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, hope 

Sudan, surrounded by the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Libya and South Sudan, positioned next to East, West, and North Africa, is surrounded by complex conflicts in an unpredictable, volatile and rapidly evolving region. Sudan is by size the third biggest country in Africa, with a diverse population of around 42 million people. Sudan's children make up half of the total population, and the past two decades have seen their lives significantly improve: fewer girls and boys are dying before their fifth birthday, primary school attendance is increasing, immunization coverage is high and the country remains polio free. Still, millions of children continue to suffer from protracted conflict in Darfur, the Kordofan's, and Blue Nile, from seasonal natural disasters, malnutrition and disease outbreaks, and from under-investment in basic social services. More than three million of Sudan's school aged children are not in the classroom. UNICEF has been in Sudan since 1952 and continues with a presence in 12 of Sudan's 18 states. 

How can you make a difference? 

KEY END-RESULTS:

1. Donor Visibility Strategy: The office has a clear donor visibility and recognition plan, systematically integrated into communication and programme planning.
   
   
2. Donor Recognition Management: A robust system is in place to track and report on donor recognition deliverables, obligations, and deadlines.
   
   
3. Multimedia Content Production: High-quality communication assets (stories, photos, videos, social media) showcasing the situation on the ground, its impact on the most vulnerable children and UNICEF’s programming on the ground. Focus on ensuring donor-funded results are produced and coordinated.
   
   
4. Branding, Reporting and Documentation: All communication materials and donor recognition products meet UNICEF branding guidelines and specific donor requirements. Visibility annexes and tailored content for donor reports are produced in collaboration with programme and partnerships colleagues.
   
   
5. Media relations: The Country Office has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of journalists and media outlets in Sudan and a successful process of communicating and maintaining regular contact and close collaboration with the media to communicate the story of UNICEF's cooperation.
   
   
6. Field Mission Support: High-level UNICEF and donor field visits are organized and supported, with adequate visibility materials prepared and used.
   
   
7. Networking and partnerships: The Country Office has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of individuals, groups, organizations and fora whose support is essential to/can assist in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives. Effective working relationships with the UN communication counterparts are developed, maintained and enhanced.
8. Capacity Building: Field communication focal points and implementing partners are trained and guided on donor recognition standards, ensuring alignment and quality control.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  JD for NOC at CO_Communication Specialist Level 3.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education:

  Advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations.

  (*A first University combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree in the field of journalism, communications, external relations, public affairs, public relations or corporate communications.)

• Work Experience:

  Five years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in communication, print, broadcast, and/or new media.

  International and national work experience (for IP). Field work experience (for NO). Background/familiarity with Emergency situations.

  Technical Knowledge:

• a) Specific Technical Knowledge Required (for the job)

  • Donor visibility and recognition strategies and best practices
  • UNICEF branding guidelines and donor requirements
  • Communication asset production (stories, photos, videos, social media)
  • Donor reporting and documentation
  • Field mission organization and support
  • Capacity building for donor recognition

   b) Common Technical Knowledge Required (for the job group)

  • Communication management
  • Knowledge of theories and practices in communication research, planning, and strategy
  • Fundamentals for working in various media formats – print, audio, video, web, etc.
  • Computer systems/applications and network
  • Knowledge of United Nations or other international organizations
  • Global human rights issues, specifically relating to children and women
  • UNICEF communication goals, policies, guidelines, and strategies
  • UNICEF policies and strategy to address national and international issues
  • UNICEF emergency communication policies, goals, strategies
  • Gender equality and diversity awareness

   c) Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced (for the Job)

  • Expertise in donor recognition management, communication strategy, and networking
  • Technical competence in producing content for various formats
  • UN policies and strategy to address international humanitarian issues and responses
  • UN common approaches to programmatic issues and UNICEF positions
  • UN security operations and guidelines
  Language Requirements: [Insert the primary UN language you need for the fluency requirement]

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…

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

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.

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.

Eligible staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions in a duty station designated as L2/L3, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.