UNICEF : UN Volunteer: Communications Officer/ Storytelling and multimedia – Suva

  • Location:
  • Salary:
    negotiable / YEAR
  • Job type:
    VOLUNTEER
  • Posted:
    2 weeks ago
  • Category:
    Communication and Advocacy, Graphic Design and Multimedia
  • Deadline:
    20/12/2025

JOB DESCRIPTION

Mission and objectives

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work to translate that commitment into practical action, especially for the most disadvantaged children. In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria. All 14 Pacific island countries have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations.

Context

The Communications section is cross-cutting, providing support to all programmatic areas in advocacy, branding, media, and social media outreach. Although the section supports all programmatic work, across all countries, in line with the new multi-country programme, the office has selected four advocacy priorities: Violence against children, Climate, Water security and Nutrition. The section plays a role in: – mobilizing political will and public awareness to prioritize children’s and women‘s rights in policies programmes as a result of strategic partnerships and improved knowledge management; – creating space for children and young people to express their concerns and ideas and participate in decisions affecting their lives. – Partnerships with the media and outreach through social media platforms play important roles in the office’s advocacy strategy. The UNV will work in the Communication Section alongside the Communications Officers under the direct supervision of the Chief of Communication.

Task Description

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Communication, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Develop simple multimedia products for social media use, including videos, photos, and tiles. • Support programme staff with simple branded designs for posters, powerpoint presentations, certificates and ad hoc requests. • Photograph/video events for social media coverage. • Coordination of human-interest stories: working alongside the communications team and programme officers to identify potential stories that illustrate the situation of children and inform the broad public about UNICEF’s work. • Manage a live spreadsheet/database of these planned stories, ensuring balanced coverage of themes and countries and identifying key details and resources (focal points, angles, potential interviewees, content collectors, authors, etc.). • Coordinate the publication and dissemination schedule for stories in collaboration with the rest of the team, adhering to any key dates, advocacy campaigns, or donor requirements. • Support the communications section as needed in managing events, developing communication packages for advocacy campaigns, producing communications materials, and contributing to media and social media packages. • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor. 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. 13. Results/expected outputs: The assignment will have had provided the UN Volunteer with the opportunity to play a key role in the dissemination of evidence and knowledge on the actual situation of children in the Pacific through a variety of communication channels for different purposes. This includes: • The dissemination of knowledge on social norms and practices that are detrimental to children’s development through stories and communications products published on UNICEF’s platforms. • Advocacy to strengthen the realization of children’s rights through contribution of information material for campaigns, particularly on UNICEF Pacific’s key advocacy priorities. • Traditional media and digital media outreach to raise awareness about the situation of children. This involves the coordination and production of human-interest stories and other communication material.

Competencies and values

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferable to UNICEF procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNICEF’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Living conditions and remarks

Fiji is a middle-income country with adequate basic services. The UNICEF Pacific office is located in the capital city of Suva. Fiji along with many other Pacific Island countries is known for being one of the friendliest nations in the world. However, security precautions should be taken at all times. Fiji, in general, is a safe country where common sense goes a long way in avoiding risks such as pickpockets and house burglaries. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment the UN volunteer will be responsible for arranging his or her housing and other living essentials. UN Volunteer entitlements and allowances: The purpose of allowances for UN Volunteers is to enable them to sustain a modest and secure standard of living at the duty station. The allowances are in no way to be understood as a compensation, reward or salary in exchange for the volunteer work. Monthly Living Allowance: FJD 2166.24 Entry Lump Sum: USD 400 Medical and life insurance (Cigna) Leave entitlements (annual leave, sick leave, learning leave, maternity/ paternity leave – details can be found in the Conditions of Service: https://explore.unv.org/cos) Access to UNV’s learning and career development resources Exit Lump Sum: FJD 180.52 for each month served, paid on completion of contract

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements