UNICEF Nigeria: Communication Officer (Polio) - Abuja

UNICEF Nigeria seeks the services of an experienced communication officer who will assist in planning, monitoring, evaluation and implementation of its social mobilization and media/external communication activities of the polio eradication programmes and will provide the required support directly to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). He/she will contribute to the achievement of the targets set in the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) with respect to social communication and behaviour and especially as relates to fulfilling the basic rights of children.

Post title: Communication Officer (Polio), NO-B
Vacancy number: VN-NGR-07-2010
Contract type: Fixed-term
Duration: Two years
Location: Abuja

The successful candidate will be expected to carry out the following duties

1. Develop partnerships with mass media to generate and maintain public interest and support in UNICEF programme results and help set agenda for public discussion. Monitor implementation of media and press media activities by reviewing progress and identifying constraints through dialogue, field visits, and consultation with government counterparts, partners, community and UNICEF programme staff. Prepare analyses and reports on children as it comes out in the print media.
2. Support media/external relations activities such as organizing visits to project sites, facilitating photo coverage and TV footage, including press briefings, conferences and media interviews, to achieve country programme objectives and utilize both web-based and traditional media as appropriate to generate and maintain public interest in children's issues and to tell the story of the Field Office/UNICEF's cooperation to a wider audience. Maintain a resource centre with relevant information materials including photos, slides, videos, tapes, CD-ROMs, posters, leaflets and other audio/visual materials.
3. Monitor the local, national and international media to identify sensitive issues affecting children and advise the Country Office communication team on appropriate action to address the situation. Also identify media opportunities that could be utilized to highlight the issues of children and women in the Field Office and Nigeria Country Office.
4. Coordinate UNICEF support in one assigned state to ensure convergence of services in fulfilling the basic rights of children in the selected local government areas/communities. Use this experience to advocate with duty bearers and stakeholders at state, local government area and community level to leverage additional resources and implement favourable policies to sustain and expand interventions to other communities.
5. Establish a system to document success stories and use such stories to develop effective materials to support advocacy efforts with key duty bearers and stakeholders to fulfill the rights of children in the Field Office. Assist the national and Regional Offices in identifying and obtaining feature stories and other materials to facilitate advocacy and fund-raising activities.
6. Design (or adapt), produce and disseminate advocacy materials for specified audiences, arranging translation into local language(s) as necessary. Identify the need for additional materials/activities, such as radio and television programmes, publications, photographs, websites, etc., to advocate and promote organizational goals within the country, and manage their production and distribution to the target audiences.
7. Assist media houses and institutions to plan and organize relevant training programmes for specific audiences. Identify training needs for the purpose of capacity building and sustainability of programme/projects.
8. Prepare cash requests, and supply requests and plans of action, regular monitoring of project inputs and expenditures, routine and annual reports and other project documentation as required.

Minimum qualification and competencies

• First degree or its equivalent in communications, journalism, public relations or related field.
• Minimum two years practical professional work experience in communication from print and broadcast media, or interactive digital media and external relations. Field/community based experience is required.
• Fluency in English language is required. Knowledge of another UN language, an asset. Knowledge of local working language(s) of the duty station is desirable.
• Communication (written and verbal), working with people and drive for result.
• Formulating strategies and concepts.
• Influencing, relating and networking.
• Learning and researching.
• Planning and organizing.
• Applying technical expertise in communication practice, methodology and practical application. Knowledge in producing content for various media formats – print, audio, video, web etc.
• Computer systems, including internet navigation, office applications and specifically, interactive digital media.

UNICEF, which has a smoke-free environment, is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly women, are strongly encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY

Prepare the following documents

• A completed UN Personal History Form (which can be downloaded from www.unicef.org/employ)
• Your curriculum vitae with your current, detailed contact information (including telephone number and email address)
• A one-page summary statement that shows how your qualifications and experience meet the requirements above.

Only candidates meeting the minimum qualifications and competencies (above) will be considered.

Send your documents in a sealed envelope marked ‘confidential’ and with the vacancy number to:

        The Human Resources Manager
        UNICEF
        UN House
        Plot 617/618, Diplomatic Drive
        Central Business District
        PMB 2851, Garki, Abuja

Meet the deadline

Applications must be received by UNICEF by close of business (Abuja time) on Tuesday, 10 August 2010. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

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