Communications and Advocacy support

Mission and objectivesIl a été créé en 1946 par l’Assemblée générale de l’ONU sous l’appellation : Fonds d’urgence international des Nations unies pour les enfants. C’est en 1953 qu’il est devenu une agence permanente. L’UNICEF assiste les gouvernements dans des programmes à long terme visant à l’amélioration de la qualité de vie des enfants : santé, vaccination et nutrition, prévention sanitaire, éducation primaire, situations particulièrement difficiles. L’UNICEF mobilise la volonté politique et des ressources matérielles pour aider les pays, en particulier les pays en développement, à donner la priorité aux enfants, et pour renforcer leur capacité de formuler des politiques appropriées et de mettre en place des services en faveur des enfants et des familles. L’UNICEF œuvre, avec le concours de tous ses partenaires, à la réalisation des objectifs de développement humain durable que s’est fixés la communauté mondiale et de l’idéal de paix et de progrès social consacré par la Charte des Nations Unies.

Context The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, 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 favouritism. 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 fulfill 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. This role will combine high-level communications support to the leadership of the country office for public and policy advocacy for child rights in the Central African Republic, while also supporting the production of creative content for office campaigns and social media management. The candidate will combine strong communication skills, including creative multimedia production, with an interest in high-level advocacy and influencing policy processes.

Task DescriptionWithin the delegated authority, under the supervision of, and in coordination with the Chief of Communication & Advocacy, but working closely with the Front Office Management team, the International UN Volunteer Communication & Advocacy Specialist will: 1. Support to country office management with high level advocacy • Working closely with office management, develop a plan to support high-level advocacy around key office communication priorities. Support the office leadership with outreach to key actors and partners to influence policy decision in favour of children, in line with advocacy priorities. • Support the Representative with talking points, briefing notes and key messages, including for media engagements. • Support office management with visibility around engagements and missions to enhance advocacy. 2. Support public advocacy campaigns around office priority areas for children • Support the office with production of high-level advocacy messaging products, and influencing partnerships between the office and other institutions. This could be through a creative ‘producer’ role or the actual content production depending on skills. • In line with the identified advocacy priorities, create communication and advocacy plan to influence for changes in favour of child rights, particularly through influencing partners, and creating digital campaigns and creative products. 3. Managing digital and social media accounts and creating content • Ensure digital and social media communication products and materials produced are compelling, relevant and catchy. • Develop compelling short videos, social tiles, infographics and interactive contents for social and digital media use in relevant formats. • Support creation of posts for all relevant UNICEF social media platforms. • Monitor digital and social media interactions and their impact, producing regular reports. • Use social media marketing utilities to scale the reach and impact of the social and digital media outlets.

Competencies and values• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant UNICEF; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNICEF procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNICEF’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Living conditions and remarks• CAR is located in Central Africa and its capital is Bangui which is the largest city and the main economic and financial center of activities. • Climate: CAR has a tropical climate, characterized by a long rainy season (generally April-October) and a dry season (November-March) influenced by the Harmattan winds. Temperatures are high year-round— 25°C-35°C—with higher humidity in the south and drier, hotter conditions in the north. • Population: The population is about 6 million people, composed of more than 80 ethnic groups. The population is young, with a median age under 18, and the country faces high levels of poverty, displacement, and limited access to basic services such as health and education. • Religion: CAR is a religiously diverse country. Roughly 80–85% of the population identifies as Christian, while around 10–15% follow Islam, mainly in the northern regions. • Safety: The overall security situation in CAR is more stable but remains fragile, with risks of armed activity and banditry, especially outside Bangui. In the capital, conditions are relatively stable but require adherence to UN security protocols and constant vigilance. • Currency: The local currency is the CFA. The CFA franc is pegged to the euro at a fixed rate of 1 EUR = 655.957 XAF. • Health: Malaria is highly endemic. Yellow fever is present. Other vector-borne diseases (dengue, chikungunya) and parasitic illnesses (e.g., schistosomiasis) may pose risks. COVID-19 persists Ensure yellow fever vaccination and being up to date with routine immunisations (tetanus, polio, measles, etc.). Consult your doctor on malaria prophylaxis. Pack a robust medical kit; and routine medications.