Advocacy and Communication are at the center of UNICEF’s mandate. We advocate to decision makers for ‘the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential’. We communicate to key public and private audiences to build support for the cause of children.
The Advocacy and Communication Manager reports to the Regional Advisor on Communications. This post is based in Geneva.
The P4 Advocacy and Communication Manager is accountable for managing the development of advocacy and communication strategies, their implementation, and monitoring and evaluation, to achieve positive outcomes for children and young people. This includes:
the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of integrated advocacy and communication strategies, including regional level strategies as well as support and direction to national level strategies, feeding into global strategies
the effective deployment of public channels and private relationships to mobilize public and private resources for children, including through UNICEF
using traditional and digital media and key partnerships to build awareness of and support for child rights and UNICEF’s mission, priorities and programmes
working with children and young people to empower them as agents of change
Key functions, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks:
The staff member will support the Regional Office’s efforts on advocacy and communications by designing and coordinating effective, integrated advocacy and communication strategies, through the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation stages. S/he will work collaboratively with colleagues across UNICEF at country, regional and global level, as well build alliances or coalitions with external partners to drive changes in policy and practice, and secure political and financial commitments for children. Duties include:
Advocacy strategy development:
Manage every element of the advocacy strategy process, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, from defining advocacy outcomes, power analysis, and developing a clear theory of change to win the support of decision makers and mobilize key constituencies.
Advocacy strategy implementation:
Drive the implementation of advocacy strategies and plans, working across teams to ensure all strands of the strategy are progressed and mutually reinforcing, for example: data, policy, media, public mobilization, events, and partnerships.
Supervise the development of cogent and compelling advocacy and campaign narratives, and the delivery of creative campaign tactics.
Communication strategy development and implementation:
Design effective communication plans that will deliver the aims of key advocacy strategies and help to mobilize public and private support for the cause of children.
Supervise the implementation of these plans, ensuring they are delivering against agreed outcomes and always in keeping with UNICEF’s mandate.
Digital strategy:
The staff member will co-lead a team to design and coordinate effective, integrated advocacy and communication strategies, through the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation stages. S/he will work collaboratively with colleagues across UNICEF at country, regional and global level, as well build alliances or coalitions with external partners to drive changes in policy and practice, and secure political and financial commitments for children.
Advocacy strategy development:
Manage every element of the advocacy strategy process, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, from defining advocacy outcomes, power analysis, and developing a clear theory of change to win the support of decision makers and mobilize key constituencies.
Advocacy strategy implementation:
Drive the implementation of advocacy strategies and plans, working across teams to ensure all strands of the strategy are progressed and mutually reinforcing, for example: data, policy, media, public mobilization, events, and partnerships.
Supervise the development of cogent and compelling advocacy and campaign narratives, and the delivery of creative campaign tactics.
Communication strategy development and implementation:
Design effective communication plans that will deliver the aims of key advocacy strategies and help to mobilize public and private support for the cause of children.
Supervise the implementation of these plans, ensuring they are delivering against agreed outcomes and always in keeping with UNICEF’s mandate.
Digital strategy:
Develop a comprehensive digital strategy and lead and manage the Office’s advocacy and communication team responsible for the day-to-day conceptualization, budgeting, planning, coordination, execution and digital content creation, as well as the monitoring and evaluation of digital initiatives and integrated advocacy campaigns for key audiences.
Media relations:
Build and maintain strong relationships with journalists and media outlets covering all media – print, TV, radio, web, etc. – to ensure we can build public awareness of and support for UNICEF and the cause of children.
Advocacy and communication M&E:
Supervise the development of a clear advocacy and communication M&E framework: setting baselines against which results are regularly monitored; conducting analysis to continuously improve the effectiveness of the strategy, approach and activities; and overseeing the production and dissemination of M&E results.
Team building, project and budget management:
Provide a protective, nurturing environment for the team – in line with UNICEF’s highest ethical standards and values; respond appropriately to ethical issues and complaints of abuse of authority, bullying and harassment.
Ensure project management coherence in the activities of the team, conveying strategic priorities and setting clear deliverables.
Where relevant, manage inclusive teams featuring a variety of advocacy and communication professionals, to drive and deliver strategic advocacy and communication initiatives.
Support mobilizing resources for undertaking advocacy and communication. Ensure effective and transparent management of budget and resources.
Advocacy and communication capacity building:
Contribute to building internal UNICEF capacities in advocacy and communication, through coaching, training and sharing of expertise.
Stakeholder engagement:
Provide strategic direction for advocacy and communications partnerships and networks through proactive collaboration with internal and external partners.
Partners will include key internal stakeholders, other UN entities, influencers, youth ambassadors, goodwill ambassadors, academics, business leaders and other public and private sector partners.
Ensure that effective advocacy and communication strategies and plans are co-created with partners, to leverage their power to contribute to UNICEF’s goals.
Ensure that feedback from key stakeholders is incorporated into strategy design, implementation and team learning.
Others:
Undertake additional activities as required.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
An Advanced University degree is required in one of the following fields: International Relations, Political Science, International Development, Public Policy, Public Administration, Economics, Communication or related fields. A first level university degree (Bachelor’s) in a relevant field, in conjunction with two additional years of relevant work experience in advocacy, campaigning or a related field may be taken in lieu of an Advanced University degree.
At least eight (8) years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in advocacy/ campaigning and communication is required.
Experience in leading the development and implementation of advocacy and communication strategies, with clear theories of change, specific, measurable and timebound objectives, and performance indicators.
A track record of achieving or contributing to tangible policy change.
Proven experience in deploying a range of advocacy and communication tactics based on a clear theory of change.
Experience in building and maintaining a network of stakeholders, and in working with coalitions, including for advocacy outcomes.
Demonstrated experience as a strong communicator with emphasis on being able to present complex policy ideas in succinct, engaging ways through campaign narratives and creative tactics.
Experience in managing a team is a requirement, along with a proven commitment to diverse and inclusive recruiting process. Experience managing a multicultural team is an asset.
Experience in building strong relationships with traditional and social media entities and using media relations and channels to engage public audiences.
Experience in leading the development, implementation and monitoring of digital strategies.
Experienced and current in digital and social media content and audience trends as well as in managing online platforms and channels.
Demonstrated experience in design and management of projects, including budget management and monitoring and evaluation of results.
Knowledge of children’s rights, public policy, international development and humanitarian issues.
Experience in advocacy at the international level is an asset.
Experience in training and facilitation is an asset.
Experience working in a developing and emergency environment is an asset.
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
