Communication Officer, P-2, Niamey, Niger, #86177

Assists in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating advocacy, communication and digital strategies 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. Accountable for developing, managing, coordinating, networking, implementing and monitoring strategies and associated products and activities on on-going basis with public audiences, with the objective of promoting awareness, understanding, support and respect for children’s and women’s rights, and support for UNICEF’s mission, priorities and programmes in the country office/regional office/media hub, and at a global level and those of the UN Country team.

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

For every Child, an advocate

Niger is a landlocked country of 20.7 million people, most of whom live in rural areas (84%). The population is young, with 52% of Nigeriens being under 15. Nearly half of the population is poor (45.1%), despite reductions in the poverty rate over the past decade. The country, which ranked last on the 2015 Human Development Index, sees its development constrained by several factors: climatic conditions that hinder rural development, vulnerability due to the absence of economic diversification, high population growth, gender equality issues, low levels of literacy and education, and the size and landlocked nature of the country, which obstruct the provision of essential goods and services to the population.

In addition, Niger is confronted to recurrent crises. For many years, the country has suffered from chronic food insecurity, and faced food and nutrition crises in 2010 and 2012. It also regularly experiences epidemics, including cholera, as well as floods. Moreover, instability in the region has in recent years led to insecurity and population displacement, especially in the eastern part of the country.

Niger relies strongly on external support provided by technical and financial partners, such as non-refundable aid, budget support and loans. With the exception of the education sector, budgetary allocations to social sectors remain far below international recommendations or national commitments.

For more information, please visit our webpage: 

https://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/niger.html

How can you make a difference?

Assist in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating advocacy, communication and digital strategies 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.

Accountable for developing, managing, coordinating, networking, implementing and monitoring strategies and associated products and activities on on-going basis with public audiences, with the objective of promoting awareness, understanding, support and respect for children’s and women’s rights, and support for UNICEF’s mission, priorities and programmes in the country office/regional office/media hub, and at a global level and those of the UN Country team.

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.

• Communication materials

Ensure that the production of communication products and materials is timely executed and followed up to support country communication strategy, regional and global campaigns and priorities and to support resource mobilization as set out in the work plan.

• Media relations

Effective and timely professional assistance and support are provided in developing, drafting and maintaining contact information, materials and relationships with journalists and media outlets covering all media – print, TV, radio, web etc. –to communicate the story of UNICEF's cooperation to a wider audience.

• Strategic planning and communication:

Ensure and coordinate the UNICEF Niger presence in a number of digital platforms (such as Facebook & Twitter). Conversations around issues related to UNICEF’s mandate are identified and created. Followers, including youth and children, are engaged in a dynamic, interactive and meaningful way. Recommendations are made regarding the use of current and future social media channels.

• Monitoring and evaluation

Regular monitoring and evaluation activities are undertaken according to the work plan to ensure maximum impact and continuous improvement of country communication efforts. Ensure results and reports are prepared and shared on a timely basis.

• Celebrities, partners and special events

Ensure that the Country Office’s contact list of individuals, groups, organizations and fora (including Government, UN, and bilateral counterparts), are maintained and further developed, whose support is essential to/can assist in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives and who support and are able to actively participate in special events and activities that further the country programme goals.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or a related field.  A first University Degree (Bachelor's) in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• A minimum of two (2) years relevant professional work experience at national and international level in communication, print and broadcast media, or interactive digital media.
• Field work experience would be an asset.
• Background/familiarity with Emergency situation is an asset.
• Fluency in English and French is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) is an asset. 

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. To view our competency framework, please click here. 

Functional Competencies (Required)

• Formulating Strategies and Concepts [ I ]
• Relating and Networking   [ I ]
• Persuading and Influencing   [ I ]
• Applying Technical Expertise   [ I ]
• Learning and Researching   [ II ]
• Planning and Organizing [ II ]            

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.