Chief of Partnerships, Communication and Advocacy at United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF): (Deadline 9 November 2022)

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children’s rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

For every child, deliver.

UNICEF Rwanda is based in Kigali. It is committed to realizing the rights of all children to help them build a strong foundation and have the best chance of fulfilling their potential.

UNICEF Rwanda is currently running a Country Programme 2018-2024 and its goal is to improve the health, nutritional status, protection, education, and wellbeing of children, focusing on those who are poor, vulnerable or at risk.

The Partnerships, Communication and Advocacy team works closely with local media, the CEO Forum and the Private Sector Federation, civil society, and other groups to raise awareness of children’s issues and encourage them to take action that will change children’s lives.

The Chief Partnerships, Communication and Advocacy reports to the Representative and supervises a team of six staff.

To learn more about UNICEF work in Rwanda, please visit the country website https://unicef.sharepoint.com/sites/RWA/

Or watch this video about UNICEF work in Rwanda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7B91m5Yzoc

How can you make a difference?

Join our team to be responsible for:

1. Private sector engagement:

Oversee the development and implementation of the private sector engagement strategy of the country office.  Maintain general knowledge of UNICEF’s programme work in Rwanda and design engagement strategies with the private sector that will further UNICEF’s programmatic goals.

2. Communication strategy

Ensure that the Country Office has a clear communication strategy and associated work plan to support the country programme’s objectives and get children’s issues into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF’s mission and objectives, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand.

3. Media relations

Ensure that the Country Office has strong contacts among journalists and media outlets – and a successful process of communicating and maintaining regular contact and close collaboration with the media to communicate the story of UNICEF’s cooperation to a wider audience through both traditional and social media channels.

4. Celebrities and global and national events:

Ensure that the Country Office collaborates with appropriate, nationally known personalities who can support UNICEF’s efforts.  Manage and oversee UNICEF’s engagement in global or national events and conferences that take place in Rwanda.

5. Global Advocacy Priorities and Campaigns:

In addition to local/national campaigns, ensure that the Country Office has an effective process in place for integrating and acting on UNICEF’s Global Advocacy Priorities and campaigns, both disseminating these elements in a locally appropriate way, as well as providing/enabling coverage of the work in the country for global use.

6. Resource mobilization support:

Ensure that global and country level fund-raising activities are supported by effective advocacy and communication strategy and activities.

7. Management:

Ensure that human resources (the communication team) and financial resources (budget planning, management, and monitoring) are both effectively managed and optimally used.

8. Monitoring and evaluation:

Ensure that communication baselines are established against which the achievement of objectives of the communication strategy are regularly evaluated; analysis is undertaken to continuously improve the effectiveness of communication strategy, approach and activities; results and reports are prepared and shared on a timely basis.

9. Capacity building and support:

Ensure that the Representative and the country programme team are provided with professional expertise and advice on all aspects of external relations and that communication opportunities are identified and addressed for building communication capacity among country communication team, media and other relevant partners.

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

• Advanced university degree in Business Administration, Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, International Development, or related field. Or an undergraduate degree plus at least 12 years of demonstrated professional experience in the field of journalism, communications, external relations, public affairs, public relations, or corporate communications.
• Eight years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in private sector, communication, print, broadcast, and/or new media.
• International and national work experience.
• Background/familiarity with Emergency situations.
• Fluency in English is required. French is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Transparency and Accountability and core competencies in the following areas:

• 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)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Technical Knowledge

a) Specific Technical Knowledge and Experience Required

• Engagement with international journalists, media agencies and broadcasters.
• Reputational Risk Management preferably with an international organization
• Working with international TV crews and production of high-quality digital content
• Nurturing strategic partnerships with media networks and influential personalities
• Comprehensive understanding, management, and oversight of social media platforms
• Developing communication strategies for all mediums – print, audio, video, web etc.
• Engagement with Private Sector including its leadership
• Strategic partnerships and collaborations with the private sector for Fund Raising, Advocacy or Shared Value.

b) Common Technical Knowledge Preferred

• Working with the private sector in Business Development is of added value.
• Knowledge of Rwandan and East African private sector enterprises and key players/contributors will be an asset.
• Executive Board and other policy documents.
• Executive Directives
• Mid-Term Strategic Plan (MTSP)
• UN/UNICEF Policy Papers
• UNICEF programme policy, procedures, and guidelines.
• Rights-based and Results-based approach and programming in UNICEF
• General administrative and financial guidelines.
• Human resources manual
• UNICEF communication and other DOC guidelines
• Communication toolkit
• Brand Toolkit and Brand Book
• UNICEF Stylebook
• Ethical Guidelines on Reporting on Children
• Computer systems/applications and network, including internet navigation, office applications, and specifically, interactive digital media.
• Knowledge of United Nations or other international organizations.
• Global human rights issues, specifically relating to children and women.
• UNICEF communication goals, policies, guidelines, and strategies.
• UNICEF policies and strategy to address national and international issues.
• UNICEF emergency communication policies, goals, strategies.
• Gender equality and diversity awareness

c) Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced

• Expertise of management, communication strategy and networking.
• Technical competence in producing content for various media formats – print, audio, video, web etc.
• UN policies and strategy to address international humanitarian issues and the responses.
• UN common approaches to programmatic issues and UNICEF positions
• UN security operations and guidelines.

Remarks: 

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

This position is classified as “rotational” which means the incumbent is expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of their tour of duty.

In order to promote gender and geographical balance within international professional category, female candidates from industrial countries are encouraged to apply.