Communication Officer

About us

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is the driving force that helps build a world where the rights of every child are realized. We believe that nurturing and caring for children are the cornerstones of human progress. UNICEF was created with this purpose in mind – to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. We advocate for measures to give children the best start in life, because proper care at the youngest age forms the strongest foundation for a person’s future.

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. It is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children's rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children.

UNICEF provides long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in 191 countries through country programmes and National Committees.

What We Do

UNICEF works to protect the rights of every child in South Sudan

The fundamental mission of United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

South Sudan’s child mortality and morbidity rates are high: under-five mortality is 91 per 1,000 live births, while neonatal mortality is 39 per 1,000 births; child malnutrition is severe, with an underweight prevalence at 23 per cent of children (UNICEF, 2016). Maternal mortality is among the highest in the world, estimated at 789 per 100,000 births. Endemic diseases pose a heavy burden, particularly malaria, which accounts for 20-40 per cent of all health facility visits.
The health care system is extremely stretched: Only about 40 per cent of the population can access health care within a 5-kilometre radius, and life expectancy is low at 56 years.

In response to this situation, since mid-2024, UNICEF has led the implementation of the Health System Transformation Project (HSTP), a nationwide effort to strengthen the health system and deliver health services across the country, including vaccines, while developing Government capacity for health sector stewardship. The project has entered the third phase with a clear commitment from all parties to boost the implementation and achieve better results and beyond.

Communication and visibility for HSTP are key components that enable all stakeholders' awareness of the project's results and impact and ensure that UNICEF, the government, and donors are appropriately visible. It also feeds into the advocacy agenda of UNICEF to ensure public audiences are aware of the health needs of children in the country and there is public support for the development of the health sector and the health and well-being of children. Communications products and activities must be continued under this significant investment, and there is a need for a communication officer to support the production and organisation of communications, visibility and advocacy activities as part of the communication team.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Communication Specialist or their designated representative(s), the UN Volunteer will fill the role of Communication Officer in Juba and will report to the Communication Specialist for technical supervision and day-to-day guidance. The Communication Officer assists in planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating an advocacy and communication strategy to bring children’s and women’s issues into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)'s mission and objectives in the country, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand. The Communication Officer will be roving within South Sudan.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

1. Communication materials
Ensure the timely production of communication products and materials to support the country communication strategy, regional and global campaigns, priorities, and resource mobilization as outlined in the work plan.
Duties & Tasks.
• Implement tasks in the country communication work plan and strategy as assigned.
• Gather content and coverage of relevant country efforts to identify effective programme activities and results. Develop complementary, country-specific, and local community materials and activities.
• Support the production of communication materials (e.g., briefing notes, images, videos, web pages) that meet country and global standards as set out in the Communication Toolkit.
• Assist in drafting and editing articles, press releases, human interest stories, and other advocacy/information materials for both web-based and traditional media.
• Follow up on the production of advocacy and communication materials (e.g., films, videos, audio-visuals) and oversee qualitative aspects (quality control, translations, layout, graphic design) to meet Communication Toolkit standards.
• Maintain an up-to-date documentation centre for communication materials, including publications, press releases and clippings, photographs, audio-visual materials, web resources, etc.
• Recommend appropriate information and communication materials for use in media and other advocacy and communication activities.
• Recommend established contacts, networks, resources, and processes to support communication activities.

2. Media relations
Provide effective and timely professional assistance in developing, drafting, and maintaining contact information, materials, and relationships with journalists and media outlets across all media – print, TV, radio, web – in the country to communicate UNICEF's cooperation to a wider audience.
Duties & Tasks.
• Maintain and update the media relations contact list/database. Ensure rapid and accurate dissemination of information to the media.
• Assist in developing and maintaining close collaboration with mass media and groups or organizations essential to achieving advocacy and communication objectives.
• Assist in drafting and editing articles, press releases, human interest stories, and other advocacy/information materials in all media formats.
• Prepare background communication and promotional materials for briefings and visits of media and other special interest groups. Assist in planning, logistics, and administrative arrangements.
• Facilitate media activities such as project site visits, photo coverage, TV footage, and utilization of both web-based and traditional media.
• Monitor and evaluate the use and effectiveness of media materials. Maintain a library of coverage (clippings, coverage).

3. Monitoring and evaluation
Conduct regular monitoring and evaluation as per the work plan to ensure maximum impact and continuous improvement of country communication efforts. Ensure timely preparation and sharing of results and reports.
Duties & Tasks
• Assist in coordinating audience research and compiling and analyzing relevant data.
• Monitor and evaluate timely dissemination of advocacy and communication materials to target audiences and participate in impact evaluation.
• Monitor public perception of UNICEF in the country and recommend appropriate action to maintain a positive organizational image.
• Provide feedback to the Division of Communication (DOC) on the use and suitability of global communication materials such as publications, images, and multimedia products.
• Ensure quality data collection, analysis, evaluation, and reporting for effective communication strategies, planning, and advocacy.
• Undertake lessons learned reviews of communication experiences as directed by the supervisor.

4. Celebrities, partners and special events
Maintain and develop the Country Office’s contact list of individuals, groups, and organizations (including Government, UN, and bilateral counterparts) essential to advocacy and communication objectives and active participation in special events advancing country programme goals.
Duties & Tasks.
• Help organize and generate public support for special events and activities promoting country programme goals.
• Develop and maintain close collaboration with mass media, groups, and organizations crucial to advocacy and communication objectives.
• Maintain and update celebrity and partner contact lists/databases.
• Monitor and document the process and effectiveness of collaboration with these individuals and organizations.
• Prepare background communication and promotional materials for briefings and visits of media, Goodwill Ambassadors, donors, National Committee representatives, and other special interest groups. This includes preparing press releases, programme summaries, country fact sheets, and media kits, and assisting with planning, logistics, and administrative arrangements.
Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through community engagement during their work. UN Volunteers should dedicate part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:
• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and actively participating in UNV activities (e.g., International Volunteer Day events).
• Build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
• Provide annual and end-of-assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results, and opportunities.
• Contribute articles and write-ups on field experiences for UNV publications, websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.
• Promote or advise local groups on online volunteering or encourage use of the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.