UNICEF recrute un consultant national pour la production d’éléments de plaidoyer sur le Covid-19 et sujets portant sur le droit des enfants, Bukavu et Goma, RDC

For every child, a better life

Democratic Republic of Congo :

In spite of its vast physical size and limitless natural resources, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 176th out of 188 countries in the 2015 human development report. Child poverty is widespread, particularly in conflict-affected and hard-to reach areas. According to a recent UNICEF study, 80 percent of children aged zero to 15 years old experience at least two major child rights deprivations. Despite sustained growth in recent years, the size of DRC’s economy remains far too small to provide enough government revenue to meet the basic needs of the population, children in particular. Since 2016, political instability, the persistence of conflicts in Eastern DRC and a sharp fall in global commodity prices have been aggravating factors.

DRC is one of the over 190 countries and territories around the World where UNICEF works to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path.

Humanitarian context in DRC :

An estimated 3.3 million children in the DRC have unmet vital health needs, while across the country, 9.1 million children (nearly one in five of the under-18 population) require humanitarian assistance. Many of the most vulnerable children live in three conflict-affected eastern provinces impacted by the Ebola outbreak. Brutal militia violence – including attacks targeting health centres — forced nearly a million people from their homes in 2019 alone, making it even harder for children to access essential medical care. Malaria, measles, and cholera epidemics are a lethal threat in every part of the country :

• Around 16.5 million malaria cases were reported in 2019, causing nearly 17,000 deaths. Children under the age of 5 are most severely affected by the disease ;
• Measles cases surged in 2019-20, to reach 332,000 nationwide, making it the worst outbreak in the DRC’s history. Out of more than 6,200 recorded fatalities, around 85 per cent were children under the age of five ;
• Cholera is endemic, the consequence of poor sanitation and the dirty water that many families rely on for drinking and washing. Cholera killed around 540 people in 2019. Children make up about 45 per cent of cases.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)’s battered healthcare system needs urgent support as it struggles with measles and cholera epidemics that kill thousands of children, as well as the mounting threat from the coronavirus, COVID-19. Now, cases of the coronavirus, COVID-19, are increasing fast, posing a major challenge to a country identified as one of the most at risk in Africa.

How can you make a difference to UNICEF in DRC?

The UNICEF DRC Office is looking to recruit a consultant Communication specialist to be based in its Kinshasa office. Primarily supporting UNICEF’s COVID-19 response in DRC the Communication specialist will be responsible for the conceptualization, planning, execution, monitoring and evaluation of video/photo/story outputs to promote respect for children’s rights and support UNICEF’s mission as part of the COVID-19 response across DRC.

Expected Key Results :

Your Specific Responsibilities, Duties and Tasks :

• Develops close collaboration with Programme colleagues through activities such as systematic information sharing, organizing interviews with UNICEF staff and partners, and facilitating photo and TV coverage ;
• Production of advocacy and communication outputs on COVID-19 activities and outreach by UNICEF and partners ;
• Assists HQ and the Regional Office in identifying and obtaining feature stories and other materials to facilitate humanitarian advocacy and fund-raising activities, particularly in support of National Committee efforts to mobilize resources ;
• Advises UNICEF’s humanitarian response team on the effective use of tools of mass communication, including press briefings and conferences and media interviews in relation to UNICEF’s work in the fight against COVID-19 ;
• Support planning for visits of Goodwill Ambassadors, National Committee representatives and other high-profile missions. This includes preparing outputs for the production of briefing notes, and media outreach as part of the COVID-19 response .

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

• Advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations; or equivalent professional work experience in the communication area, combined with a university degree in a related field ;
• Five years progressively responsible professional work experience in communication, print and broadcast media or interactive digital media, four years of which should be in developing countries, and two at the management level ;
• Fluency in French and English is required. Knowledge of the local working language of the duty station is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.