International Specialist Volunteer Advocacy and Communication

Details

Mission and objectives

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and Governments.

Context

For over 75 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection, and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations, and governments.
Tanzania is in a transformative phase, prioritizing growth, sustainability, and inclusivity. With progress in education, healthcare, and social inclusion, the country achieved lower-middle-income status in 2020. The country’s rapid growth presents both opportunities and challenges. UNICEF is dedicated to partnering with the Government and others to unlock every child’s full potential in this dynamic, youthful nation, to ensure that the fruits of development are equitably distributed and that the most vulnerable members of society – including children and women – are not left behind. With the rapid growth in the proportion of young people in Tanzania (nearly 70 percent of the population is below 30), there is a critical need to engage with young people to ensure they can be part of the solution. With this in mind, UNICEF embarked on a new country programme in partnership with the Government of Tanzania in July 2022.
This five-year programme, from 2022 to 2027, focuses on practical ways to realize the rights of children and adolescents. UNICEF’s work spans seven areas: health, HIV and AIDS, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), education, child protection, and social policy. The programme aims to give Tanzanian children and adolescents, especially the most disadvantaged children and families, access to and benefits from quality social services, knowledge, opportunities, and a fair life chance.
This UNV assignment, therefore, will focus on communication, advocacy and engagement with key influencers, including young people (10-24 years). Partnerships with influencers have been identified as the critical advocacy strategy for the Tanzania Country Office (TCO). It is in line with the Global Communication and Public Advocacy Strategy, which reflects partnerships as a critical strategy for advocacy. Documentation of their voices is crucial in amplifying advocacy goals for wider reach and action. Further, there is growing recognition at TCO of the importance of engaging with young people. This is reflected across strategic documents, including the UNICEF Adolescent and Youth Engagement Strategic Framework. It attempts to provide a strategic direction to TCO’s engagement with young people and bring together in a convergent manner the different activities with young people that are currently underway. Convergent and synergistic programming for adolescents and young people is one of TCO’s six priority results areas. UNICEF Tanzania’s communication and advocacy strategy also focuses on the centrality of ‘young people and millennials’ as influencers that can drive demand and support social change/social movements.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of Communication Specialist, the international UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
• Document voices of key influencers (adolescents, Members of parliament, development partners etc.) and develop human interest stories and other related knowledge products for amplification on the UNICEF website, and social media platforms.
• Support coordination of key events/commemorations/advocacy meetings with partners and key stakeholders and ensure UNICEF visibility.
• Develop communication and visibility products for key donors Support the development and implementation of UNICEF advocacy priorities
Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:
• 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 IVD).
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities.
• 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.