Job title: Advocacy and Communication ( Partnership) Specialist, (NOC), Fixed Term,Maseru, Lesotho (Opened to Basotho Nationals Only)
Organizational context and purpose for the job
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
UNICEF aims to be the leading advocate for children, enabled by a cohort of networked, strategic, innovative, and effective advocates who deliver change for children in every part of the world.
Purpose Of The Job
The NOC Advocacy and Communication (Partnership) Specialist is accountable for coordinating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating advocacy and communication strategies to achieve positive outcomes for children and young people. The position’s purpose is also to support the senior management in deepening collaboration with key stakeholders and helping to provide an interface for environmental scanning, knowledge exchange and resource mobilization.
Key Functions, Accountabilities And Related Duties/tasks
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
- Advocacy strategy development
- Advocacy strategy implementation
- Communication strategy development and implementation
- Partnership Strategy Development and Implementation
- Digital communications
- Media Relations
- Advocacy and communication M&E
- Advocacy and communication capacity building
- Stakeholder engagement
- Others
Duties
This staff member will drive the development of effective, integrated advocacy and communication strategies. S/he will work collaboratively with colleagues across teams and with external partners to drive changes in policy and practice and secure political and financial commitments for children. Duties include:
- Advocacy strategy Development and Implementation
- Provide technical support in developing a robust advocacy strategy, with SMART outcomes, compelling calls to action, and a clear theory of change. Analyze andpropose new approaches and innovative ideas as part of the strategy development process in the country context.Coordinate the implementation of advocacy strategies and plans, working across teams to deliver a range of advocacy tactics, such as: developing advocacy briefs and products, producing advocacy narratives, shaping creative activations to drive public engagement, working with the media, and organizing advocacy events.
- Communication strategy development and implementation:
- Provide technical assistance in designing and delivering effective communication plans that will deliver the aims of key advocacy strategies and help to mobilize public and private support for the cause of children.
- Partnership strategy development and implementation:
- Provide support to the senior management in building and maintaining UNICEF’s partnerships, by supporting the development and implementation of standards and guidance for UNICEF partnerships; formulation of work plans and strategies.
- Maintain up-to-date information on partners and awareness of current activities, and political and social events of the UN and other multilateral bodies/governments, to link with UNICEF activities and programmes in the country.
- Digital communications:
- Coordinate and/or support the day-to-day conceptualization, budgeting, planning, coordination, execution and digital content creation, as well as the monitoring and evaluation of digital initiatives and integrated advocacy campaigns for key audiences.
- Media relations:
- Help to build and maintain strong relationships with journalists and media outlets covering all media – print, TV, radio,web,etc
- Advocacy ,Partnerships and communications M&E:
- Establish baselines against which results are regularly monitored; analyze the effectiveness of the strategy, approach and activities; and drive the day-to-day production and dissemination of M&E results on a regular basis.
- Advocacy and communication capacity building:
- Contribute to building internal UNICEF capacities in advocacy and communication, through coaching, training and sharing of expertise.
- Stakeholder engagement:
- Identify, build and maintain formal and informal advocacy partnerships and networks through proactive collaboration with strategic internal and external partners
- Adopt a consultative approach and solicit the support of key stakeholders at critical points of the strategy
- Others:
- Undertake other key responsibilities as required.
CHILD SAFEGUARDING
Child safeguarding involves proactive measures to limit direct and indirect collateral risks of harm to children, arising from UNICEF’s work, UNICEF personnel or UNICEF associates. The risks may include those associated with: physical violence (including corporal punishment); sexual violence, exploitation or abuse; emotional and verbal abuse; economic exploitation; failure to provide for physical or psychological safety; neglect of physical, emotional or psychological needs; harmful cultural practices; and privacy violations.
Certain UNICEF positions present elevated child safeguarding risks (“elevated risk roles”) and candidates and/or incumbents may be subject to more rigorous vetting and training. Roles may be elevated risk roles because of significant unsupervised direct contact with children, their data, having a role in responding to safeguarding incidents, or being otherwise assessed as presenting an elevated risk. This position has been identified as [not being an elevated risk role,] [a direct contact role,] [a child data role,] [a safeguarding response role,] [and/or] [an assessed risk role].
Note: To appropriately categorize this position, please refer to the Guidance on Identifying & Assessing Elevated Risk Roles for this job profile and remove non-applicable description in the highlighted area above
Impact of Results
The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Advocacy and Communication (Partnership) Specialist:
- Robust, integrated advocacy and communication strategies are developed implemented, monitored and evaluated, with SMART advocacy and communication outcomes and/or outputs and clear theories of change.
- Measurable change for children and young people through the achievement of defined advocacy and communication outcomes and/or outputs at the global, regional and/or national level.
- Public and private support for the cause of children and UNICEF continues to increase, with new strategic partnerships forged and a measurable increase in resources for children.
- A clear digital communication strategy with an associated work plan is developed to raise awareness of children’s rights in the public domain, grow supporter engagement and elevate focus of UNICEF’s advocacy priorities and campaign initiatives, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF’s mission and objectives, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand.
UNICEF Values And Competency Required
i) Core Values
- Care
- Respect
- Integrity
- Trust
- Accountability
- Sustainability
ii) Core Competencies (For Staff with Supervisory Responsibilities) *
- Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
- Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
- Works Collaboratively with others (2)
- Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
- Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
- Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
- Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
- Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)
Recruitment Qualifications
Education:
An Advanced University degree in Public Policy, Political Science, International Relations, International Development, Public Administration, Economics, Communication or other relevant fields.
- A first level university degree with an additional two years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience
At least five (5) years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in advocacy/ campaigning and communications is required.
Experience in leading the development and implementation of advocacy strategies, with clear theories of change, with specific, measurable and timebound objectives and performance indicators.
A track record of achieving or contributing to tangible policy change.
Proven experience in deploying a range of advocacy and communication tactics based on a clear theory of change.
Experience in building and maintaining a network of stakeholders, and in working with coalitions.
Experienced and current in digital and social media content and audience trends as well as in managing online platforms and channels.
Experience in media relations.
Strong communicator with emphasis on being able to present complex policy ideas in succinct, engaging ways through campaign narratives and creative tactics.
Demonstrated experience in design and management of projects, including budget management and monitoring and evaluation of results.
Knowledge of children’s rights, public policy, international development and humanitarian issues.
Experience in advocacy at the international level is an asset.
Experience in training and facilitation is an asset.
Experience working in a developing and emergency environment is an asset.
Language Requirements
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.