UNICEF seeks to recruit a communications officer, NOB, Lilongwe, Malawi #107662

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

UNICEF Malawi Country Programme (2019-2023) is aligned with the Government of Malawi’s Growth and Development Strategy (MDGS III) and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The programme supports the Government of Malawi to meet its commitment to respect, protect and fulfil children’s rights in line with international conventions and standards. The country programme is guided by the principles of children’s rights, equity, gender equality, inclusion and resilience, and supports evidence-based, integrative and innovative programming. The vision is that ‘all girls and boys in Malawi, especially the most disadvantaged and deprived, realize their rights’.  The programme focuses on: early childhood (parenting, high-impact social services, early stimulation and learning), middle childhood and adolescence (learning, multi-sectoral services, active citizenship), communities (decentralized services and systems, community ownership, social norms), programme effectiveness (monitoring, evaluation, HACT, Innovation, Social Protection and Social Policy and External Communication.  The programme is based on ‘leaving no child behind’, realizing ‘rights for all children in Malawi’.

  

How can you make a difference?

This position is within the Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships team, which supports all UNICEF Malawi pillars (young children, adolescents and communities) and technical specialists (child protection, education, health, HIV, nutrition, social policy, water and sanitation) in the following areas: media relations, public advocacy, youth engagement, partnerships, donor visibility, visits and events, digital and social media.

The Communications Officer will develop and monitor visibility plans and guidelines for donor-funded programmes, document donor funded programmes through photography, video and human interest stories, manage selected donor visits to Malawi, organize press conferences for donor funded activities and secure media coverage, contribute to donor reports and visibility reporting, and provide regular feedback to donors on communication materials produced and media coverage secured.

Currently, the Malawi country office is operating under a matrix-management model, where individuals will have more than one reporting line. While this particular position is not currently “matrixed”, it is possible that this may change depending on programme needs.

 

Summary of key functions/accountabilities :

1.  Donore visibility

The main purpose of this role is to provide visibility for international donors funding UNICEF’s work for children, in order to meet the donor’s requirements and secure ongoing funding.

Duties and tasks :

• Develop and monitor visibility plans and guidelines for major donors and donor-funded programmes, in consultation with the donor and UNICEF programme sections ;
• Document donor-funded programmes through photography, video and human interest stories, including by commissioning and managing freelancers ;
• Manage selected donor and UNICEF National Committee visits to Malawi, including planning and preparation, leading the team in the field, sharing materials and reporting back afterwards ;
• Organise press conferences for donor funded activities and secure media coverage, including national, local and online media ;
• Contribute to donor reports and visibility reporting, in coordination with UNICEF programme sections ;
• Provide regular feedback to donors on communication materials produced and media coverage secured ;
• Other general communication activities as needed.

2. Communication materials

Ensure that the production of communication products and materials is timely executed and followed up to support the country communication strategy, regional and global campaigns and priorities and to support resource mobilization as set out in the work plan.

• Gather content and coverage of relevant country efforts to identify effective relevant country programme activities and results. Develop complementary, country specific and local community materials and activities ;
• Produce advocacy and communication materials (e.g. briefing notes, images, video. web pages etc.) that meet the country and global standards ;
• Assist in drafting and editing articles, press releases, human interest stories and other advocacy/information materials for both web-based and traditional media, as appropriate ;
• Follow up on the production of advocacy and communication materials (e.g., films, videos, audio-visuals, etc.), and oversee the qualitative aspects of production, (e.g., quality control, translations, reviews of layout and graphic design etc.).

3. Monitoring and evaluation

Regular monitoring and evaluation activities are undertaken according to the work plan to ensure maximum impact and continuous improvement of country communication efforts. Ensure results and reports are prepared and shared on a timely basis :

• Monitor and evaluate the appropriate and timely dissemination of advocacy and communication materials to target audiences, and participate in the evaluation of their impact. Monitor and evaluate the use and effectiveness of media materials ;
• Ensure good quality data collection, analysis, evaluation, and reporting to ensure effective communication strategies, planning and effective and efficient advocacy ;
• Undertake lessons learned review of successful and unsuccessful communication experiences as directed by supervisor ;
• Coordinate within the Country Office and partners and provide assistance in their using up-to-date information in, inter alia, Situation Analysis, Common Country Assessment, Early Warning Monitoring Systems, Annual Reviews, Mid-Term Reviews, and Annual Reports or other progress reports.

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

• A university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, or another relevant field is required ;
• A minimum of two years of practical professional work experience in communication, print and broadcast media, or interactive digital media is required ;
• Background/familiarity with emergency situations is considered as an asset ;
• Fluency in English and Chichewa, the main local language of Malawi, is required. Knowledge of Yao language would be considered as an asset.

 

 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 functional competencies required for this post are :

• Formulating Strategies & Concepts [I] ;
• Relating and Networking [I] ;
• Persuading and Influencing [I] ;
• Applying Technical Expertise [I] ;
• Learning and Researching [II] ;
• Planning and Organizing [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 sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.”

 

Remarks :

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