Communication for Development Specialist with UNICEF

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, hope

Over the past decade, experience during humanitarian action has emphasized the vital need for effective communication, community engagement and accountability to ensure appropriate responses in relief efforts. UNICEF collaborates closely with partner organisations to integrate these approaches and plays a critical role in amplifying the voices of communities by harnessing the power of communication. Communication for Development (C4D) achieves this by listening and engaging communities, children and adults in order to better to understand their challenges, their beliefs and values, and the cultural norms that shape their lives.

Currently, there are specific contributions that UNICEF Cambodia C4D will undertake within a recently launched initiative which aims to strengthen global and regional demand and capacity for social science integration into community engagement. As part of this work, UNICEF Cambodia C4D is working on COVID-19 Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) response and the co-creation of the evidence-based Advocacy Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM)/C4D planning to support seamless coordination of COVID-19 prevention and vaccination roll out into the country. By leveraging resources and strengthening community engagement, this work will aim to: continue the promotion of best practice behaviours to prevent and mitigate COVID-19 spread both before and after immunisation, prepare the country with crisis communication plans in response to Adverse Effects Following Immunization (AEFI) and fake news, and implement a national/sub-national advocacy plan to mobilise widespread support for COVID-19 vaccination. In addition, this role will support the development of strategic partnerships and facilitate collaborations between UNICEF Cambodia C4D partners to strengthen community engagement interventions, create effective feedback mechanisms at community level, and establish social data and behaviour patterns.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Cambodia is seeking an international C4D specialist to support the evolving needs of UNICEF Cambodia in realising the C4D plans, including C4D planning and implementation in line with the office C4D strategy, and providing technical support related to the COVID-19 RCCE response and vaccination roll-out in the country.

Under the guidance of Chief of Communication, this role is responsible for collaborating with key partners to strengthen C4D implementation through community engagement; supporting the implementation of the office C4D strategy, the national RCCE strategy and communication plan; providing technical expertise and management of C4D activities; and the development of evidence-based communication content and materials based on global guidelines.

The Incumbent Will Deliver On Five Key Areas

• Strategic development for C4D planning and implementation in line with the Country Office C4D strategy
• Engaging and maintaining partnerships and networks
• Knowledge management
• Capacity building
• Ensure C4D and relevant RCCE communication materials promote UNICEF/C4D and SBCC principles

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations Sociology, Public Health, Anthropology or other related field. A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development programme planning, communication for development / behavioural change communication, public advocacy, mass communications, community engagement or another related area.
• Additional preferable experience and assets include:

Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization.Experience working in a developing country.Experience developing key messages for external audiences.Experience using social media and digital platforms/tools to communicate and engage with a variety of audiences.Experience in managing communications in emergency situations and on sensitive issues.Experience working with multitude of key stakeholders, including government, CSOs as well as strategic partners, donors, global networks developing C4D, Social and Behaviour Change, Community Engagement programmes in different phases of the humanitarian programme cycle.Experience in the design and development of C4D in emergency preparedness and response strategies and action plans for specific humanitarian situations including disease outbreaks.Experience in developing and implementing crisis communication plans, strategies, toolkits, guidelines, and SOPs. Experience working within disease control and/or immunization.Knowledge and understanding of Cambodia and its development context.Knowledge of child rights issues.

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and the UNICEF competencies required for this post, namely

Core Competencies

• Nurtures, leads and manages people (1)
• Demonstrates self awareness and ethical awareness (2)
• Works collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and maintains partnerships (2)
• Innovates and embraces change (2)
• Thinks and acts strategically (2)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Functional Competencies

• Persuading and Influencing (2)
• Applying technical expertise (2)
• Entrepreneurial Thinking (2)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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 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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Candidates who applied in response to the internal vacancy announcement need not reapply.

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