Communications Officer

Mission and objectives

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. UNICEF Malawi Country Programme (2019-2023) is aligned with the Government of Malawi’s Growth and Development Strategy (MDGS III) and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The programme supports the Government of Malawi to meet its commitment to respect, protect and fulfil children’s rights in line with international conventions and standards. The country programme is guided by the principles of children’s rights, equity, gender equality, inclusion and resilience, and supports evidence-based, integrative and innovative programming. The vision is that ”all girls and boys in Malawi especially the most disadvantaged and deprived, realize their rights”. The programme focuses on early childhood (parenting, high-impact social services, early stimulation and learning), middle childhood and adolescence (learning, multi-sectoral services, active citizenship), communities (decentralized services and systems, community ownership, social norms), programme effectiveness (monitoring, evaluation, HACT, Innovation, Social Protection and Social Policy and External Communication. The programme is based on “leaving no child behind”, realizing ‘rights for all children in Malawi’.

Context

At UNICEF, we communicate and advocate to realize the rights of every child, especially the most marginalized, in every country. UNICEF Malawi’s Communications and Advocacy section aims to win support from decision-makers and the wider public for the cause of children in the country. A Digital Communications Officer will complement and meet the capacity need to adequately support the digital advocacy, campaigning, fundraising, partnerships goals. The UNV, in turn, will get the experiential learning opportunity from an experienced and expert team in an international development organization environment, and also contribute to delivering results for Malawian children and youth.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Communication Officer you will be responsible primarily for digital communications channels updates, coordination, online community engagement, assets upload, management and dissemination, and overall support to the communications section. It is an excellent opportunity to learn and manage UNICEF’s major digital platforms, including WeShare, Drupal (UNICEF’s official CMS for website), YouTube channel and SharePoint. The UNV will also get an opportunity to collaborate with Communications Officers and contribute to the social media content development. This role, therefore, presents a unique and significant opportunity for a vibrant, motivated and committed person to be involved in the following areas of responsibilities, which will include but are not limited to: Ensuring that all UNICEF Malawi’s photos and videos are uploaded, documented, and managed appropriately in various platforms, including Website, WeShare and YouTube Weekly uploads to UNICEF Malawi’s WeShare platform, ensuring quality captioning of photos and videos. Assisting with responding to requests for images from UNICEF WeShare Ensuring that the Communications SharePoint site and folders are organized properly. Ensuring all visibility items are arranged, organized and managed in an efficient and effective manner. Supporting in updating UNICEF Malawi’s website pages. Assisting with monitoring UNICEF digital media platforms to track comments and audience reactions. Supporting in the organization of events of the office in which the support of communication is requested. General communications support, as requested. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day). Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers. Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Requirements