Advocacy Specialist (Communication)

The Advocacy Specialist (Communication) leads impactful advocacy and communication initiatives to promote children's rights, build partnerships, manage digital and media campaigns, and translate complex policy issues into compelling narratives that inspire action. The role supports UNICEF's mission to advocate for every child's rights and equity through strategic communication and advocacy.

Responsibilities

• Advocacy strategy development.
• Advocacy strategy implementation.
• Communication strategy development and implementation.
• Digital communications.
• Media relations.
• Advocacy and communication M&E.
• Project and budget management.
• Advocacy and communication capacity building.
• Stakeholder engagement.

Requirements

• Masters or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in public policy, political science, international relations, international development, public administration, economics, communication and any other related fields.
• At least five (5) years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in advocacy/ campaigning and communications is required.
• Knowledge of children’s rights, public policy, international development and humanitarian issues are required.
• Experience in leading the development and implementation of advocacy strategies with clear theories of change, specific, measurable and timebound objectives and performance indicators is required.
• Experience in and current in digital, social media content and in media relations, audience trends as well as in managing online platforms and channels is required.
• Strong communicator with emphasis on being able to present complex policy ideas in succinct, engaging ways.
• Strong political awareness, sound judgement and able to manage sensitive issues.
• Ability to identify advocacy opportunities and translate them into practical influencing strategies.
• Excellent writing and communication skills, including the ability to simplify complex technical issues for different audiences.
• Strategic thinking, with the ability to connect evidence, partnerships, communications and policy influence to achieve results.
• Strong facilitation, coalition-building and partnership management skills (internally and with partners).
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver in a fast-paced environment.
• Fluency in English is required.
• A track record of achieving or contributing to tangible policy change (desirable).
• Proven experience in deploying a range of advocacy and communication tactics based on a clear theory of change (desirable).
• Experience in building and maintaining a network of stakeholders, and in working with coalitions (desirable).
• Strong communicator with emphasis on being able to present complex policy ideas in succinct, engaging ways through campaign narratives and creative tactics (desirable).
• Demonstrated experience in designing and management of projects, including budget management and monitoring and evaluation of results (desirable).
• Experience in advocacy at the international level is an asset.
• Experience in training and facilitation is an asset.
• Experience in supporting communications in an emergency environment is an asset.
• Experience in UNICEF, UN system or an international organization is an asset.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts is an asset.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language (Sinhala and/or Tamil) is an asset.

Skills

• Advocacy Strategies
• Theory of Change
• Digital Media Management
• Social Media Content Creation
• Media Relations
• Policy Advocacy
• Child Rights Knowledge
• International Development
• Humanitarian Issues
• Policy Communications
• Strategic Communications
• Audience Insights Analysis
• Partnership Management
• Coalition Building
• Project Management
• Budget Management
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Campaign Development
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Training Facilitation

Languages

English