Communication for Development Specialist (TA), P-3, Pohnpei, FSM #116762

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope

UNICEF Pacific is a multi-country office that promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child in the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The UNICEF Pacific Multi-country Office is located in Suva, Fiji. There are Field Offices in Kiribati, the Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. These 14 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) are home to 2.4 million people, close to one million children, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean.

Working as part of the Communication for Development (C4D) section, the post combines high-level technical expertise with partnering, advocacy, and capacity-building skills towards supporting the Pacific countries for smooth roll-out of COVID-19 vaccine introduction by ensuring sustained demand for the vaccine, including by those in disadvantaged and hard-to-reach areas.

How can you make a difference?

The Communication for Development Specialist (COVID-19 Vaccine) reports to the Chief Field Office with matrix management to the Chief of C4D, Suva.

The Specialist will provide technical and operational support for developing a systematic, planned, and evidence-based strategy and process for C4D, especially for COVID-19 Vaccine introduction. She/he will coordinate and represent UNICEF at regional and national RCCE task forces across Pacific countries for national and sub-national coordination, including programme development, planning, and implementation. Through communication and engagement, as well as the empowerment and participation of stakeholders, communities, children, civil society partners, and government counterparts, s/he will promote measurable behavioral and social change/mobilization. This subsequently contributes to the achievement of sustainable and concrete results in improving children’s rights, survival, and wellbeing in the Pacific Island Countries and territories (PICTs).

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

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: social and behavioral science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication, public relations, or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required:  social development programme planning, communication for development, public advocacy, or another related area.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required.  Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People, and Drive for Results.

UNICEF’s competency framework: Builds and maintains partnership, Demonstrates self and ethical awareness, Drive to Achieve impactful results, Innovates and embraces change, Manages ambiguity and complexity, Thinks and acts strategically, Works collaboratively with others and Nurtures, leads, and manages People

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credentials (s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.