As the Chief of Partnership, Advocacy and Communication, you will report to the Representative and you will be responsible for the development and nurturing of public and private partnerships; resource mobilization; and the development, management, and implementation of an advocacy and communication strategy and associated products and activities to promote child rights and UNICEF’s mandate. You will supervise a team composed of several colleagues specialized in partnerships and advocacy/communications. You will matrix report to the Deputy Representative for Programmes to ensure the engagement of the various programme leads in the areas of partnerships, advocacy and communications work as well as future Private Sector Engagement including Business for Results (B4R) approaches in support of key programmatic results for children in Tunisia.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
Seeks and promotes new public and private partnerships and resource mobilization opportunities, working with UNICEF colleagues to identify partnership and resource mobilization needs and broker resource mobilization agreements to meet those needs. Receives and screens inquiries from potential collaborators and facilitates communication with appropriate UNICEF staff. Scans and scouts external environment within designated partnership areas for opportunities and risks and shares information in a timely fashion with relevant UNICEF staff.
Provides strategic, logistical and programmatic support to senior management and other UNICEF staff in corporate engagement and interaction with development partners. Ensures the management of existing donor portfolios, including managing donor agreements in line with UNICEF standards, organizing and coordinating donor reviews and visits; supporting monitoring of donor conditionalities and ensuring timely and quality donor reporting for the office.
Develops and maintains deep knowledge and familiarity with current and prospective public and priavte partners and relevant stakeholders, contributing to a database of key contacts and to UNICEF’s base of knowledge on partnership and resource mobilization. Expands UNICEF’s network of key interlocutors to build stronger relationships between UNICEF and governments, other key-decision makers, regional development institutions, foundations, the private sector, international financial institutions and/or relevant constituencies.
Acts as a focal point for identification and pursuit of opportunities for outreach, engagement, policy influence, and collaboration, including on how to anticipate and respond to partners’ concerns and priorities, ensure that UNICEF’s interests, perspectives, and knowledge are taken into account in relevant policy and institutional processes, and ensure that they are fully aware of UNICEF’s perspectives, policies, priorities and capabilities. Contributes to the development and management of initiatives for high-level outreach, including for UNICEF’s Senior Management.
Ensures that the Country Office has a clear communication and advocacy strategy and associated workplan to support the country programme objectives and key results for children. Mobilizes support to get children’s issues into the public domain, strengthens political will in support of UNICEF’s mission and objectives, and enhances the organisation’s credibility and brand.
Ensures that the Country Office identifies, maintains, and develops engagement with key stakeholders, including national and international media outlets and leaders, influencers, child rights champions, opinion leaders, and others whose support is essential to/can assist in achieving UNICEF’s advocacy and communication objectives.
Leads and supports senior management on crisis communication and advocacy in emergency situations resulting from natural disasters and/or grave violation of child rights
Oversees the design and implementation of the private sector engagement strategy including business for results initiatives in pursuit of key results for children of the UNICEF Country Programme, through mapping of stakeholders and opportunities and design of innovative partnership and communication initiatives. Works very closely with the programme team to accelerate programmatic results for children through engagement with national and international private sector stakeholders.
Maintains close collaboration with the regional partnerships and communication advisors, relevant HQ Divisions, focal points in UN Agencies for effective overall coordination and alignemment with regional and global priorities and strategies.
Ensures managerial leadership of the PAC Section including the development, management, monitoring and reporting of the section workplan and management of resources in line with UNICEF standards to achieve results. Ensures team supervision, establishing and monitoring individual performance objectives, providing direction and guidance required. Supervises two staff: one P2 Partnership Specialist focusing on resource mobilization and leveraging support mostly with public sector partners and one NOC Communication Specialist focusing on advocacy and communication. The PAC team also includes one NOA Communication Officer under the supervision of the NOC Communication Specialist.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have the below requirement:
Education:
An advanced university degree is required in one of the following fields: international relations, political science, communications, international development, marketing, public affairs, or other related field
Work Experience:
At least five (8) years of progressively responsible professional experience is required in two or more of the following areas: public affairs, programme management, resource mobilization, external relations, communications, and advocacy.
Experience in collaborating with private sector partners is an asset.
Experience in managing public partnerships in a United Nation Agencies is considered an asset.
Experience in advocy and communications with donors, the private sector, and civil society is considered an asset.
Language Proficiency:
Strong fluency in French & English is required with knowledge of Arabic considered as an asset.
