Communication Specialist, P-3, Temporary Appointment #00137932 (364 days), Kabul, Afghanistan, APR (Non-Afghan Nationals Only)

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

How can you make a difference?

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Job organizational context:

In light of the continuing humanitarian and development challenges facing children and families in Afghanistan, UNICEF Afghanistan Country Office is seeking a Communication Specialist to support the Communication and Advocacy section with public advocacy, donor visibility, digital content production, social media management, media engagement and communication on UNICEF-supported programmes and results.

Purpose for the job:

The Communication Specialist will provide general communication support across the Country Office, with a particular focus on strengthening donor visibility, producing high-quality digital and multimedia content, managing social media outputs, and communicating the impact of UNICEF’s work for children. The role will support timely, accurate and compelling communication products for public audiences, donors, partners, National Committees, media and other key stakeholders.

The position will report to the Chief of Communication and Advocacy, with close working relationships with Programme Sections, Field Offices, the Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation team, and relevant regional and headquarters colleagues.).

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Social media management and digital engagement

• Support the day-to-day management of UNICEF Afghanistan social media platforms, including content planning, drafting, scheduling, publishing and performance monitoring.
• Develop social media content in line with Country Office priorities, advocacy moments, donor visibility commitments, emergencies and programme results.
• Coordinate with Programme Sections and Field Offices to identify social media opportunities and ensure timely amplification of key activities and results.
• Ensure social media content is accurate, child-sensitive, politically sensitive, risk-informed and aligned with UNICEF communication standards.

Donor visibility and resource mobilisation communication support

• Support the development and implementation of donor visibility plans, ensuring that UNICEF and donor visibility requirements are met across communication products, field missions, events and digital platforms.
• Work closely with the Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation team, Programme Sections and Field Offices to identify donor-related communication opportunities, key results, human-interest stories and visibility moments.
• Draft, edit and quality assure donor-related communication materials, including human-interest stories, social media posts, captions, web stories, donor acknowledgements, talking points, briefing notes and visibility updates.
• Support donor missions and field visits through the preparation of communication briefs, key messages, content plans, social media packages and visibility materials.
• Support the collection, organisation and dissemination of donor visibility assets, including photos, videos, captions, consent forms, quotes and field notes.

Media relations and public advocacy

• Contribute to the development of media materials, including press releases, media advisories, statements, key messages, Q&As, talking points and media briefs.
• Support rapid and accurate dissemination of information to media, National Committees, partners and other key audiences.
• Coordinate with programme and field colleagues to ensure that public messaging is evidence-based, timely and aligned with UNICEF positions.
• Support media visits, interviews, press conferences and field coverage, including preparation of briefing materials and coordination with colleagues.

Emergency communication support

• Support timely communication during humanitarian emergencies, including sudden-onset crises and ongoing humanitarian needs affecting children and families.
• Support the development and updating of emergency key messages, Q&As, situation updates, social media lines and public-facing communication materials.
• Coordinate with Programme Sections, Field Offices and emergency colleagues to gather timely information, stories, photos and videos from affected areas.
• Produce and disseminate rapid communication content highlighting the needs of children and families, UNICEF’s response and urgent funding requirements.
• Ensure emergency communication products are accurate, sensitive, protection-focused and aligned with humanitarian principles.
• Support field missions and content-gathering during emergencies, where required and feasible.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD Communication Specialist, P3 Afghanistan.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced University Degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, International Relations, Social Sciences or another relevant field is required.
• Work Experience: A minimum of five years of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in communication, journalism, public relations, digital communication, media relations, advocacy or external relations.
• Experience managing institutional social media platforms and developing digital content plans is required.
• Demonstrated experience in producing communication content for public audiences, including human-interest stories, web stories, social media content, photo captions, video scripts and advocacy materials.
• Skills: Communication, Social Media Platforms, Digital Content, Public Relations, Journalism, Excellent Written
• Language Requirements: Proficiency in English is required.

Desirables:

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
• Demonstrated experience in producing communication content for public audiences, including human-interest stories, web stories, social media content, photo captions, video scripts and advocacy materials.
• Experience in donor visibility, resource mobilization communication or partnership communication is highly desirable.
• Experience working in humanitarian or emergency contexts is highly desirable.
• Experience working with photographers, videographers, writers, designers or digital content producers is an asset.
• Experience with UNICEF, the United Nations or another international organization is an asset.
• Experience working in the Afghanistan context is an asset.

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

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

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children's data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

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

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Eligible staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions in a duty station designated as L2/L3, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.