Communications Public Relations Jobs at National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and UNICEF


Deadline of this Job: 
06 January 2023

JOB DETAILS:

Reports to: The Executive Director

Job Purpose:
To provide overall leadership to the department of Public Relations & Corporate Affairs and contribute to the attainment of the Mandate and goal of NIRA

Key Responsibilities & Duties:
• Leads in the research, development and implementation of a Communication Strategy, standards and practices that elicit, as well as promote the views of the organization.
• Works in liaison with other directorates to oversee the implementation of the corporate communication strategy and quality assurance
• Establishes, manages and maintains key stakeholder relationship and strategic partnerships in the communications industry locally and internationally.
• Approves all press releases and publicity before their printing and issue
• Cultivates supportive relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure proper dissemination of the services of the organization that will promote the work and reputation of the NIRA
• Builds sound relationships with key industry media and positively influence the content of news stories relevant to NIRA.
• Provides leadership to the department staff, supervises and manages their performance and development in line with the organization's goals, objectives, policies and regulations.
• Develops departmental annual work plans and financial budgets and monitors their implementation in line with the Business plan.
• Produces annual corporate communications plans encompassing corporate campaigns and departmental-based campaigns which need to be published on an ongoing basis.

Education and Professional Qualifications:
• Bachelor's Degree with Honors in Public Relations, Communications, Law and any other relevant fields from a recognized institution.
• Should be a member of the Public Relations Association of Uganda
• A Master's degree will be an added advantage

Skills, knowledge and attributes:
• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment to drive results.
• Events management
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Customer focus
• Initiative and innovation

Working experience:
• At least 7 years of relevant work experience three (3) of which must have been served at management level preferably in a reputable Public or Private organization.


Deadline of this Job: 20 January 2023

JOB DETAILS:
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 Voice
Uganda’s Ministry of Health (MoH) declared an Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) - Sudan strain outbreak on September 20, 2022, following a positive test result for one adult male in Mubende district. The case was locally developed, not imported. The estimated date of the outbreak onset is 1st September 2022. Strong response efforts were launched by the MoH with support from partners, including UNICEF. A National EVD Response Plan (NEVDRP), comprising a total of seven pillars[1] and covering a period of three months with focus on high-risk districts was developed by MoH.

UNICEF Uganda developed an Ebola response plan in line with the Core Commitment for Children (CCC) in Emergencies. The EVD Response plan is aligned to the Government NEVDRP plan and covers three key pillars: 1/. Infection Prevention and control through provision of WASH Services (IPC/WASH), 2/. Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) and 3/. Child Protection, key areas where UNICEF has a comparative advantage based on UNICEF Cluster Leadership in WASH and as demonstrated in previous management of EVD outbreaks is West and East Africa in recent years. The EVD plan focuses also on ensuring continuity of essential services. Additional activities are focused on supporting the efforts of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in providing district level coordination, surveillance and the provision of MHPSS services with focus on mother and children. Aligned to the NECDRP, UNICEF EVD response plan covers a period of six months with present focus on 20 at risk districts in the country. The plan foresees a two-stage approach: 1/. Immediate emergency response in five hot spot districts (3 months) and 2/. Preparedness and antiparty action in 16 districts, (including greater Kampala) through awareness raising. UNICEF EVD response plan seeks a donor contribution of US$ 11 million. UNICEF is responding to the outbreak as of 24th September with focus on three key districts, Mubende, the epicentre of the outbreak, Kyegegwa, Kassanda by providing IPC/ WASH supplies, engaging in broad risk communication through radio and TV stations, community engagement and supporting the surveillance effort in streamlining data management. In addition, as per MoH request, media orientation will be provided to journalist at national and district level.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Chief, Communication, Advocacy and Partnership, the Emergency Communication Officer will work with several internal partners including Chief of Communication, Emergency Ebola Task Force, field office colleagues to support UNICEF Uganda Communication and Advocacy efforts around the Ebola response.

The Emergency Communication Officer will support sections in Kampala and field offices specifically Mbarara Field Office to implement and monitor communication and advocacy strategies aimed at promoting respect, protection and fulfillment of children’s and women’ right and support UNICEF’s mission during the Ebola outbreak response.

The Emergency Communication Officer will be based in Kampala with frequent travels to the field.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS
1. Emergency communication preparedness and response

• Draft appropriate external messages for use in media, humanitarian situation reports, digital communication platforms (website, social media) specifically on UNICEF Uganda’s response to Ebola with partners.
• Support to manage internal and external partners in need of content and information on UNICEF Uganda’s response to Ebola outbreak.
• Support generating communication input for and editing of EVD SitReps and reports.
• Communication Strategy
• Use the existing UNICEF Uganda Communication and Advocacy Strategy, Regional and Global Communication strategies, build and implement a communication public advocacy plan for Ebola outbreak to get children’s issues into the public domain.
• Work with Communication Specialist and Chief of Communication to implement the Ebola outbreak communication advocacy plan through mass media, social media and other engagement channels.
• Content production and dissemination
• In close collaboration with emergency leads and partners on ground, initiate and document UNICEF Uganda’s Ebola outbreak response in form of short videos, photo essays, human interest stories, blogs and feature stories which can be used to enhance UNICEF visibility and fundraising efforts for the outbreak.
• Facilitate documentation missions from partners, National Committees, donors and utilize the content on several platforms to generate and maintain public interest on children’s issues and tell the story of UNICEF’s response and action to a wider audience.
• Support update of EVD related materials on WeShare and CAP SharePoint.
• Collect and initiate EVD related communication / externally facing materials generated across the office, including from CAP, Programme teams, social Policy and Social Behavioural Communication (SBC) team for dissemination through website, social media channels and Icon.
• Support Country Office with Audio Visual, photography, lay-out, writing and editing requests, where required.
• Media
• Support to consolidate media inquiries at national and field level and where possible, draft possible responses for action.
• Provide support to the country office and its partners on the effective use of mass communication tools including national and international press releases, press briefings on ground, media pitching, media interviews and media visits.
• Provide support to implementation, knowledge management and evaluation of EVD related media training.
• Communication and Visibility
• Coordinate an EVD communication and visibility plan for online and offline tools and channels, including budget allocation
• Ensure on ground branding to ensure visibility of UNICEF and its donors for the Ebola outbreak response.
• Follow up to ensure that all UNICEF staff deployed for the Ebola outbreak response have adequate branding wear.
• Ensure that hardware installed by UNICEF is jointly branded – UNICEF and the respective donor.
• Work with UNICEF implementing partners to ensure joint branding – UNICEF, partner and respective donor.
• To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education;
University degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations; or equivalent professional work experience in the communication area combined with advanced university degree in a related discipline.

Work Experience: Two (2) years progressively responsible professional work experience in communication, print and broadcast media or interactive digital media.

Experience of working in an emergency or experience with an organization who works in humanitarian setting is required.

Language Proficiency: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, 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:
UNICEF’s
active commitment towards 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. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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.