Vacancy Announcement from UNICEF
Communication Associate in Social and Behaviour Change
Assignment country: Nepal
Expected start date: 10/02/2025
Sustainable Development Goal: 10. Reduced inequalities
Volunteer category: International UN Youth Volunteer
Host entity: UNICEF
Type: Onsite
Duration: 12 months
Number of assignments: 1
Duty stations: Kathmandu
Details
Mission and objectives
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
In all of its work, UNICEF takes a life-cycle based approach, recognizing the particular importance of early childhood development and adolescence. UNICEF programmes focus on the most disadvantaged children, including those living in fragile contexts, those with disabilities, those who are affected by rapid urbanization and those affected by environmental degradation.
UNICEF was created with a distinct purpose in mind: to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. We advocate for measures to give children the best start in life, because proper care at the youngest age forms the strongest foundation for a person’s future.
We promote girls’ education – ensuring that they complete primary education as a minimum – because it benefits all children, both girls and boys. Girls who are educated grow up to become better thinkers, better citizens, and better parents to their own children. We act so that all children are immunized against common childhood diseases, and are well nourished: no child should suffer or die from a preventable illness. We work to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people because it is right to keep them from harm and enable them to protect others. We help children and families affected by HIV/AIDS to live their lives with dignity.
We are UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund.
Context
Social and Behaviour Change in UNICEF is a cross-cutting programme strategy that analyses and addresses the cognitive, social and structural determinants of individual practices and societal changes in both development and humanitarian contexts. SBC uses the latest in social and behavioral sciences to understand people, their beliefs, their values, the socio-cultural norms, and the economic and institutional contexts that shape their lives, with the aim of engaging them and increasing their influence in the design of solutions for change. SBC brings social and behavioral evidence generation together with participation in community-led and human-centered processes. SBC is at the core of UNICEF’s mandate, with corporate results across sectors revolving around behaviors like immunization, feeding practices, learning, hygiene, and positive discipline, as well as transformations across sectors needed to make societies more inclusive, equitable and peaceful.
UNICEF SBC employs a mix of approaches including community engagement, strategic communication, applied behavioral science, service delivery improvement, systems strengthening, social mobilization and policy advocacy to advance child rights, survival, development, protection and participation.
The Social and Behaviour Change Section at Nepal Country Office (NCO) provides technical support to key stakeholders across the country, enhancing their leadership and function and promoting partnerships’ building. Technical support is offered on community engagement, AAP, and behavioral science. SBC RO team also helps to integrate social and behavior change across multiple sectors.
The overreaching direction for SBC in the new country program prioritizes five system strengthening areas:
• Support SBC in all provinces meeting internal and external expectations
• Focus on demonstration at small scale and on the most underserved population
• Engagement of children and adolescents as agents of social change
• Internal and external co-creation and partnership for cost and resource efficiency
• Internal and external capacity development reaching sub-national level
In 2024 NCO is working hard on fundraising to support national and sub-national activities. Dynamic and specialized support is being recruited by NCO to support diverse strategic areas, such as partnerships and resource mobilization, capacity development, in the framework of the SBC+ regional programme and digital community engagement.
Task description
Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Chief SBC Nepal Country Office or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the Communication Associate in Social and Behaviour Change will:
- Support SBC team to produce engaging and informative content across various platforms, including UNICEF’s internal and external facing (such as website, social media, newsletter) channels, and more to ensure visibility of SBC’s work in the country and the regional and global levels, and maintaining consistency across different platforms.
- Work with the sectoral focal points to translate SBC best practices into visually appealing and user-friendly format to effectively reach and engage the target audiences.
- Support SBC team in creating visually appealing and effective creative communication assets such as publications, project brochures, infographics, factsheets, human-interest stories, short videos, podcasts in character and others for multiple audiences.
- Support as need to reach programing, information sharing and communication goals.
- Provide regular updates on the creative assets performance and make necessary adjustments to improve its effectiveness.
- Assist in creating guidelines, templates, and training materials for the production of creative communication assets based on SBC focuses on Nepal.
- Collaborate with SBC team in the ideation, conceptualization, design, and improvement of communication deliverables tailored for various UNICEF and SBC internal and external platforms and audiences, ensuring maximum visibility, functionality, and impact.
Eligibility criteria
Age: 18 – 80
Additional eligibility criteria
This assignment is funded by the Government of Switzerland and therefore specific criteria apply:
- Candidates must be Swiss nationals.
- Candidates must be between 18 and 29 years of age at the time of application.
- Only candidates who have been pre-selected by Switzerland (cinfo) are eligible to apply.
Requirements
Required experience
1 years of experience in
(minimum 3 months) content creation, copywriting, or similar role, with a focus on creating content for various audiences.
Further the UN Volunteer brings/is:
- Experience with video editing, graphic design, or other multimedia content creation tools is a plus.
- Proficiency in creating engaging content with a strong command of grammar, style, and tone varying audiences.
- An eye for clean, simple, and compelling visual design.
- Excellent with Microsoft Package and good IT skills, especially with design and photo and video editing apps and software.
- Knowledge of and interest in South Asia cultural and social issues.
- Creative, enthusiastic, solutions orientated.
- Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging and multicultural environment.
- Ability to respond to short deadlines and demonstrate a quick turn-around and execution of creative work.
- Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight dead-lines.
- Highly motivated, with a commitment to learning and growth within the assigned area of work.
- Have affinity with or interest in child rights, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.
- Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded;
Area(s) of expertise
Communication, Social work
Driving license
–
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required
Required education level
Master degree or equivalent in Creative Writing, Multimedia, Journalism, Communication, Social Science, or a similar discipline.
Competencies and values
Accountability
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Building Trust
- Client Orientation
- Commitment and Motivation
- Commitment to Continuous Learning
- Communication
- Creativity
- Ethics and Values
- Integrity
- Judgement and Decision-making
- Knowledge Sharing
- Planning and Organizing
- Professionalism
- Respect for Diversity
- Self-Management
- Technological Awareness
- Working in Teams
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
The UNV will be based in Kathmandu, Nepal and will be provided with a desk and workspace. Upon initiating the assignment, the UNV is expected to work five days a week (Monday to Friday) at UNICEF Premises located in UN House, Pulchowk.
The applicable Volunteer Living Allowance is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents), as well as final repatriation (if applicable) and resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.
Nepal is nestled in South Asia between India and the Tibetan region of China. Its stunning views of the Himalayan range attract people from around the world, particularly to locally-called “Sagarmantha” or Mount Everest. Nepal can be divided into four distinct regions. From north to south they are: (a) the Himalayan range with an altitude of over 5,000 m including Mount Everest (Sagarmatha in Nepali), 8,848 m; (b) the hills at an altitude of 500 to 5,000 mt. with long terraced slopes leading to fertile valleys such as Kathmandu and Pokhara; (c) the Inner Terrai with its low river valleys; and (d) the fertile Outer Terai between 180 and 350m. The Himalayan range accounts for a third of the total land area whereas the Hills and the Terai occupy roughly 45 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively. Nepal moved from a monarchy to a parliamentary democracy in 1951. The country was strife with civil war in the 1990s and early 2000s and ultimately replaced the world’s last Hindu monarchy with a secular government in 2008. The 2018 new constitution shifted powers from the centralized parliament in Kathmandu to its seven provinces as the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. The Nepalese people, also referred Nepali, are a diverse mix of over 125 ethnic groups with almost as many languages between them. They are deeply spiritual, and the practices of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and other indigenous and folk religions have left their mark on their customs and festivals.
Nepal has four distinct seasons that vary according to its region. Spring is warm with rain showers and temperatures around 22°C, lasting from March to May. Summer is the monsoon season and lasts from June to August/September, with temperatures in the low 30’s°C in the day and about 20°C at night. Rain is rare and scattered outside of this season. Autumn is the season that attracts most tourists interested in trekking. September to November is cool with clear skies with average daily temperatures of 25°C and cool nights as low as 10°C. The winter months of December to February get cold and may have sub-zero °C temperatures, although maximum temperatures can rise to 20°C. The climate in Kathmandu is agreeable and people eat outside most of the year.
Nepal, including Kathmandu is generally safe, including for families and solo female travellers. Crime is low; however petty theft is a risk like anywhere. The Nepalese are known for being friendly and helpful towards foreign travellers. While it is generally fine to walk at night, be aware of your surroundings and exercise caution when doing so, especially in urban areas.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Reasonable accommodation
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
In addition to duty station-specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts.
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