UNICEF: Communication Specialist – Djibouti

Organization Mission

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives. To defend their rights. To help them reach their potential. In Djibouti, UNICEF’s presence dates back to July 1981, and it is now more than three decades since UNICEF, in close collaboration with its partners, has been working to maintain the gains made and to ensure a better future for every boy and girl.

Context

UNICEF has supported Djibouti for more than four decades, working with the Government and partners to realise children’s rights in health, nutrition, education, water, sanitation and hygiene, child protection and social policy. Djibouti sits at the crossroads of the Horn of Africa, a region exposed to recurrent drought, climate shocks and population movements. The country hosts refugees and migrants from neighbouring countries. UNICEF Djibouti operates in a hardship environment that places a premium on agility, partnerships and results-based communication. 

This assignment is part of a UNV-funded initiative designed to bring fresh, diverse talent into UN programmes from countries that are currently unrepresented among UN Volunteers. It offers a unique opportunity to help ensure that global volunteering truly reflects the world we serve, while giving participating UN Volunteers meaningful, hands on experience with leading UN partners. As such, the initiative targets candidates from the following nationalities: Andorra, Croatia, Estonia, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, Slovenia

This assignment anchors a joint UNICEF-UNV initiative in Djibouti. UNICEF Djibouti is establishing a three-tier UN Volunteer team in communication and partnerships: one international UN Volunteer Specialist, one national UN Volunteer, and a rotating cohort of UN Community Volunteers. The Communication Specialist sits in the Office of the Representative, within the Communication function, and leads this team.

Key Responsibilities

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Communication Specialist of UNICEF Djibouti, or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer will:

A. Communication, content and storytelling 

Lead UNICEF Djibouti’s communication and produce and oversee high-quality multimedia content, including photographs, videos, articles, infographics, reels and stories, in line with UNICEF brand guidelines. 

Set the editorial direction for UNICEF Djibouti’s communication channels, including the website and the social media channels Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn, and drive measurable growth in reach and engagement. 

Conduct photo and video coverage during field missions, and collect human-interest stories and testimonies from children, adolescents and communities. 

Establish a monthly analytics and performance cycle, with clear recommendations to improve audience engagement and advocacy impact. 

Oversee media monitoring and the daily press review, and maintain the office’s communication and visibility assets and contact databases. 

B. Strategic communication and resource mobilization 

Develop donor-facing communication products, including concept notes, project summaries, funding proposals, visibility materials and impact summaries. 

Package programmatic results into donor-ready formats to support resource mobilization. 

Maintain a resource mobilization pipeline tracker and donor and partner databases, in coordination with the programme and operations teams. 

Support donor visibility commitments and the communication requirements of grant agreements. 

C. UNICEF-UNV partnership growth and promotion of volunteerism 

Serve as the focal point for the UNICEF-UNV partnership in Djibouti, in coordination with the UNV Country Office. 

Support the replication of the UNICEF-UNV Young Champions Initiative in Djibouti, including coordination with UNV, engagement of potential donors, and design of volunteer cohorts. 

Document and communicate the contribution of UN Volunteers to UNICEF results, positioning volunteerism as a driver of the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Contribute to a pipeline of UN Volunteer assignments for UNICEF Djibouti and partners, and support a possible follow-on proposal to the UNV Special Voluntary Fund. 

D. Coordination and mentoring of the UN Volunteer team 

Coordinate the day-to-day work of the national UN Volunteer and the UN Community Volunteers in communication and content production. 

Provide structured guidance, coaching and on-the-job mentoring, with clear workplans and regular feedback. 

Support the onboarding, induction and learning journey of the UN Community Volunteer cohorts, in line with the Young Champions model. 

E. Campaigns, media and emergency communication 

Lead the design and delivery of communication campaigns, advocacy initiatives and special events. 

Contribute to inter-agency communication through the United Nations Communication Group. 

Build and maintain relationships with media, influencers, youth networks and communication focal points. 

Support emergency and risk communication, including rapid content production during humanitarian response. 

F. Capacity building and knowledge transfer 

Build the communication, digital storytelling and partnership skills of UNICEF staff, the national UN Volunteer and the UN Community Volunteers. 

Document tools, templates and standard operating procedures to sustain the office’s capacity after the assignment. 

Results and expected outputs: 

A measurable increase in the reach, engagement and quality of UNICEF Djibouti’s digital communication. 

Donor-ready communication and resource mobilization products that support measurable funding results. 

A functioning UNICEF-UNV partnership in Djibouti, with the Young Champions Initiative replicated and the volunteer team sustained and positioned for expansion in 2027. 

A national UN Volunteer and successive cohorts of UN Community Volunteers coached and equipped with practical skills. 

Documented tools and standard operating procedures that sustain the office’s communication capacity. 

As an active volunteer, the UN Volunteer promotes the values and the recognition of volunteerism through their conduct, action and engagement with communities and partners.

Required Skills and Experience

• Proven experience in social media and digital content strategy, with measurable results
• Strong multimedia production skills, including photography, videography, and editing on both professional cameras and mobile devices, with proficiency in design tools such as the Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, or equivalent.
• Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
• Experience producing donor-facing or partnership communication products.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills.
• Ability to coordinate and mentor a small team.
Additional assets
• Experience with the United Nations or international organizations.• Experience in humanitarian or hardship settings.• Familiarity with volunteerism and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV ) programme.

Note:

This Description of Assignment is part of a targeted UNV initiative and is open exclusively to candidates with the following nationalities: Andorra, Croatia, Estonia, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, Slovenia.
Applicants who do not fully meet the minimum professional experience requirements for a UN Volunteer ‘Specialist’ assignment are still encouraged to apply; if selected, they may be recruited under the Conditions of Service applicable to UN Volunteer ‘Associate’ assignments.

Core Competencies

Accountability;
Adaptability and flexibility;
Creativity; Judgement and decision-making;
Planning and organising;
Professionalism;
Communication;
Working in teams;
Building partnerships.

The UN Volunteer is expected to demonstrate the UNICEF core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability, and a genuine commitment to the principles of voluntary engagement.

Living Conditions

Djibouti is located in the Horn of Africa, at the crossroads of East Africa and the Middle East. Djibouti City is the capital and the main administrative, economic and port hub. 

Climate: hot arid desert climate. Temperatures are high throughout the year, often between 30 and 45 degrees Celsius, in particular from May to September. The cooler season runs from November to February. Rainfall is scarce and irregular. 

Population and society: the population is about 1.1 million. The vast majority is Muslim. French and Arabic are the official languages; Somali and Afar are widely spoken. 

Safety: Djibouti is generally stable and relatively safe. Petty crime can occur in urban areas. Security guidelines are issued and updated by UNDSS, and UN Volunteers are fully included in the UN security framework. 

Operating environment: Djibouti is classified as a hardship duty station. The country is exposed to recurrent drought, climate shocks and population movements, and hosts refugees and migrants from neighbouring countries. The assignment offers an enriching professional environment and requires cultural awareness, flexibility, and the willingness to live and work in demanding conditions. 

Currency: the Djiboutian Franc (DJF), with a fixed exchange rate of about 177 DJF to 1 USD. Banking and communications infrastructure are available in Djibouti City. 

Candidates are encouraged to review the full benefits and allowances for the duty station using the UVP calculator, and to consult the Conditions of Service for UN Volunteers. 

You may check the full benefits and allowances applicable to the duty station using the UVP calculator. Please see the Conditions of Service for UN Volunteers for more information and details.