Communication Officer( Media) at UNICEF

Background and purpose

The media has a vital role in helping to bring children’s issues to the attention of the Government, stakeholders and general public and rally them to make further strides to secure the rights and development of every Kenyan child, especially during an election period. The media also plays a critical role in influencing popular opinion, promoting awareness and increasing knowledge and changing behaviours if the message is contained in a well-executed campaign.

In addition, donors to UNICEF programmes require visibility in the media and online in order to document best practice, show results and secure ongoing funding. This is especially important during emergencies, such as the ongoing drought in the ASAL counties of Kenya.

To this end, UNICEF Kenya requires professional expertise to assist in mobilising the media (print, radio and TV) to cover children’s rights stories during the 2022 election period, collecting human interest stories, creating visibility for donors, and training UNICEF staff in handling media interviews.

Lastly, UNICEF Kenya has established partnerships with major media houses around priority advocacy issues and these need to be maintained during the election period. A well-connected individual with a strong network of senior media editors and decision makers at both Standard and Nation media houses, as well as an understanding of UNICEF and children’s issues, is therefore required.

Scope of work

The overall objective of the position is to provide media relations support to the UNICEF Kenya country office, especially during the 2022 elections campaign and ongoing drought. Under the overall guidance of the Communication Specialist, the Media Relations Officer will:

•  Implement strategic partnerships with Standard Group and Nation Media Group to help promote priority issues for children – early years, connecting schools, primary health care, social protection, ending violence and climate change – in a sustained way during the election period. Support media activities during this period, including child/youth competitions, story collection from the field on the six issues and political debates. Conduct training for UNICEF staff on handling media interviews during the election period.
•  Support the Nutrition and WASH sections in developing and implementing a media visibility plan for the ongoing drought in the ASAL counties of Kenya, including developing media and human-interest stories about UNICEF’s support for the humanitarian response, and longer-term resilience building. Lead media visits to produce content for print, TV or radio. Include donor visibility where relevant.
•  Support the Health and C4D sections in raising awareness of COVID-19 behaviour change through the media, including combatting rumours, misinformation and vaccine hesitancy. Support the Ministry of Health with media outreach and invitations to COVID-related events.
•  Write media materials for UNICEF events, reports launches and other media moments. Mobilise media to attend launch events and press conferences. Prepare and send a weekly internal news update by email. Organise interviews and media cafés as needed, to highlight priority children’s issues.

Expected Deliverables

The Media Relations Officer will support the media needs of UNICEF Kenya and the Communications, Advocacy and Partnerships section. In particular, the following deliverables will be expected:

•  Strategic partnerships with Standard Group and Nation Media Group are fully implemented to help promote priority issues for children in a sustained way during the election period. This includes child/youth competitions, story collection from the field on the six issues and political debates. Training is conducted for UNICEF staff on handling media interviews during the election period.
•  A media visibility plan for the ongoing drought in the ASAL counties of Kenya is developed and implemented. This includes media and human-interest stories about UNICEF’s support for the humanitarian response, and longer-term resilience building. Content is produced for print, TV or radio, including donor visibility where relevant.
•  COVID-19 behaviour change messages are promoted the media, raising awareness and combatting rumours, misinformation and vaccine hesitancy. The Ministry of Health is supported with media outreach and invitations to COVID-related events.
•  Media materials are prepared for UNICEF events, reports launches and other media moments. The media is mobilised to attend launch events and press conferences. A weekly internal news update is shared by email. Interviews and media cafés as are organised as needed, to highlight priority children’s issues.

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

Education:

•  A university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, or another relevant field is required.

Work Experience:

•  Two years of practical professional work experience in communication, print and broadcast media, or interactive digital media is required. Background/familiarity with Emergency situations is considered as an asset.

Language Requirements:

•  Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered an asset.

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

•  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)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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

Deadline:19th April 2022