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 future

Advocacy and Communication are at the center of UNICEF’s mandate. We advocate to decision makers for ‘the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential’. We communicate to key public and private audiences to build support for the cause of children.

The Advocacy and Communication Specialist post is located in the UNICEF Seoul Liaison Office, which is part of UNICEF’s Public Partnerships Division (PPD). The office is responsible for strengthening partnerships and relationship management with the Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK). The office works closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Korean Parliamentarian Friends of UNICEF, the Korean Committee for UNICEF (responsible for public advocacy in Korea and private sector fundraising), among other bodies.

Video on UNICEF-Korea partnership https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=gkgJS7YfH0k

The Advocacy and Communication Specialist reports to the Head of the UNICEF Seoul Liaison Office.

How can you make a difference?

The P3 Advocacy and Communication Specialist is accountable for coordinating, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating advocacy and communication strategies to achieve positive outcomes for children and young people.

Key functions, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks:

This staff member will drive the development of effective, integrated advocacy and communication strategies. S/he will work collaboratively with colleagues across teams and with external partners to drive changes in policy and practice and secure political and financial commitments for children. Duties include:

• Advocacy strategy development

Provide technical support in developing a robust advocacy strategy, with SMART outcomes, compelling calls to action, and a clear theory of change. Analyze political, economic and cultural trends in the Republic of Korea from a wide range of sources and identify potential advocacy opportunities and challenges.

Propose new approaches and innovative ideas as part of the strategy development process.

• Advocacy strategy implementation

Coordinate the implementation of advocacy strategies and plans, working with colleagues in the UNICEF Seoul Liaison Office to deliver a range of advocacy tactics, such as: developing advocacy briefs and products, producing advocacy narratives, shaping creative activations with the Government of the Republic of Korea, parliamentarians, academia, and other stakeholders, and organizing advocacy events.

• Communication strategy development and implementation

Provide technical assistance in designing and delivering effective communication plans that will deliver the aims of the office’s key advocacy strategies and help to mobilize support from the Government of the Republic of Korea for the cause of children.

Produce a portfolio of communication assets, including newsletters, videos, brochures, and other visibility materials that promote UNICEF’s work and UNICEF’s partnership with the Government of the Republic of Korea.

Provide printed/oral English Korean and Korean-English translations, as required.

• Media relations

Help to build and maintain strong relationships with journalists and media outlets, providing inputs to the Korean Committee for UNICEF, which is responsible for media outreach in the Republic of Korea. 

Oversee production of a Weekly Press Digest for UNICEF leadership, which summarizes Korean policy trends in development cooperation and the country’s support of UNICEF’s work.

Produce social media posts that promote UNICEF’s partnership with the Government of the Republic of Korea.

• Donor visibility and recognition

Lead the office’s donor visibility and recognition portfolio, maximizing opportunities to promote the government’s support of UNICEF’s work in UNICEF publications, UNICEF websites, and print and social media. Tasks include proactive engagement with UNICEF offices to ensure that partnership opportunities are properly identified and promoted.

• Advocacy and communication M&E

Establish baselines against which results are regularly monitored; analyze the effectiveness of the office’s advocacy and communication strategy, approach and activities; and drive the day-to-day production and dissemination of M&E results on a regular basis.

• Project management

Coordinate an inclusive and integrated approach to advocacy and communication within the UNICEF Seoul Liaison Office to deliver on agreed strategic advocacy and communication initiatives.

• Stakeholder engagement

Identify, build, and maintain formal and informal advocacy partnerships and networks among external partners, including the Government of the Republic of Korea, parliamentarians, academia, and the Korean Committee for UNICEF.

Adopt a consultative approach and solicit the support of key stakeholders at critical points of the strategy.

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

• An Advanced University degree in Public Policy, Political Science, International Relations, International Development, Public Administration, Economics, Communication or other relevant fields.  A first level university degree with an additional two years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• At least five (5) years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in advocacy and communications is required.
• Experience in leading the development and implementation of advocacy and communication strategies, with clear theories of change, with specific, measurable and timebound objectives and performance indicators.
• A track record of achieving or contributing to tangible policy change.
• Proven experience in deploying a range of advocacy and communication tactics based on a clear theory of change.
• Experience in building and maintaining a network of stakeholders.
• Experience in media relations, including social media.
• Strong communicator with emphasis on being able to engage external stakeholders in discussions around priority thematic areas.
• Knowledge of children’s rights, public policy, international development and humanitarian issues.
• Experience in communication & advocacy in Republic of Korea is an asset.
• Fluency in English and Korean is required.

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

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:

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

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also 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 a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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