Digital Communication Specialist (Digital Community Engagement and Misinformation Management), P-3, Polio Eradication Programme, Nairobi, Kenya, 364 days [temporary appointment]

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For every child, Health

UNICEF plays a critical role in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a partnership dedicated to eradicating polio worldwide. UNICEF is the global lead on communications in GPEI and aims to ensure ongoing community trust in and acceptance of the polio vaccine. As digital communication becomes increasingly important in today’s interconnected world, UNICEF Polio Team is leveraging Digital Community Engagement (DCE) to effectively engage online communities, manage misinformation, and promote positive narratives around vaccination. 

This position is part of the UNICEF Polio Outbreaks Team in Nairobi. The Polio SBC Team is central to UNICEF’s global efforts in ensuring that communities continue to demand and accept the polio vaccine in outbreak countries. The team promotes vaccine acceptance, proactively sharing information via in-person and digital channels, developing innovative solutions, and building countries’ long-term ability to manage health information effectively in the digital realm.

How can you make a difference?

This position will support the efforts of SBC Manager (Outbreaks), and Digital Communication Manager (New York) in strategizing, planning, and implementing digital communication initiatives in polio outbreak countries. By collaborating closely with UNICEF teams, GPEI partners, and government officers, the Digital Communication Specialist will contribute to the development of effective social media engagement, misinformation management, and digital community engagement strategies in line with UNICEF’s objectives and the broader goals of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

Key responsibilities and tasks include the following:

1. Support digital ecosystem, social media, and digital technology platforms:

• Assist the Digital Communication Manager in providing technical support to UNICEF Country Offices (COs) for digital engagement interventions, including strategy development, planning, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Contribute to the implementation of UNICEF Polio Annual Work Plans in coordination with GPEI partners, ensuring digital and social media components of the Country polio SBC programs meet global excellence standards.
• Participate in technical working groups and translate policies and guidelines into operational frameworks for countries to support the development and implementation of global strategic direction, guidelines, and work plans for digital engagement.

2. Support polio digital community engagement strategy:

• Assist in the development and implementation of a cohesive digital community engagement strategy for global, regional, and country levels, aiming to provide online communities with up-to-date information about polio eradication efforts, encourage participation, create discourse, and promote community confidence in the polio program.
• Collaborate with partners and stakeholders to ensure the integration and harmonization of polio social media activities with global communication and advocacy activities, as well as intra-UN system development activities and initiatives.
• Support the planning and implementation of social listening mechanisms to monitor and mitigate risks associated with misinformation, fake news, and an information vacuum about vaccination. Engage with various groups and influencers in the digital ecosystem to pre-emptively address and debunk myths about vaccines.

3. Contribute to misinformation management capacity building and technical deployment:

• Support the design of evidence-based capacity-building strategies to manage polio and vaccine-related misinformation, both online and offline, in collaboration with internal and external partners.
• Assist in producing and testing training aids and materials for misinformation management events and learning activities, ensuring high levels of technical capacity to maintain community trust in vaccines and vaccination worldwide.
• Support the maintenance of active relationships with online media outlets, influencers, researchers, implementing organizations, and strategic partners to actively contain rumors, misinformation, and disinformation around the polio vaccine or vaccines in general.

4. Coordinate and advance thinking around Digital Community Engagement:

• Support the development of UNICEF Polio Team’s global Digital Community Engagement approach, spearheading social listening, uInfluencer community engagagment, online ads management, risk anticipation, content design, and programmatic support to polio outbreak and endemic countries.
• Participate in organizational and inter-agency discussions and planning on digital and social media for polio SBC advocacy and resource mobilization initiatives, including outbreaks, in collaboration with the Division of Communication.
• Contribute to evidence generation and research initiatives for improved digital community engagement activities, influencing national and local policies and investments in SBC for generating sustainable results through online communication activities.
• Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned with global and local partners and stakeholders to build capacity of practitioners, local networks, and government partners to actively mobilize online communities to further the goals of the polio program and generate demand for vaccination.

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

The following minimum requirements:

• Education: A master’s degree in marketing, digital marketing, advertising, public relations, social and behavioral science or another relevant field.

• Work Experience / Skills:

• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in one or more of the following: social media management, digital marketing, or digital communication.
• Knowledge and experience in mobilizing social media, technological platforms, applications, and digital influencers to achieve strategic results.
• Strong written communication skills and the ability to convey complex information in a clear and concise manner.
• Proven track record in developing and executing successful digital communication campaigns, with an emphasis on audience engagement and content creation for various platforms.
• Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams and to collaborate with internal and external partners in a diverse and multicultural environment.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in English and working knowledge of French is required.

The following desirables:

• Work Experience / Skills:

• Experience with social media listening, sentiment analysis, and misinformation management is desirable, as well as familiarity with social media management tools and analytics.
• Understanding of behavioral determinants of vaccination and familiarity with UNICEF SBC principles and tactics in public health, immunization, Polio, or COVID-19 is an asset.

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

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

The 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.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. 

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

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. 

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All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.