Communication Specialist (Spotlight Initiative), P3, Niamey, Niger #117508 (Temporary: 364 days)

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

Niger has the highest proportion of child marriages (28% of girls are married before the age of 15 and 76,3% before the age of 18 (DHS, 2012)). The country also holds the highest demographic growth rate at 3,9% and highest TFR at 7,6 children per woman (DHS, 2012). GBV is very common, with a lifetime prevalence of 60% for women (UNFPA, 2015). In this context Niger was selected as one of the countries for the Spotlight Initiative (funded by the European Union), for which implementation will start in 2019. The aim of the Initiative is the elimination of all Violence Against Women and Girls, for the African region the focus is on Sexual and Gender Based Violence including Harmful Practices and their link to Sexual and Reproductive Health.

UNICEF along with UNFPA, UNDP and UNWOMEN have developed a joint programme for the Spotlight Initiative from 2019 to 2022. The Spotlight program will be implemented by UN agencies under the supervision and the responsibility of the Resident Coordinator’s Office. In this framework, UNICEF is looking for a Communication Specialist to provide an effective communication and advocacy support to the initiative.

How can you make a difference?

The Communication Specialist is responsible for the design and roll out of a comprehensive communication and advocacy strategy to promote the acceleration of progress achieved through the Spotlight Initiative in the elimination of all Violence Against Women and Girls in Niger.

Key Expected Results, Accountabilities and Duties & Tasks:

Within the delegated authority and the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be accountable for the following major duties and end results:

1. Communication strategy and plan

Ensure that the Spotlight Initiative has a clear communication strategy and associated work plan to support the Initiative’s objectives and get gender-based violence and other harmful practices into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of the Spotlight Initiative’s mission and objectives, and enhance the initiative’s credibility and brand.

Duties & Tasks:

• Develop, maintain and update the country advocacy and communication strategy and associated work plan. Strategy and work plan include: an environmental and stakeholder assessment; objectives; target audiences; messages and media mix; resources; specific actions, activities and products; monitoring and evaluation of impact; success and opportunity for improvement; ongoing refinement of the strategy;
• Prepare/review work plan, timeframe and budget to ensure alignment with the communication, advocacy and visibility objectives of the initiative;
• Maintain close collaboration with Global and Regional Spotlight Initiative Communication Advisers and Officers for effective overall coordination;
• Manage the Initiative communication group, prepare meetings and encourage the engagement of all involved UN agencies and partners to identify and document best practices and innovative strategies on the elimination of all Violence Against Women and Girls in Niger.

2. Media relations

Ensure that the Regional/Country Office/Media Hub has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of journalists and media outlets covering all media – print, TV, radio, web etc. – and a successful process of communicating and maintaining regular contact and close collaboration with the media to communicate the story of the initiative to a wider audience.

Duties and Tasks:

• Promote a better understanding of, respect and support for Spotlight Initiative and GBV issues by carrying out media, information and education activities in support of Spotlight-assisted development programmes in the country;
• Develop, maintain and update media relations contact list/database;
• Establish, document, review and refine process of communicating with media contacts, including press conferences and events, issuing of media materials etc;
• Ensure rapid and accurate information dissemination to the media, NGOs, the field and other appropriate audiences;
• Identify, develop, distribute and evaluate variety of media materials in multiple, appropriate formats. Ensure or enhance the quality, appropriateness of country specific communication materials, activities, processes and messages transmitted to the press, partners and public;
• Oversee the production and promotion of quality content and initiatives, including print, broadcast and digital, for use at key advocacy/media moments progress and challenges in the elimination of all Violence Against Women and Girls in Niger.
• Collaborate with mass media through activities such as organizing project site visits, facilitating photo coverage and TV footage and utilizing both web-based and traditional media as appropriate;
• Monitor and evaluate the use and effectiveness of media materials and share results and findings;
• Maintain close collaboration with Spotlight Communication Advisers and Officers at Regional and HQ levels for effective overall coordination.

3. Networking and partnerships

Ensure that the Spotlight initiative has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of individuals, groups, organizations and fora (including Government, and bilateral counterparts), whose support is essential to/can assist in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives of the communication strategy.

Duties & Tasks:

• Develop, maintain and update partners contact list/database;
• Help establish, document, review and refine process of working collaboratively with partners, including meetings, joint projects, information sharing etc;
• Ensure or enhance the quality, consistency and appropriateness of communication materials, activities, processes and messages shared with partners;
• Identify opportunities to strengthen the capacity of partners through appropriate advocacy and communication training, access to information, supplies and equipment and through knowledge sharing;
• Monitor, evaluate and share results and findings with partners.

4. Influencers and special events

Ensure that the Spotlight Initiative has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of appropriate, nationally-known personalities and influencers who have been identified, engaged and support Spotlight’s effort and who actively participate in special events and activities that support the Spotlight goals.

Duties & Tasks:

• Develop, maintain and update celebrities and influencers contact list/database;
• Help establish, document, review and refine process of working with influencers and celebrities, including special events, media opportunities, field trips etc;
• Support the Spotlight Initiative in identifying and recruiting influencers (including Digital Influencers) and create conversations around issues related to GBV and other harmful ptractices, keeping its digital community engaged in dynamic, interactive and meaningful ways;
• Participate in global advocacy activities by planning high-level visits etc. including preparing information materials (e.g., press releases, programme summaries, country fact sheets and media kits), and necessary logistic arrangements. Highlight the achievements of the Spotlight Initiative. Maintain close collaboration with Communication Advisers and Officers at HQ and Regional levels for effective overall coordination;

5. Management

Ensure that human resources (the communication team) and financial resources (budget planning, management and monitoring) are both effectively managed and optimally used.

Duties & Tasks:

• Develop a work plan for communication activities, monitor compliance and provide support and guidance to ensure objectives are met;
• Plan and monitor the use of communication budgetary resources. Approve and monitor the overall allocation and disbursement and liquidation of funds. Take appropriate actions to optimize use of funds;
• Identify, recruit and supervise staff, technical resources and consultants as necessary. Conduct and Implement effective performance planning, monitoring, performance development programme as required;
• Ensure communication effectiveness, efficiency and delivery as well as a rigorous and transparent approach to planning, monitoring and evaluation.

6. Monitoring and evaluation

Ensure that communication baselines are established against which the achievement of objectives of the communication strategy are regularly evaluated; analysis is undertaken to continuously improve the effectiveness of communication strategy, approach and activities; results and reports are prepared and shared on a timely basis.

Duties & Tasks:

• Provide technical support to ensure that a set of communication performance indicators is identified and adjusted as necessary, and these communication indicators are incorporated or fed forwarded in the Annual Work Plan, etc;
• Conduct timely and accurate monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure the communications objectives are met and the strategy is effective;
• Undertake lessons learned review of successful and unsuccessful communication experiences and share observations/findings with Regional and HQ communication colleagues.

7. Capacity building and support

Ensure that the Spotlight Initiative management and programme team are provided with professional expertise and advice on all aspects of external relations communication as required; opportunities are identified and addressed for building communication capacity among country communication team, media and other relevant partners.

Duties & Tasks:

• Advise Spotlight Initiative management, colleagues and staff on media strategy and implications for action and policies proposed;
• Support communication activities through knowledge management, information exchange and building capacity of the country communications team. Enable appropriate advocacy and communication training, access to information, supplies and equipment, and developing training and orientation material;
• Identify opportunities to strengthen the capacity of partners through appropriate advocacy and communication training.

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

• An advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations (or an undergraduate degree plus at least 8 years of demonstrated professional experience in the field of journalism, communications, external relations, public affairs, public relations or corporate communications);
• Five years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in communication, print, broadcast, and/or digital media;
• Experience in advocacy work and multi-stakeholder partnerships;
• International and national work experience with media;
• Previous work experience in the area of Gender-based violence and other harmful practices is an asset;
• Previous work experience in West and Central Africa is highly desirable;
• Fluency in French and English.

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.

The functional 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)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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 credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• Candidates are encouraged to submit their portfolio, collections of work samples, products with supporting documentation when applying.