Communication Specialist, Ending Violence Against Children (EVAC), Child Protection, NO-C (Temporary Appointment), New Delhi - For Indian Nationals Only

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children in the world's thereby ensuring a better future for every child, this is the chance to make a difference. Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Child Protection, the purpose of this role is to work closely with Communication for Development (C4D) and Communication, Advocacy and Partnership (CAP) sections as well as support and guide the state offices on EVAC communication.

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 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. And we never give up!

Click here to learn more about UNICEF:   https://youtube/E1xkXZs0cAQ

For Every Child, AN ADVOCATE:

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, 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 favoritism. 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.

How can you make a difference?

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children in the world's thereby ensuring a better future for every child, this is the chance to make a difference. 

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Child Protection, the purpose of this role is to work closely with Communication for Development (C4D) and Communication, Advocacy and Partnership (CAP) sections as well as support and guide the state offices on EVAC communication.

Violence against children happens in every country at home, school, residential institutions, online and public spaces, among others. The UN Secretary General report on VAC (2006) demonstrated that violence remains a remarkably common experience in the lives of children globally and has long-lasting consequences on their health and wellbeing.  Scientific research has firmly established the long-term, devastating impact of VAC on the individual and given its scale on the socio-economic development of communities and nations.  Its negative impact on children’s brain development as a result of toxic stress has been demonstrated by research; including impact on the child learning outcomes and on the behavioural and social functioning as children grow into adulthood.

In India, violence in all its forms is structurally embedded in age, gender, caste, religious, socio-economic and other divisions and it is widely used by power holders to enforce these divisions and related perceived entitlements. There is a high degree of acceptance of violence against children, women and socio-economically disadvantaged groups. At the same time, violence largely remains a taboo subject. The silence surrounding violence assures impunity and acts as a block to perpetrators being held accountable for their violent actions.

India Country Office has extensive experience in strengthening child protection systems, preventing child marriage and child labour.  As a part of the new country programme, the child protection programme is currently exploring strategic options for developing large-scale strategy and interventions to prevent VAC, in close cooperation with C4D and CAP sections.

Major duties and responsibilities:

1. Communication strategy - Ensure that the Country Office has a clear communication strategy and associated work plan to support the EVAC programme objectives and get children’s issues into the public domain, strengthen political commitment in support of EVAC.

• Develop, maintain and update the country EVAC advocacy and behaviour change communication strategy and associated work plan. Strategy and work plan include: an environmental and stakeholder assessment; objectives; target audiences; messages and media mix; resources; specific actions, activities and products; monitoring and evaluation of impact; success and opportunity for improvement; ongoing refinement of the strategy.
• UNICEF’s rights and results-based programming approach is appropriately reflected in the communication strategy, work plan and products.
• Work in close collaboration with CAP and C4D staff and state office colleagues.  

2. Public Advocacy - Work closely with the Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD) and CAP section in its public advocacy campaign and engagement to communicate the story of UNICEF's cooperation to a wider audience especially in the context of EVAC.

• Support in developing a public advocacy and behavior change communication strategy on EVAC.
• Work in collaboration with MWCD and CAP section to promote a better understanding of, respect and support for EVAC by carrying out media, information and education activities with various stakeholders including CSOs/NGO partners, faith-based organizations (FBOs) and corporate partners.  
• Support to establish, document, review and refine process of communicating to identify, develop, distribute and evaluate variety of public advocacy materials in multiple, appropriate formats. Ensure or enhance the quality, appropriateness of communication materials, activities, processes and messages transmitted to the press, partners and public.
• Support the public advocacy campaign by working with MWCD and CAP section to collaborate on multi-media initiatives.
• Write and edit human interest stories, social media material as applicable.
• Ensure all qualitative aspects of audio visual, print, digital material produced in coordination with design/AV/design/PR agencies meet UNICEF technical, ethical, and brand guidelines and are suited for digital and traditional media channels.

3. Networking and partnerships - Ensure that the EVAC coalition is established to support in achieving the objectives of the EVAC communication strategy.

• Develop, maintain and update partners contact list/database.
• Help establish, document, review and refine process of working collaboratively with partners, including meetings, joint projects, information sharing etc.
• Ensure or enhance the quality, consistency and appropriateness of advocacy and behaviour change communication materials, activities, processes and messages shared with partners.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen the capacity of partners through appropriate advocacy and communication training, access to information, supplies and equipment and through knowledge sharing.
• Monitor, evaluate and share results and findings with partners.
• Develop/input into donor proposals and reports on EVAC
• Support national advocacy activities around EVAC including preparing information materials (e.g., press releases, programme summaries, country fact sheets and media kits).

4. National priorities and campaigns - Work closely with MWCD and CAP section on EVAC local/national campaigns as well as integrating and taking action on UNICEF’s global communications priorities and campaigns. Both disseminating these elements in a locally-appropriate way, as well as providing/enabling coverage of the work in the country for global use.

• Support the UNICEF national and global EVAC communications objectives and strategies through development of complementary country specific and local community materials and activities. Work plan should anticipate the inclusion of work on global priorities and campaigns.

5. Management - Ensure that human resources (the communication team) and financial resources (budget planning, management and monitoring) are both effectively managed and optimally used.

• Develop a work plan for advocacy and behaviour change communication activities, monitor compliance and provide support and guidance to ensure objectives are met.
• Plan and monitor the use of communication budgetary resources. Approve and monitor the overall allocation and disbursement and liquidation of funds. Take appropriate actions to optimize use of funds. Conduct various assurance activities including programme visits, spot checks and special audits as necessary under HACT guidelines.
• Identify, recruit and supervise staff, technical resources and consultants as necessary. Conduct and Implement effective performance planning, monitoring, performance development programme as required.
• Ensure communication effectiveness, efficiency and delivery as well as a rigorous and transparent approach to planning, monitoring and evaluation.

6. Monitoring and evaluation - Ensure that communication baselines are established against which the achievement of objectives of the EVAC communication strategy are regularly evaluated; analysis is undertaken to continuously improve the effectiveness of communication strategy, approach and activities; results and reports are prepared and shared on a timely basis.

• Provide technical support to ensure that a set of communication performance indicators is identified and adjusted as necessary, and these communication indicators are incorporated or fed forwarded in the Annual Management Plan, Annual Work Plan, etc.
• Conduct timely and accurate monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure the communications objectives are met and the strategy is effective.
• Undertake lessons learned review of successful and unsuccessful communication experiences and share observations/findings so that best practices benefit UNICEF’s communication work.

7. Capacity building and support - Ensure that the team is provided with professional expertise and advice on all aspects of communication as required; opportunities are identified and addressed for building communication capacity among partners on EVAC.

• Advise UNICEF management, colleagues and staff on EVAC communication & advocacy strategy and implications for action and policies proposed.
• Support communication activities through knowledge management, information exchange and building capacity of the country communications team. Enable appropriate advocacy and communication training, access to information, supplies and equipment, and developing training and orientation material.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Core Values (Required)

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

Core Competencies (Required)

• Communication  [ III ] 
• Working with People  [ II ]
• Drive for Results  [ II ] 

  Functional Competencies (Required)

• Leading and Supervising [I]    
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts [II] 
• Relating and Networking [II]    
• Entrepreneurial Thinking [II]
• Persuading and Influencing [II]    
• Applying Technical Expertise [II]       
• Adapting and Responding Change [II]
• Deciding and Initiating Action [II]

TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE:

Specific Technical Knowledge Required [ for the job] - Specific, detailed and up-to-date knowledge of:

• Executive Board and other policy documents. 
• Executive Directives
• Mid-Term Strategic Plan (MTSP)
• UNICEF programme policy, procedures and guidelines.
• Rights-based and Results-based approach and programming in UNICEF
• General administrative and financial guidelines.
• Human resources manual
• UNICEF communication and other DOC guidelines
• Communication toolkit
• Brand Toolkit and Brand Book
• UNICEF Stylebook
• Ethical Guidelines on Reporting on Children
• Child Protection systems
• Reporting and documentation

Common Technical Knowledge Required (for the job group) - General knowledge of:

• Knowledge of theories and practices in communication research planning and strategy.
• Fundamentals for working in various media formats – print, audio, video, web etc.
• Computer systems/applications and network, including internet navigation, office applications, and specifically, interactive digital media.
• Knowledge of United Nations or other international organizations;
• Global human rights issues, specifically relating to children and women.
• UNICEF communication goals, policies, guidelines and strategies.
• UNICEF policies and strategy to address national and international issues.
• Gender equality and diversity awareness.

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Requirements of the position (QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES):

Education:      

An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: education, public administration, public health, nutrition, economics, psychology, sociology, human development, child development, family studies or another relevant technical field.

Experience:    

• Five years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in strategic communication, social development planning and management of child protection, advocacy and partnerships in an international organization is required.

Language Requirements:      

Fluency in English & Hindi (written and verbal) is required.

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

UNICEF has recently become the first United Nations agency to be awarded the EDGE certification – the leading global standard for gender equality in the workplace. UNICEF’s commitment to EDGE reaffirms our pledge to gender equality and inclusion all UNICEF staff worldwide.

This certification recognizes UNICEF’s commitment to achieving significant milestones in gender equality for all its staff, including strong gender balance at all levels of the organization, pay equity, a solid framework of policies and practices, and an inclusive workplace culture.

“UNICEF’s most important asset is our staff — all of our staff. Gender diversity and equal opportunities for men and women is not only a matter of rights. It makes us more effective as an organization.” Henrietta H. Fore, UNICEF Executive Director.

We are the first United Nations agency to be awarded the EDGE certification – the leading global standard for gender equality in the workplace.

For more information on UNICEF EDGE Certification, kindly view the video here.

UNICEF prides itself on fostering a multicultural and harmonious work environment, guaranteed by a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment and discrimination. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Remarks:  

• The position is based in New Delhi (India).
• Selected applicant will have a 364 days Temporary Appointment contract.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNICEF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process including application, interview, meeting, traveling, processing, training etc. UNICEF is a non-smoking working environment. 

 For more information about UNICEF India, please refer to the link below: http://unicef.in/Wherewework  

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