Mission and Objectives
As the largest procurement agency in the UN system, UNICEF is uniquely positioned to access and analyze a wealth of market data. This enables the organization not only to act within markets but also to actively shape them. Within UNICEF’s Supply Division, the Communication Center plays a central role in shaping and delivering market communication to internal and external audiences. It ensures that UNICEF’s supply-related communication products and transparency initiatives are timely, accurate, and widely disseminated.
The Centre develops, manages, and promotes strategic communication products such as Market Notes, the Pricing Dashboard, and other tools designed to inform and engage partners, donors, and stakeholders about UNICEF’s supply and market-shaping activities. By maintaining high-quality publications, dashboards, and outreach strategies, the Communication Centre helps UNICEF Supply Division uphold its leadership in transparency, position UNICEF as a trusted communicator of market dynamics, and ultimately support equitable access to essential products for children and adolescents worldwide.
Context
This position is situated within the Communications Team and provides dedicated support to UNICEF’s market communication function, ensuring market intelligence is transformed into clear, accessible, and impactful products for diverse global audiences. The role bridges technical supply chain data with user-friendly communication formats and plays a critical part in the planning, creation, and delivery of UNICEF’s market communication products.
Working under the strategic direction set by the Communications Manager and the lead for dissemination (including modular Market Notes), the incumbent is responsible for operational content development, data visualization products, and audience-centered communication outputs.
Task Description
Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Communication Manager, Market Influencing or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the Communication Officer will:
- Support the content development and updating of Market Notes and related materials, based on guidance and direction from the Communications Manager. This would also require supplemental market research.
- Coordinate with procurement centers and technical teams to ensure data inputs are current, complete, and aligned with editorial and communication standards.
- Lead the design and maintenance of data visualization products such as web-based pricing interfaces and infographics (e.g., in Power BI) to effectively communicate market and pricing data to various audiences.
- Support content planning efforts in collaboration with the communications team, including maintaining editorial calendars, aligning product timelines with communication priorities, and ensuring timely content delivery.
- Collect and analyze audience insights to inform content development, format choices, and dissemination channels, ensuring communication products meet stakeholder needs.
- Assist in drafting, designing and formatting briefs, presentations, and internal/external reports that communicate market insights clearly and accessibly.
- Coordinate the dissemination of market communication products through appropriate UNICEF platforms, ensuring content is accessible, well-packaged, and aligned with outreach and visibility goals.
- Ensure all communication outputs comply with UNICEF branding, editorial, and accessibility standards.
- Maintain a repository of templates, assets, and design resources to support efficient and consistent communication product development.
- Provide operational support to the communication workstream, including platform updates, performance tracking, and content organization.
- Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.
Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:
- Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
- Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
- Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
- Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
- Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.