• Country: New York, USA
• No of vacancies: N/A
  
• Salary: N/A 
• Organization: UNICEF
• Gender: Both 
• Deadline: 2024-01-09

Purpose of the job:

The Global Child Health and Nutrition Advocacy Team is responsible for delivering UNICEF’s Global Advocacy Priority focused on children’s health and survival. The team works on immunization, malnutrition, and community health.

In 2022, global immunization data revealed that the three years of the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the biggest sustained backsliding in childhood immunization levels in a generation – with almost 30 years of progress wiped out. The tens of million children who missed out on their essential and routine vaccines over the last three years are at risk of deadly disease and infectious disease outbreaks are on the rise. This is a red alert for child health and global health security.

Amongst the diseases that started to break out more frequently post-pandemic, polio.

The next few years provide a significant risk and opportunity for the eradication of polio. Polio eradication is within reach, but the progress is fragile, and we must remain laser focused,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell in October 2024. This new role signifies the urgency for updated approaches and innovation in polio communications and advocacy.

Recognizing the critical importance of polio eradication efforts in 2024 and 2025, the increasing challenges and risks posed by polio outbreaks, and the need for better integration across polio and routine immunization, this role aims to strengthen UNICEF’s advocacy and communications on polio as a central piler and integrated priority with our Global Immunization Advocacy Strategy.

The Advocacy Manager (Polio) will report to the Head of Advocacy Community Health and Nutrition and will work closely with the Advocacy Manager (Immunization) to ensure strategic integration and alignment of our polio and immunization advocacy at a global, regional and country level.

The Advocacy Manager (Polio) is responsible for UNICEF’s strategic advocacy approach and strategies for polio eradication and polio outbreaks within the Advocacy Section in UNICEFs Division of Global Communications and Advocacy (GCA). Based in the Child Health and Nutrition Advocacy team, they will work closely with GCA colleagues and UNICEF’s polio and polio outbreak teams to achieve positive outcomes for children’s health.

The selected candidate will be expected to be the leading global reference and adviser on polio advocacy within UNICEF and drive strategic global communications initiatives as part of our Global Immunization Advocacy Strategy.

However, central to delivering results on polio eradication and outbreaks is change at the national level and this role also provide dedicated support to several regional and country offices on a day-to-day basis. Critical to success on polio advocacy and communications is strategic collaboration and integration with wider immunization advocacy activities and plans, and comprehensive coordination and collaboration with regional and national initiatives.

To support offices in a comprehensive way, the Advocacy Manager (Polio) will also provide surge support and provide capacity building initiatives to offices which will require travel.

The Polio Advocacy Manager will:

• Lead the creation and implementation of a new flagship initiative  to drive political will for ending polio outbreaks and polio eradication, especially in priority countries. The role will be responsible for developing and delivering high—impact influencing strategies and activities, briefing senior internal stakeholders and external political figures, coordinating a small internal cross-divisional team to support the initiative and achieve results. They will be overall accountable for the initiative’s strategy, workplans, budgets and project implementation, and ensuring relevant accompanying communications packages and initiatives.
• Provide dedicated strategic advocacy advice and support to UNICEF’s Country and Regional Offices, prioritized for polio eradication and low immunization coverage. Support will be provided, both remote and in person, to enhance national advocacy and communications strategies and approaches to end polio outbreaks as quickly as possible, linking and leveraging regional and global opportunities for action and political will. Given the humanitarian and conflict context in many polio outbreak countries UNICEF is looking for someone who has strong advocacy experience in these settings and in national advocacy.
• Be the global focal point on polio advocacy and communications in UNICEF. They will be responsible for leading on global activities and initiatives from inception to delivery, and evaluation. This includes developing new ways of working across UNICEF teams to strengthen coordination and collaboration around key influencing moments.
• Work closely with UNICEF’s Polio Outbreak Team to develop standardized procedures and policies and ensure capacities are in place to ensure advocacy and communications is a core tenant of initial and ongoing outbreak response plans and mechanisms.
• Supported by and working closely with the grant manager, the Polio Advocacy Manager is responsible for the delivery of a multi-year multi-million-dollar advocacy grant from a major donor on polio outbreak advocacy and communications. This includes responsibilities for workplans, reporting, budgets and ensuring a strong and impactful relationship with foundation counterparts.
• Represent UNICEF in several inter-agency partnerships and in managing relations with communications and advocacy counterparts in (as appropriate) key Government, Private Sector and International Agency Partners and Donors. This includes representing UNICEF and playing a leading or coordinating role in relevant working groups externally.

 Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Advocacy strategy development and implementation
2. Provide advocacy strategy advice and support to UNICEF regional and country offices
3. Lead global advocacy moments and initiatives on polio
4. Collaborate and provide strategic guidance to UNICEF teams
5. Monitoring and evaluation
6. Advocacy partnerships and successful grant management

The Advocacy Manager (Polio) will work collaboratively with colleagues across UNICEF at headquarters, country, and regional level, as well build alliances or coalitions with external partners to drive changes in policy and practice, and secure political and financial commitments for children and polio eradication. S/he will leverage global advocacy fora and support effective advocacy at the national level. Duties include:

Advocacy strategy development and implementation

• Lead the development and implementation of a new strategic approach for UNICEF’s polio advocacy as part of our Global Immunization Advocacy Strategy
• Play an active role in UNICEF’s inter-divisional taskforces and working groups on polio and immunization, contributing to a collaborative, creative and supportive environment, in line with UNICEF’s highest ethical standards and values.
• Ensure that effective advocacy strategies and plans are co-created with partners and UNICEF offices to leverage their power to contribute to UNICEF’s advocacy goals.
• Work closely with UNICEF’s polio and immunization teams to ensure strategic alignment, innovative new approaches to problems, and high-impact collaboration moments.

Provide advocacy strategy advice and support to UNICEF regional and country offices

• Work closely with a number of priority UNICEF offices to ensure evidence based, politically informed, advocacy strategies on polio (integrated with immunization) are in place and implemented and complimented by the relevant communications plans.
• Manage internal coordination and support across UNICEF regional and country offices to achieve collective results and to leverage regional and global opportunities.
• Contribute to building internal UNICEF capacities in advocacy, through coaching, training, and sharing of advocacy expertise, both remote and through in person meetings and workshops.
• Support colleagues in negotiation, liaison and development of plans and partnerships with partners (Governments, Corporations and Hybrid Alliances) for branding, visibility, content gathering, media and social media promotion, events and other communications and advocacy activities associated with polio outbreaks.
• Develop advocacy and communication guidance, resources, and materials as needed to support regional and country actions on polio outbreak

Lead global advocacy moments and initiatives on polio

• Design the operating structure, advocacy goals, and strategic approach for a new UNICEF flagship initiative (details to be finalized) to drive political will at the highest levels, for ending polio outbreaks and polio eradication, in the context of equitable access to immunization, especially on the African Continent. The new initiative is a key deliverable in a new polio advocacy grant.
• Develop and deliver high—impact influencing strategies and activities, through advocacy and communications.
• Develop briefings and talking points for senior internal stakeholders and external political figures.
• Accompany members of the new flagship initiative to events and meetings.
• Coordinate a small internal cross-divisional team to support the initiative and achieve results.
• Develop the initiatives strategy, workplans, budgets and project implementation plans.
• Lead on relevant global moments, such as World Polio Day or other strategic influencing or communications moment. This includes developing thoughtful strategies, plans and tactics, consulting and coordinating inputs from communications teams, regional and country offices and HQ teams, including Supply Division, Programme Group, Public Partnerships Division and EMOPs, assessing resource requirements, project managing delivery, and supporting with donor reporting.

Collaborate and provide strategic guidance to UNICEF teams

• Work closely with UNICEF’s polio outbreak teams to strengthen existing policies, procedures, and advocacy
• Build strong connections between GCA and polio teams to utilize skills and strengths from across UNICEF to drive high-impact advocacy and communications strategies and activities.
• Contribute to the development of UNICEF Communications and Advocacy Strategies around health, vaccines, and pandemic preparedness.
• Ensure strategic alignment of UNICEF’s polio advocacy and communications with the Child Health and Nutrition Global Advocacy Priority and BMGF Advocacy Partnership deliverables and goals.

Monitoring and evaluation

• Contribute to knowledge management, internal communications and inter-divisional cohesion and information sharing.
• Develop of a clear advocacy M&E framework: setting baselines against which advocacy outcomes are regularly monitored; conducting analysis to continuously improve the effectiveness of the strategy, approach and activities; and overseeing the production and dissemination of advocacy M&E results for polio.

Advocacy partnerships and successful grant management

• Working with the team’s grant manager, ensure that grant requirements are met with a high-standard and in a timely manner.
• Develop strong working relationships with key donors, partners, and foundations, driving confidence in UNICEF’s approach.
• Develop and manage collaborative opportunities with foundations and partners
• Ensure effective and transparent management of resources.
• Ensure that feedback from key stakeholders is incorporated into advocacy strategy design, implementation, and team learning.
• Provide strategic guidance for advocacy partnerships and networks through proactive collaboration with internal and external partners.

Others:

Carry out additional activities as required.

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

Education:

An advanced university degree is required in one of the following fields: International Relations, Political Science, International Development, Public Policy, Public Administration, Economics, Communication or related fields.

*A first level university degree (Bachelor’s) in a relevant field, in conjunction with five years of relevant work experience in advocacy, campaigning or a related field may be taken in lieu of a Master’s degree.

Experience:

At least eight (8) years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in advocacy/ campaigning is required, with at least two years at the international level. Experience in humanitarian and complex setting is desired.

Experience in leading the development and implementation of advocacy strategies, with clear theories of change, 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 tactics based on a clear theory of change.

Experience in building and maintaining a network of advocacy stakeholders, and in working with advocacy coalitions.

Strong communicator with emphasis on being able to present complex policy ideas in succinct, engaging ways through campaign narratives and creative tactics.

Demonstrated experience in design and management of projects, including budget management and monitoring and evaluation of results.

Knowledge of international development, humanitarian issues and children’s rights.

Experience in training and capacity building.

Experience working in a developing and emergency environment is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required. Fluency, or a very good working knowledge, of French is also essential.

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