Advocacy Specialist (Immunization/Polio), P-4, Temporary Appointment for 364 days, Eastern & Southern Africa Regional Office, Nairobi, Kenya, #127925

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!

For more information about our programme, please visit our website:www.unicef.org/esaro/

How can you make a difference?

Advocacy:

• Manage every element of the regional 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.

• Drive and support the implementation of advocacy plans in focus countries across the region, working across teams to ensure all strands of the strategy are progressed and mutually reinforcing, for example: data, policy, influencer research and engagement, 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:

• Design effective communication plans that will deliver the aims of key advocacy strategies and help to mobilize public and private support to eradicate polio and boost immunization in the region.
• Supervise the implementation of these plans, ensuring they are delivering against agreed outcomes and always in keeping with UNICEF’s mandate.
• In line with objectives, and with the support of the ESARO social media lead, develop appropriate digital strategies, including 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.

Capacity building:

• Work with key country offices (Somalia, Madagascar and any other country identified as high risk for polio transmission) on advocacy strategy building.
• Contribute to building internal (RO/CO) UNICEF capacities in advocacy and communication, through coaching, training and sharing of expertise, at management and programme team level at the RO and COs.

Advocacy and communication M&E:

• Facilitate 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.
• With support of the team programme associate, track and monitor budget and other resources.

Stakeholder engagement:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders in the region, including media, to build awareness and support of UNICEF’s collaborative efforts to eradicate polio and boost immunization rates.
• 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 polio eradication and immunization goals.
• Ensure that feedback from key stakeholders is incorporated into strategy design, implementation and team learning.

Others:

• Support the wider capacity building efforts on advocacy strategy and implementation across the ESA region, and in the RO/programme teams.
• Assist the wider tasks of the ESARO communication & advocacy team, as guided by supervisor.

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

Education:

• 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 University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree

Experience:

• At least eight (8) years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in advocacy/campaigning and communication is required.
• Technical expertise in immunization, polio eradication and/or familiarity with emergency contexts is considered an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required. Spoken French is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others. (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. 

Remarks:

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

All selected candidates will 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.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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