Communications Officer/ Storytelling

Details

Mission and objectives

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work to translate that commitment into practical action, especially for the most disadvantaged children. In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria. All 14 Pacific island countries have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations.

Context

The UNICEF Pacific Multi-Country office covers 14 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) spread across a vast 30 million square kilometre area of the Pacific Ocean. Approximately 14 per cent of the estimated 2.57 million population are aged between 0-5 years, and 40 per cent are aged under 18. Due to the uniquely challenging context with small, culturally diverse populations living across remote islands, most PICTs struggle to provide equitable, quality social services, especially to vulnerable and remote communities. The UNICEF Pacific office has around 160 staff members and consultants spread throughout the 14 PICTs including in its main office in Suva, Fiji, and in its 5 Field Offices in Vanuatu, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Samoa. The 2023 – 2027 Multi-Country Programme includes activities in health, WASH, nutrition, education, child protection, social policy, climate resilience and disaster risk reduction. The Communications section is cross-cutting, providing support to all programmatic areas in advocacy, branding, media, and social media outreach. Although the section supports all programmatic work, across all countries, in line with the new multi-country programme, the office has selected four advocacy priorities: Violence against children, Climate, Water security and Nutrition. The section plays a role in: - mobilizing political will and public awareness to prioritize children and women ‘s rights in policies, programmes as a result of strategic partnerships and improved knowledge management; - creating space for children and young people to express their concerns and ideas and to participate in decisions that affect their lives. Partnerships with the media as well as outreach through social media platforms play an important role in the advocacy strategy of the office. The UNV will work in the Communication Section, alongside the Communications Officers and under the direct supervision of the Chief of Communication.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Communication, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Coordination of human-interest stories: working alongside the communications team and programme officers to identify potential stories that illustrate the situation of children and inform the broad public about UNICEF’s work. • Manage a live, spreadsheet/database of these planned stories, ensuring balanced coverage of themes and countries and identifying key details and resources (focal points, angles, potential interviewees, content collectors, authors, etc.). • Coordinate publication and dissemination schedule for stories, in collaboration with the rest of the team, and adhering to any key dates, advocacy campaigns or donor requirements. • Design and produce human interest stories and other communication products as required. • Provide guidance and support to field and programme colleagues on writing and storytelling. • Provide editorial support for the communications section as needed. This may include editing or final proofreading of communications products, presentations, speeches, briefing notes etc. • Support the communications section as needed in managing events, developing communication packages for advocacy campaigns, production of communications materials, and contributing to media and social media packages. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: · Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day). · Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. · Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities. · Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. · Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers. · Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.