Temporary Appointment: Communication Officer (Donor Relations and Brand), NO-2, Lilongwe, Malawi #128166 (Open to nationals of Malawi Only)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a fair chance…

The UNICEF Malawi Country Programme (2024-2028) works through a One-UN approach based on the new United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSCDF) Strategic Priorities. 2024-2028).  All four strategic priorities of the UNSCDF2024-2028 hold significance to UNICEF and the priorities identified for children: i) Economic Development, ii) Governance, iii) Human Capital Development, and iv) Climate Change. UNICEF co-leads the further elaboration and results in developing the Human Capital Development strategic priority. The intent of the UNICEF Country Programme Document (CPD )2024-2028 is fully aligned with these priorities, which are also directly linked to the pillars of Malawi Vision 2063, and the Malawi Implementation Plan (MIP, 2030). To this extent, UNICEF’s strategy for the CPD includes Child Survival and Development (Health, Nutrition and WASH), Education, Learning and Child Protection, Social Policy (Social Protection and Public Finance for Children), Gender Equality, Inclusion and Innovation within a robust evidence-informed environment. These are focus areas under the Human Capital Development Enabler of the MIP (2030). The Country Programme envisages the progressive fulfilment of the rights to survival, development, education, protection and participation of all children, including adolescents, especially the most vulnerable and those at risk of being left behind, in an inclusive, resilient and protective environment. Besides Malawi’s 2063 vision and 2021–2030 implementation plan (MIP), the African Union’s Agenda 2063; UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, Gender Action Plan III, Innovation Strategy; and the SDGs. The country programme includes child survival and development, learning, skills development and protection, and social policy. All components are supported by the programme and operational effectiveness and efficiency imperatives. Risk-informed programming across the humanitarian and development nexus in all three outcome areas will strengthen disaster preparedness, enhance climate adaptation/mitigation and response, and increase the resilience capacity of institutions, communities and young people. Programming aligns with UNICEF Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s Transformative Agenda.

One of the key roles within the Communication Advocacy and Partnerships (CAP) Section is to build donor trust by ensuring visibility of their programmes and through quality reporting.  The team is furthermore dedicated to branding and positioning UNICEF as the leading child rights player in Malawi, while advocating for children’s rights. Through strategic donor engagements and proactive resource mobilization, we aim to ensure that we have mobilized resources essential for the success of UNICEF Malawi’s programmes to make a real difference in the lives of children. As Communication Officer (Donor Relations and Brand), you will be at the forefront of enhancing the country office’s donor relations engagement, brand visibility for UNICEF and supporting emergency response.

How can you make a difference?

The Malawi Country Office offers an exciting and rewarding career opportunity for you to join our dynamic Communication Advocacy and Partnerships (CAP) team. In your role as Communication Officer (Donor Relations and Brand), you will be responsible for supporting the overall communication and advocacy goals of the country office, and specifically enhance its partner engagement and donor visibility plans to contribute to improved donor relations and fundraising.  Additionally, you will support smooth project management activities within the CAP Section, the country office’s overall brand and visibility goals and contribute to strategic communication output in emergency contexts. In your role, you will report to the Chief Communication, Advocacy and Partnership for general guidance, while you will be providing technical support on communication and advocacy in partnership with Chiefs of Sections and Programme Managers.

This position therefore offers a unique opportunity for a qualified, motivated and committed individual to make a significant impact on quality reporting and donor relations and branding. By excelling professionally, you will contribute to the overall achievement of transformative results for children by delivering on the following key responsibility areas, but not limited to:  

1. Partnerships and Donor Relations

1. Creating and implementing donor visibility plans for major new and existing grants and updating the generic donor visibility strategy.
2. Coordinating closely with the Partnerships Specialist to ensure communication and visibility requirements are met for donor reports.
3. Managing partner/donor related events, including the preparation of communication and branding assets.
4. Creating a partner engagement calendar for partner and national committee field visits to support the country’s offices resource mobilization initiatives and donor stewardship.

2. Communication asset generation

1. Producing quality multimedia content and stories to support the country office priorities to strengthen fundraising and UNICEF’s role as the leading voice of children in Malawi.
2. Developing quality communication and media plans for humanitarian emergency response.
3. Contributing as part of the CAP Section, for the smooth functioning and planning of key public ‘moments’.
4. Supporting the Chief, Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships in the successful management and coordination of communication with consultants to ensure that they are supporting the section’s communication deliverables.

3. Develop and maintain the UNICEF brand and visibility

1. Producing and monitoring the implementation of UNICEF Malawi Country Office’s brand and visibility strategy.
2. Supporting the production of visibility assets, ensuring compliance with UNICEF branding guidelines.

You are encouraged to download the detailed job description  TOR – TA NOB Communication Officer (Donor Relations and Brand)_advert copy.pdf in order to view the full role and its requirements.

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Education:

• A university degree in Communications, Journalism, Social Sciences, International Relations, Management, etc.

Experience

• At least two years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national or international levels in one or a combination of the following fields of work: communication, donor relations.
• Proven experience in developing communication and donor relations strategies, also in writing press releases, stories, social media posts in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrable experience in designing and developing reports for donors, and other key stakeholders.
• Experience of project management of high-level events.
• Experience of interviewing families and individuals living in rural / remote terrains and writing stories / report based on interviews, evidence gathered.
• Experience of budgetary management.
• Engagement with a variety of stakeholders, including donors and representatives of the government considered a strong asset.
• Experience of delivering communication output in emergency situation considered an asset.
• Previous experience in a UN agency is considered a strong asset.

Technical knowledge and skills:

• Excellent technical skills in writing, in particular story-telling and reporting.
• Strong skills in leading and organizing high-profile events, including visits.
• Strong skills in creative development and content generation.
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to engage easily with a variety of personalities, from prominent figures to engaging with young people and children.
• Skills in photography, and developing engaging presentations.
• Strong coordination skills.
• Quick learner and team player.
• Ability to work under pressure and in multicultural environment.

Language:

• Fluency in English required with strong verbal and written skills. Knowledge of the local working language (Chichewa) is an asset.

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: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

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.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

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 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 promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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.

Remarks:

The position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates as well as suitable persons living with disability are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID).

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF.

UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/.

The vacancy announcement is open to internal UNICEF staff holding permanent, continuing and fixed term appointments and external candidates.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

To effectively contribute to the delivery of results for the children of Malawi, the UNICEF Malawi Country Office operates within a dynamic and results-oriented setting. We foster an environment characterized by creativity, innovation, collaboration, teamwork, a commitment to professional growth, and a safe workspace. Consequently, we are actively searching for individuals who are driven to enact tangible change and dedicated to serving Malawi’s children with resourcefulness, resilience, agility, and a commitment to professional excellence.