Job Vacancies @ UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) – 2 Positions

National Intern - Communication and Advocacy, Freetown, 6 months (open to Sierra Leone nationals only)

Job no: 580683

Position type: Internship

Location: Sierra Leone

Division/Equivalent: Dakar (WCAR), Senegal

School/Unit: Sierra Leone

Department/Office: Freetown, Sierra Leone

Categories: Communication

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

Please access UNICEF Sierra Leone information here and here

Please note:

Applicants should be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate (Masters or higher) degree programme or be a recent graduate (graduated within the past two years) in field of Communications, International Relations, Marketing, Digital Media, or a related field.

How can you make a difference?

Raising the Visibility of UNICEF's Contribution to Child Rights

•  Supporting photo and video production missions to create compelling content.
•  Support the content creation including visuals, infographics, banners and other creative assets for digital platforms to enhance engagement.
•  Assisting in the production of videos highlighting specific areas of child rights related to the Country Programme.
•  Helping manage and organize the photo database for easy access and use.
•  Providing communications support for key advocacy days to amplify UNICEF's messages.
•  Assisting in updating social media platforms with relevant content.

Media Engagement

•  Support media coverage monitoring on child rights and UNICEF's work.
•  Contributing to the development and maintenance of a comprehensive database of media contacts and journalists.
•  Assisting in drafting press releases, fact sheets, and other external communication materials.
•  Supporting the coordination of media roundtable discussions on child rights issues.
•  Helping facilitate media visits to report on children's rights.
•  Assisting with updating UNICEF's social media platforms with relevant content.

Support to Resource Mobilization

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•  Write human interest stories for donor reports and web publications.
•  Assist in the planning and execution of donor visits.
•  Support the creation of photo essays and videos to showcase UNICEF's impact and mobilize resources.

Interested consultants should provide the following: 1. Curriculum Vitae

2. Motivation letter

3. Proof of studies/Certified copies of qualifications

4. Referees' details

Please see attached ToR for detailed information. ToR - CAP Intern.pdf

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

Desired competencies, technical background and expirience: Enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate (Masters or higher) degree programme or be a recent graduate (graduated within the past two years) in field of Communications, International Relations, Marketing, Digital Media, or a related field.

Applicants must have excellent academic performance demonstrated by recent university or institution records.

Technical skills and knowledge: What is required and what is desired

•  Enrolled in or recently graduated from a degree program in Communications, International Relations, Marketing, Digital Media, or a related field.
•  Strong writing, editing, and research skills.
•  Basic understanding of child rights and experience working with children.
•  Familiarity with communications, project management, and branding.
•  Basic multimedia skills (photography, videography, and content creation).
•  Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, etc.), and social media management tools.
•  Ability to manage social media channels and analyze relevant data.

Work Experience: Additional consideration will be given for any past experience, specifically experience in volunteering, internships, or coursework in media, PR or digital communication.

Languages: Fluency in English - both verbal and written.

Other requirements

•  Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
•  Ability to communicate clearly.
•  Strong analytical and good report writing and presentation skills.
•  Able to demonstrate UNICEF core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability as well as core competencies such as self-awareness and ethical awareness, working collaboratively with others, innovates and embraces change and drive to achieve impactful results.
•  Applicants must have no relatives (e.g. father, mother, brother, sister) working in any UNICEF office and must have no other relatives in the line of authority which the intern will report to.

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, 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.

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. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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.

Remarks:

UNICEF's active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

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 may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). 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.

Advertised: Mar 24 2025 Greenwich Standard Time

Application close: Apr 02 2025 Greenwich Standard Time

Click here to apply

International consultancy: Development of Early Childhood Education (ECE) advocacy and communication strategy (Hybrid 60% in country and 40% remote)

Job no: 580447

Position type: Consultant

Location: Sierra Leone

Division/Equivalent: Dakar (WCAR), Senegal

School/Unit: Sierra Leone

Department/Office: Freetown, Sierra Leone

Categories: Education, Early Childhood Development

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, opportunity

Please access UNICEF Sierra Leone information here and here

How can you make a difference?

Purpose and Objective: The purpose of this consultancy is to develop an ECE advocacy and communication strategy and implementation plan. The consultant will work in close collaboration with UNICEF Sierra Leone Education, Social and Behavior Change (SBC) and Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships sections and with relevant national stakeholders (the MBSSE, the Teaching Service Commission (TSC), the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs, the ECE technical working group, and other organizations as needed) to achieve the below-mentioned objectives.

The objectives of this assignment are to:

•  Develop the ECE advocacy and communication strategy through consultations with relevant stakeholders and partners, incorporating good practices and lessons learned.
•  Develop an implementation plan with monitoring framework for the advocacy and communication strategy.
•  Develop multimedia assets and knowledge products in support of the objectives of the ECE advocacy and communications strategy and plan.

Methodology and Technical Approach: Through remote and face-to-face consultations with UNICEF staff, relevant education partners and champions, including government, district and community stakeholders, the consultant will deliver the tasks listed below.

•  Develop an inception report detailing an understanding of the ToR, methodology to be employed, activity plan and resource needs with a detailed work plan.
•  Conduct a desk review of relevant documents including the IECD Policy, and the ESP 2022-2026.
•  Undertake preliminary interviews with relevant UNICEF staff and stakeholders involved in the development of these documents and implementation of ECE programmes.
•  Conduct and facilitate a series of consultations with parents, teachers, and community stakeholders to identify the major barriers in accessing ECD, and workshops with partners to co-develop the strategy and action plan.
•  Present the finalized ECE advocacy and communication strategy including the theory of change, outcomes, key milestones, interim results, activities and tactics, roles and responsibilities as part of the action plan along with monitoring framework including interim results/ KPI's and risks and mitigation measures to relevant stakeholders- validation workshop/meeting.
•  Develop selected advocacy and knowledge products including key messages and thereby support the delivery of the advocacy and communication strategy and action plan.

Work assignment

•  Develop an inception report detailing an understanding of the ToR, methodology to be employed, activity plan and resource needs with a detailed work plan.
•  Conduct desk review of relevant documents including the IECD Policy and ESP 2022-2026.
•  Conduct a mapping of key target groups and stakeholders by undertaking preliminary interviews with relevant UNICEF staff and stakeholders involved in the development of these documents and implementation of ECE programmes. eqV0w7d C0zkMl
•  Conduct and facilitate a series of consultations and workshops with partners to co-develop the strategy and implementation plan.
•  Present the final draft ECE advocacy and communication strategy and action plan including the theory of change, outcomes, key milestones, interim results, and activities and tactics, roles and responsibilities as part of the action plan along with monitoring framework including interim results/ KPI's and risks and mitigation measures to relevant stakeholders-validation workshop/meeting.
•  Integrate inputs from the validation workshop and submit the final version of the ECE advocacy and communication strategy along with the action plan.
•  Develop selected knowledge/advocacy products and publications detailed under the advocacy and communication plan.

Please see attached ToR for detailed information. ToR - ECE consultancy.pdf

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

•  Advanced university degree/ Masters, in, digital communications, international relations, political or social sciences, education, human rights.
•  Minimum of five years of progressively advanced experience in advocacy, including skills in conceptualizing and developing advocacy and communication strategies, materials, and action plans for implementation.
•  Experience in developing/implementing ECD/ECE advocacy and communication materials.
•  Demonstrated familiarity with the advocacy work of UNICEF and/or international development, humanitarian, and child rights issues.
•  Excellent knowledge of English is required - strong communication skills (written and oral) in English are necessary.
•  Proven ability to think critically and seek out, synthesize, and interpret large amounts of information.
•  Concrete experience on fostering open dialogue, building trust, and engaging key stakeholders.
•  Experience in conducting focus groups and key informant interviews and analyzing and using qualitative data.
•  Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
•  Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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

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 or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Remarks:

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF's policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

Advertised: Mar 24 2025 Greenwich Standard Time

Application close: Apr 06 2025 Greenwich Standard Time

Click here to apply