Communications and Advocacy Specialist Vacancy-Job Ref: BJHNUNICEF/2007/2025822

Communications and Advocacy Specialist Vacancy-Job Ref: BJHNUNICEF/2007/2025822

Tegucigalpa (Honduras)

Job Description

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, a voice

In Honduras, UNICEF supports the creation and development of national programs and policies for children.

The promotion and fulfillment of these rights are related to women´s rights, which is why UNICEF also works to promote their equality, free from all types of discrimination.

UNICEF works with the State, civil society organizations, the private sector, churches, and the media, among others, to promote national and international commitments that the principles enunciated in the Convention become a reality.

UNICEF’s budget depends entirely on voluntary funds. States provide two-thirds of the resources; foundations, the private sector, other private entities and some six million individual donors provide the rest.

UNICEF was created in 1946 by the United Nations to help the children of Europe who suffered the severe consequences of World War II.

For information of the work of our organization in Honduras, please visit our website: UNICEF Honduras

How can you make a difference?

The Communication Specialist is accountable for designing, coordinating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating advocacy and communication strategies to achieve positive outcomes for children and young people. Will work collaboratively with colleagues across teams and with external partners to drive changes in policy and practice and secure political and financial commitments for children.

1. Advocacy strategy development:

Provide technical support in developing a robust advocacy strategy, with SMART outcomes, compelling calls to action, and a clear theory of change. Analyze political, economic and cultural trends from a wide range of sources and identify potential advocacy opportunities and challenges.
Propose new approaches and innovative ideas as part of the strategy development process.
2. Advocacy strategy implementation:

Coordinate the implementation of advocacy strategies and plans, working across teams to deliver a range of advocacy tactics, such as: developing advocacy briefs and products, producing advocacy narratives, shaping creative activations to drive public engagement, working with the media, and organizing advocacy events.
3. Communication strategy development and implementation:

Provide technical assistance in designing and implementing  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.

4. Digital communications:

Coordinate and/or support 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.

5. Media relations:

Help to build and maintain strong relationships with journalists and media outlets covering all media – print, TV, radio, web, etc.
6. Advocacy and communication M&E:

Establish baselines against which results are regularly monitored; analyze the effectiveness of the strategy, approach and activities; and drive the day-to-day production and dissemination of M&E results on a regular basis.

7. Project and budget management:

Coordinate inclusive project teams featuring a variety of advocacy and communication professionals to deliver strategic advocacy and communication initiatives.
Manage day-to-day delivery of key projects and workstreams, reviewing work plans to ensure progress and delivery while addressing obstacles and bottlenecks.
Ensure effectiveness and transparent use of budget and resources.

8. Advocacy and communication capacity building:

Contribute to building internal UNICEF capacities in advocacy and communication, through coaching, training and sharing of expertise.
9. Stakeholder engagement:

Identify, build and maintain formal and informal advocacy partnerships and networks through proactive collaboration with strategic internal and external partners.
Adopt a consultative approach and solicit the support of key stakeholders at critical points of the strategy.

10. Resource mobilization and leverage

Build and maintain key partners and donor mapping for UNICEF in Honduras including IFIs and private sector
Design key advocacy and evidence based communication materials on UNICEF program models and key interventions aimed to mobilize commitments for children from the donor community
Support the Identification and pursuing of strategic partnerships to leverage resources from DAC and non-DAC donors, IFIs, foundations, and the private sector, aligned with national priorities for children
Leverage Policy Dialogue Spaces using UNICEF technical credibility and convening power to ensure child rights are prioritized in national and sectoral decision-making platforms.
11. Others:

Undertake other key responsibilities as required.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: An Advanced University degree in Public Policy, Political Science, International Relations, International Development, Public Administration, Economics, Communication or other relevant fields.  * A first level university degree with an additional two years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience: At least five (5) years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in advocacy/ campaigning and communications is required. Experience in leading the development and implementation of advocacy strategies, with clear theories of change, with specific, measurable and timebound objectives and performance indicators. Experience in building and maintaining a network of stakeholders, including media, and in working with coalitions. Demonstrated experience in design and management of projects, including budget management and monitoring and evaluation of results.

Skills: Strong communicator with emphasis on being able to present complex policy ideas in succinct, engaging ways through campaign narratives and creative tactics.
Language Requirements: Fluency in Spanish and in English is required.

Desirables:

Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.
Experience in advocacy at the international level is an asset.
Experience in training and facilitation is an asset.
Experienced and current in digital and social media content and audience trends as well as in managing online platforms and channels is an asset
Knowledge of children’s rights, public policy, international development and humanitarian issues.
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

The 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

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

Please click on the button below to Apply.