to ensure consistent messaging and alignment.
7. Analyzing follower metrics and trends to identify opportunities for improvement and growth.
8. Organizing and hosting virtual events or webinars to engage and connect with our audience.
9. Creating, curating and managing content (including posts, videos, webinars, etc.) for online platforms, ensuring it is relevant, engaging and aligned with the UNICEF’s brand voice.
10. Identifying and cultivating relationships with key followers and influencers to foster loyalty and advocacy.
11. Staying updated on industry trends, best practices and emerging platforms to continually enhance community engagement strategies.  

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: University degree in Communications (Bachelor), Journalism, Public Relations or a related field.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of two years of professional experience managing social media accounts, particularly Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Linkedin and X
• Professional experience in community management or social media management is considered as a strong asset.
• Strong understanding of online community platforms, social media tools and analytics.
• Experience in graphic design: ability to create designs for digital media purposes in open-source graphic design programs.
• Proficiency in online tools such as Drupal, SharePoint, Hootsuite, and WeShare, amongst others.                                                   
• Proficiency in content production software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, InDesign, and Photoshop, Canva, or comparable software is an asset
• Strong grasp of the situation of children in the West and Central Africa region, and linkages to girl-centered groups across the region is considered an asset.

Skills:

• Excellent communication, writing and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and build relationships with diverse audiences.

• Excellent drafting skills as well as oral presentation skills.

• Creative and strategic thinker with the ability to develop and execute innovative community engagement initiatives.
• High level of empathy, patience and professionalism in handling community interactions.
• Ability to express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in written and oral form.
• Ability to work independently as well as with a team in an international, multicultural and interdisciplinary environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in French with an excellent working knowledge of English required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

Desirables:

• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female are encouraged to apply.

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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

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.