Communication Officer, (NO-1) WCARO, Dakar, Senegal #00134015 (Internal and External Advertisement)

The UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office is looking for a Communication Officer to supporting UNICEFWCARO’s partnership, communication and advocacy efforts.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to Hope

Organizational context

The Partnerships, Advocacy, and Communications section supports the UNICEF’s West and Central Africa Regional office's public and political advocacy, partnerships, strategic alliances, and resource mobilization efforts to influence public policy, fuel social engagement, and direct private and public resources to benefit children.
UNICEF must therefore continuously and strategically place key childhood issues on the international stage, in national dialogue, and at the heart of the country's public and political agenda.
The section ensures that the organization is positioned as a credible and trusted voice for children and is perceived as relevant to guide and influence the dialogue on children's rights in West and Central Africa region.

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of assignment

The Communication Officer (Digital) will be responsible for supporting UNICEFWCARO’s partnership, communication and advocacy efforts.
Specifically, the Communication Officer (Digital) works under the guidance and supervision of the Senior Regional Adviser, Partnerships, Communications and Advocacy, with support of other sections of the Regional Office to develop, coordinate and implement UNICEF WCARO's digital communications, and lead the production of digital content such as social media cards, videos and others as needed.
In addition, the incumbent assists in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating an advocacy and communication strategy to get children’s and women’s issues into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF's mission and objectives in the country, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

1. Supporting People Management and Office Culture Assist in implementing people resource strategies that promote technical competence, career development, and retention of a fit-for-purpose workforce. Support initiatives that foster staff well-being, inclusion, and a positive office culture through the application of relevant policies and procedures. Contribute to training and learning activities by coordinating logistics and supporting implementation of the office training strategy. Stay informed on industry standards in management and operations and share relevant insights with the team.
2. Financial and Resource Management Support the monitoring and reporting of programme and fundraising budgets, ensuring compliance with financial procedures and donor requirements. Assist in identifying and applying Value for Money (VfM)principles, including eco-efficiency, common premises, and results-based budgeting. Contribute to the implementation of the office supply plan and alignment with regional strategies.
3. Risk Management and Compliance Provide support in using the enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (eGRC) platform to inform operational and programmatic decisions. Assist in the implementation of business continuity plans and emergency preparedness measures. Support the application of anti-fraud systems and contribute to risk-informed due diligence processes for external partnerships.
4. Operational Efficiency and Systems Support Participate in reviewing operational processes to identify opportunities for cost reduction and efficiency gains. Support improvements in IT-enabled business processes to enhance productivity and collaboration. Contribute to the development and implementation of the Country Programme Management Plan (CPMP).
5. Partnership Support and Coordination Assist in the implementation of HACT-related activities, including financial assurance follow-up and documentation. Support donor reporting and resource mobilization efforts through financial analysis and preparation of reports. Contribute to partnership development, including engagement with private sector actors in middle-income countries. Participate in UN Reform initiatives, including Business Operating Services (BOS), and support coordination for shared services

Impact of Results

The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Communication Officer (Digital):

I. Robust, integrated digital communication and advocacy strategies are developed implemented, monitored and evaluated, with SMART advocacy and communication outcomes and/or outputs and clear theories of change.

II. 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.

III. 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.

IV. Donor support and public-private partnerships are emphasized as key to sustaining technical and financial contributions, thereby enhancing the continuity and impact of programmes benefiting children and women across the WCAR region

V. A clear digital communication and advocacy strategy with an associated work plan is developed to raise awareness of children’s rights in the public domain, grow supporter engagement and elevate the 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.
Achieving these goals will significantly contribute to the well-being of children.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• A university degree (Bachelors) in one of the following fields is required: Communications, Marketing, Public Relations or a related field.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of one year of professional experience managing social media accounts, particularly Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

Language Requirements:

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

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.
The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member’s original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.