Communications Specialist, P3, Mekelle, Ethiopia (Tigray Response) – Temporary Appointment (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, right to survive

The communications specialist is accountable for developing, managing, co-ordinating, networking, implementing and monitoring an advocacy and communication strategy and associated products and activities on the on-going humanitarian crisis in northern Ethiopia. The Communication Specialist will promote awareness, understanding, support and respect for children’s and women’s rights, and support for UNICEF’s mission, priorities and interventions in the northern Ethiopia humanitarian crisis.

How can you make a difference?

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.

Key accountabilities and tasks:

1. Communication strategy: The Ethiopia Country Office has a clear communication strategy and associated work plan on northern Ethiopia aimed at getting children’s issues into the public domain and enhancing the organization’s credibility and brand.
2. Media relations: Help to build and maintain strong relationships with journalists and media outlets covering the humanitarian crisis in northern Ethiopia – print, TV, radio, web, etc. Ensure that the Country Office has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of journalists and media outlets and a successful process of communicating and maintaining regular contact and close collaboration with the media to communicate the story of UNICEF’s support. 
3. 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 in achieving UNICEF’s advocacy and communication objectives. Ensure effective working relationships with the OCHA-led UN communication group.
    
4. Resource mobilization support: Global and country level fund-raising activities for the Ethiopia Humanitarian Action for Children and the UNICEF response plan for northern Ethiopia are supported by effective advocacy and communication strategy and activities.
5. Brand and visibility: Ensure that Government/UNICEF/donor visibility requirements are met with the highest standards and that supplies, equipment, services and other support are appropriately branded.
6. Monitoring and evaluation: 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 and activities; results and reports are prepared and shared.
7. Capacity building and support: The Chief of Field Office and key humanitarian staff are provided with professional expertise and advice on all aspects of external relations communication as required.

Detailed Terms of Reference attached here.

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

• Advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations.

  (*A first University degree 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.)

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

  International work experience. 

  Background/familiarity with emergency situations.

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and ..

The UNICEF core competencies required for this post are…

• • 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]
  • Drives to achieve impactful results [2]
  • Manages ambiguity and complexity [2]

Functional Competencies for this post are:

• • Persuading and Influencing [2]
  • Applying Technical Expertise [2]
  • Entrepreneurial Thinking [2]

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.