Communication Expert

Mission and objectives

UNICEF Ethiopia is implementing a 5-year country programme 2020-2025 which is fully aligned with the UNSDCF. UNICEF will work collaboratively within the UNSDCF on a joint strategy to strengthen national systems for data collection, analysis, monitoring and applying adjustments to promote equity. Evidence will be used to monitor the situation of children, tracking progress towards equity and scale, and to inform advocacy to adjust policies, strategies and budgets. Monitoring and corrective actions will be undertaken through UNICEF staff, partners and third-party monitoring, and through mechanisms for community feedback and accountability to affected populations.

Context

The UNICEF Representation Office to the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, seeks to strengthen partnerships between UNICEF, the AU, and UNECA. The office focuses on enhancing cooperation concerning the rights of children in Africa. Through key areas such as health, child protection, and education, the Office supports the African Union’s development agendas, including Agenda 2063, the Africa Fit for Children Agenda 2040, and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, working towards establishing a more accountable environment for continental institutions to accelerate progress for children in Africa. The UNICEF Representative Office’s considerable comparative advantage is to bring the issue of child rights to the centre of continental conversations and programmes giving the opportunity to amplify UNICEF’s contribution to Africa’s development agendas with emphasis on partnerships and enhancing support to the African Union, its member states and African Institutions to accelerate progress and rights for children on the African continent

Task description

This UN Volunteer (UNV) assignment is part of UNICEF’s African Union Office/United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (AUO/UNECA), providing the organisation’s communications and external relations services. As a dynamic small team member, the UNV assignment will help raise the visibility of UNICEF’s engagement with the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), emphasising efforts to advocate for children’s rights in Africa. The assignment includes creating content, organising events, collaborating with the media, and contributing to digital media platforms and activities. Under the guidance of the Representative, the Communications Expert will be required to perform the following tasks:

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

1. Communication and advocacy strategy

• Develop, maintain, and update the Office annual advocacy calendars linked to the African Union Commission (AUC) and UNICEF priorities.

• Support the production of the Office Newsletter, including editing articles, branding, formatting, and timely release as per the agreed strategy.

• Lead the production of specific communication products such as videos, flyers, web-cards, and banners that promote UNICEF visibility at the AUC and complement the implementation of the Spotlight Initiative for African Regional Programme (SIARP) 2.0 activities.

2. Media relations and digital communication platforms (Intranet webpage/Twitter)

• Develop, maintain, and update the media relations contact list/database, targeting media with continental reach.

• Establish, review, and refine processes for communicating with and inviting media to UNICEF African Union Office (AUO) events, including press conferences, workshops, and symposiums.

• Work with portfolio holders to ensure rapid and accurate dissemination of UNICEF messages and activities to media contacts and social media followers.

• Lead the updating of office web page content (intranet and public website).

3. Organization of events and advocacy campaigns

• Support the office in participating in global advocacy activities by integrating them into the annual advocacy calendar and disseminating key messages on various social media platforms.

• Support the office in organising and participating in SIARP 2.0 advocacy activities.

• Assist portfolio holders in planning and delivering online and offline events, including branding presentations, communication materials, and hosting meeting platforms (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc).

• Keep the office informed of global advocacy campaign priorities.

4. Networking and partnerships

• Work with portfolio holders to maintain and update an email contact list/database of the Office’s key stakeholders to facilitate dissemination of UNICEF key messages.

• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with communication departments/units from key partners, notably the African Union Commission (AUC), African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and UN agencies involved in SIARP 2.0 and those working with the African Union.

• Support portfolio holders to maintain effective partnerships with relevant stakeholders by timely sharing UNICEF knowledge products, including SIARP 2.0.

• Maintain close working relationships with UNICEF Centres of Excellence, Regional and Headquarters (HQ) Communication colleagues for effective overall coordination.

5. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Monitor and evaluate the use and effectiveness of media materials and share results and findings.

• Produce monthly analytics on Office social media and website engagement.

• Lead the preparation of the Office customer/stakeholders’ satisfaction survey on an annual basis.

• Contribute to the preparation of SIARP 2.0 reports.

• Contribute to the preparation of Office annual reports by facilitating editing and branding.

Assignment requirements