Under the supervision of the Chief of CAP, the CAP Temporary Appointment primary role will be to provide technical support and advocacy, capacity development and partnerships, evidence and knowledge development and dissemination, and technical representation external communications and media engagement. The communication specialist will be responsible for the provision of technical and advisory services to support media engagement in the country office. S/he will provide technical support for relevant capacity building activities, coordinate partnerships and develop media and external communication packages including fact sheets, media packages for journalists etc and update talking points and FAQs as needed. The communication specialist will also work closely with identified media focal persons and spokespersons from WHO and UNICEF.

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, communicating with children

https://www.unicef.org/kenya/

How can you make a difference?

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and HIV.

Under the guidance of the Chief, Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships, the communications specialist contributes to the conceptualization, planning, execution, monitoring and evaluation of a public 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 at national and country level, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand.

UNICEF recognises the delicate role of communication by documenting experiences and successes of various issues on women and children’s issues into the public domain, and strengthens political will in support of UNICEF's mission and objectives. One of the key strategies is to identify and record this issues and lessons learnt. This can be done through powerful story telling of key children issues countrywide. UNICEF also identifies the critical role of the media in raising public awareness on children’s issues that touch on their health, education, nutrition, child protection and other UNICEF Key priorities. The communication specialist will support communication efforts of the Kenya Country Office and partners to the media and engages nationally known personalities and organize special events and activities to support country programme goals.  Highlighting content in print, broadcast or digital media brings to the attention of governments and stakeholders pertinent issues that affect children in Kenya.

  1. Major Duties and Responsibilities

  1. Develops close collaboration with mass media through activities such as organizing, visits to project sites, facilitating photo coverage and TV footage, and utilizes both digital media and traditional media when appropriate to generate and maintain public interest in children’s and women’s issues, to tell the story of UNICEF's cooperation to a wider audience.
  2. Coordinates the development, posting and maintenance of new and updated material for the UNICEF Kenya web-site. Identifies the need for radio and television programmes, publications, photographs etc., to advocate and promote organizational/programme goals within the country, and manages their production and distribution to the target audiences. Adapts and disseminates advocacy materials from New York, Geneva and the Regional Office to identified target audiences, arranging translations into local language(s), as necessary.
  3. Assists the Country Office, HQ and the Regional Office in identifying and writing feature stories and other material to facilitate global/regional advocacy and fund-raising activities, particularly in support of National Committee efforts to mobilize resources.
  4. Prepares information materials (e.g., press releases, programme summaries, country fact sheets and media kits), and makes the necessary logistical arrangements for UNICEF events.
  5. Promote a better understanding of, respect and support for children’s issues by carrying out media, information and education activities in support of UNICEF-assisted development programmes or humanitarian efforts in the country.
  6. Write/edit the text of communication products. Identify, develop, distribute and evaluate variety of media materials in multiple, appropriate formats (press releases, feature stories etc).
  7. Collaborate with mass media through activities such as organizing project site visits, facilitating interviews with key persons at UNICEF.
  8. Develop close collaboration with the private sector partners, government and the mass media through various events and activities in order to generate and maintain public interest in child health issues.
  9. Research issues being documented, including in-depth interviews with community, service providers, government counterparts and beneficiaries, while being mindful of the sensitivities of specific situations, to support the story writing.
  1. Work relationships:  The Temporary Appointment will work under direct supervision and guidance of the UNICEF KCO Chief of CAP, and in collaboration with KCO staff in the Country, Regional and Headquarters Offices. Field mission and monitoring visits within Kenya to be undertaken as necessary and contributes to achievement of KCO goals.

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

  • Advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations; or equivalent professional work experience in the communication area, combined with an advanced university degree in a related discipline.
  • Five years progressively responsible professional work experience in communication, print and broadcast media or interactive digital media, of which two years should be in developing countries.  Local and International media experience is encouraged.
  • Fluency in English and another UN language required.  Knowledge of the local working language of the duty station is an asset.
  • Knowledge and familiarity with UNICEF work.
  • Experience and quality of work demonstrably meet the highest international standards;
  • Demonstrated ability to produce high quality, creative communication materials.
  • Excellent ability to conduct interviews.
  • Excellent ability to craft compelling stories based on material gathered in interviews.
  • Ability to analyze, plan, communicate effectively orally and in writing.
  • Good interpersonal skills, including initiative, flexibility and patience.
  • Organizational and coordination skills.
  • Strong knowledge and understanding of the local media Experience in the newsroom writing and editing concise human-interest stories and text for photo essays, website and other applications as required.
  • Computer proficiency including Internet and Microsoft office.
  • Ability to work independently and to meet tight deadlines to deliver products on time

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The competencies required for this post are….

  1. Functional Competencies (Required)

                Formulating Strategies and Concepts [II]

                Relating and Networking [II]  

                Persuading and Influencing [II]

                Applying Technical Expertise [II]                      

                Learning and Researching   [II]

                Planning and Organizing [II]

                Leading and Supervising   [I]                          

                Entrepreneurial Thinking [II]                       

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

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

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.