UNICEF KENYA Communication for Development Specialist, P4

Duty Station: Nairobi Regional Office, Kenya Contract Type: Long Term Staff (FT) Application Deadline: 19 October 2012

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities Under the general guidance of the Regional Chief of Communication for Development and in close collaboration with the Section Chief as well as with the Regional Adviser YCSD and the Regional Immunization Officer, key responsibilities include: 1. Provide technical support to internal colleagues and their government counterparts to enhance their capacity to generate and use social data for the planning of C4D interventions; 2. Lead the development, testing and implementation of community based participatory approaches to polio eradication and EPI that integrate innovations for demand creation and active community engagement within an overall communication strategy; 3. Support internal colleagues and government counterparts in the development and implementation of evidence based communication strategies related to the introduction of new vaccines against pneumonia and diarrhea; 4. Assist internal and external partners to organize the development, testing and production of culturally relevant communication tools building on social data that help address bottlenecks and support an equity-focused implementation of immunization strategies aimed at reaching all children with EPI interventions; 5. Support the development of strategic partnerships with community based organizations (CBOs), traditional leaders, teachers, artists, and faith based organizations, community groups or in the community, as well as civil society organizations, to increase understanding of polio eradication and other immunization issues and participate effectively in community-based child health initiatives; 6. Develop training materials and activities to build capacity in all aspects of C4D including participatory communication internally and at various government levels in support of immunization+; 7. Facilitate documentation and dissemination of best practices on all aspects of the programme, including working through different communication channels in the implementation of immunization activities at the district level; 8. Monitor and evaluate immunization activities on the basis of applied communication research and frequent visits to project sites; 9. Disseminate communication research findings; ensure exchanges of experience and new methods to CO staff, government officials and other UNICEF partners; 10. Support the roll-out and implementation of global and regional strategies to enhance the capacity at country level for disease outbreak communication; 11. Support resource mobilization for immunization through the development of proposals and the production of regional donor reports on immunization, C4D and social mobilization as required; 12. Contribute to the development and implementation of a regional advocacy and external relations communication strategy to mobilize support and strengthen political will for the use of appropriate immunization services; 13. Support communication strategy development and strategy implementation, identify needs and support the development of advocacy materials/activities to increase the profile of immunization in the public domain; 14. Contribute to development and production of communication material related to immunization in coordination with Regional Communication Advisor for global advocacy and fund-raising as required by HQ Division of Communication and national UNICEF committees.

Qualifications 1. Advanced university degree in the social/behavioural sciences, (Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Health Education) with emphasis on participatory communication, communication planning, social mobilization, participatory research, training and impact evaluation of communication interventions; 2. Eight years of relevant work experience in the planning and management of social development programmes, including four years in developing countries, with practical experience in the adaptation and application of communication planning processes to specific programmes. Demonstrated knowledge and use of participatory communication methodologies such as Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), Appreciative Inquiry, Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation (PHAST), Community Theatre, etc.; 3. Fluency in English and another UN language. Knowledge of Portuguese is an asset.

How to apply: 

To Apply Please click http://bit.ly/T1fgWO or visit us at www.unicef.org/about/employ to register in our e-Recruitment system, and search using keyword "communication" for additional details/to apply before deadline.