UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save childrenโs lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job โ it is a calling.
UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package. Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.
For every child, an advocate
Together with the Malaysian government and others who are truly passionate about child rights, UNICEF works in Malaysia to ensure every child has the opportunity to grow; to be healthy and happy; to live safely; and achieve their full potential.
With the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the 12th Malaysia plan as our guides, we endeavor to change minds, change policies, and in turn change the lives of all children in Malaysia.ย https://www.unicef.org/malaysia/
How can you make a difference?ย
Under the supervision of the Chief of Communication, you are accountable for coordinating, networking, implementing and monitoring public advocacy strategies and associated products and activities on on-going basis with public audiences and non-financial supporters, including volunteer engagement, with the objective of promoting awareness, understanding, support and respect for childrenโs and womenโs rights, and support for UNICEF's mission, geared towards achieving advocacy impact in alignment with programme outcomes and overall advocacy priorities in the country office, and in a coordinated manner with regional and global communication and advocacy priorities.ย ย
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
Public Advocacy strategy:ย The Country Office has a clear public advocacy strategy and associated work plan to get children's issues into the public domain, influence attitudes, perceptions and behaviours, as well as strengthen and expand supporter engagement in support of UNICEF's mission and objectives, enhance the organization's credibility and brand, and to support the achievement of UNICEF Malaysia advocacy and programmatic objectives set by the office. Media relations: The Country Office has a media strategy and engagement plan aligned with advocacy objectives, with success indicators and targets clearly defined in alignment with the public advocacy objectives and campaign to maximize partnership opportunities with national and international media. Networking and partnerships: The Country Office has a mapping and engagement plan for strategic partners key actors and stakeholders and invests in appropriate action. Proactive partnership with UN Country Communication team and the UN Country Team and counterparts keeping in view One UN-One Voice aspects of Public Advocacy. Celebrities and special events: The Country Office has a strong partnership with national ambassadors, celebrities, influencers, and other public figures in a systematic and strategic manner to jointly raise awareness of children's rights, mobilize public advocacy support for children and strengthen UNICEF's brand in Malaysia. Global priorities and campaigns: The Country Office has an effective process in place for integrating UNICEF's regional and global communications priorities into the Country Office level initiatives and campaigns, and disseminating these in a locally appropriate way in alignment with the CO's public advocacy initiatives. Resource mobilization support: Global and country level fund-raising activities are supported by effective advocacy and communication strategy and activities. Management: Human resources (the public advocacy and communication team under the communication section) and financial resources (budget planning, management and monitoring) are both effectively managed and optimally used. Monitoring and evaluation: Public advocacy and Communication baselines (including for non- financial supporter engagement) are established against which the achievement of objectives of the public advocacy strategy are regularly evaluated; analysis is undertaken to continuously improve the effectiveness of communication strategy and activities; results and reports are prepared and shared. Capacity building and support: The country programme team are provided with professional expertise and advice on all aspects of public advocacy and communication campaigns as needed. DRR and Humanitarian Advocacy: The Country Office has a communication and advocacy preparedness plan. In case of emergency, nature and extent of the emergency are assessed and immediate advocacy and communication response as well as long-term strategy and plan are establishedSummary of duties and tasks:
1. Public Advocacy strategy
Ensure that the Country Office has a clear public advocacy strategy and associated work plan to support the country programme objectives and get childrenโs issues intoย the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF's mission and objectives, and enhance the organizationโs credibility and brand.
2. Media relations:
Ensure that the Country Office has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of journalists and media outlets covering all media โ print, TV, radio, digital, etc. โ and a successful process of communicating and maintaining regular contact and close collaboration with the online and traditional media to communicate the story of UNICEF's cooperation to a wider audience.
3. Networking and partnerships:
Ensure that the Country Office has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of individuals, groups, organizations and fora (including Government, UN, and bilateral counterparts), whose support is essential to/can assist in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives of the communication strategy.
4. Celebrities and special events:
Ensure that the Country Office has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of appropriate, nationally known personalities who have been identified, engaged and support UNICEFโs effort and who actively participate in special events and activities that support country programme goals.
5. Global priorities and campaigns:
In addition to local/national campaigns, ensure that the /Country Office has an effective process in place for integrating and acting on UNICEFโs 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.
6. Resource mobilization support:
Ensure that global and country level fund-raising activities are supported by effective advocacy and communication strategy and activities. ย
7. Management:
Ensure that human resources and financial resources (budget planning, management and monitoring) are both effectively managed and optimally used.
8. Monitoring and evaluation:
Ensure that communication baselines are established against which the objectives of the 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. Leverage digital communication tools and methodologies (such as social media and online monitoring, web analytics, or other digital measurement tools) and lead research efforts that identify and map project stakeholders or intended audiences, and develop and analyse digital communications performance indicators.ย
9. Capacity building and support:
Ensure that the Representative, Chief of Communication and Advocacy and the country programme team are provided with professional expertise and advice on all aspects of external relations as required; opportunities are identified and addressed for building communication capacity among country communication team, media and other relevant partners.
10. DRR and Humanitarian Advocacy:
Ensure that the Country Office complies with requirements for advocacy and communication preparedness in emergency and other crisis situations.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will haveโฆ
Minimum requirements:
Clickย hereย to learn more about UNICEF's compensation, benefits and wellbeing.(https://www.unicef.org/careers/compensation-benefits-and-wellbeing)
Clickย hereย to learn more about UNICEF's salary scale & structure.(https://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/salaries/malaysia.htm)
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEFโs Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
The UNICEF competencies required for this post areโฆ
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with othersย
(8)ย Nurtures, leads and manages people
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
UNICEF is here to serve the worldโs most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
Remarks:
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEFโs active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidatesย are encouraged to apply.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally requiredย to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.ย
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicantsโ bank account information.
UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.