Location: This position is based in New York
Reports To: UN Representative and Head of Office
Closing Date: April 2nd 2012
Salary: $65,000 – $72,000 plus benefits, depending on experience
Applications invited from U.S. citizens, individual’s with lawful permanent residence or holders of current Employment Authorisation Documents only.
Working in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas, Plan aims to reach as many children as possible, particularly those who are excluded or marginalised with high quality programs that deliver long lasting benefits by increasing its income, working in partnership with others and operating effectively.
Plan’s liaison office to the UN in New York is aligned with Plan International’s strategy One Plan One Goal pursuing contact with key decision-makers who can support the realization of lasting change for children. The UN office contributes to a lasting environment in which the rights of children and youth are respected, protected, and fulfilled. The office will realize its interventions within the UN and its Agencies and Mechanisms in New York and will follow actions and activities within the broader UN system in the rest of the world through the One Plan UN Strategy. Accordingly, the office will promote child rights and child protection, strive for non-discrimination, equality and inclusion as well as ensure child participation. The office is actively involved in:
- Improving implementations of the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC) and all other relevant UN resolutions on the promotion and protection of child rights.
- Enhancing international law and policy development on child rights and child protection.
- Mainstreaming child rights at the UN, particularly into other human rights processes.
The Advocacy and Communications Officer will support the Head of Office in strengthening the collaboration with other Plan offices in order to facilitate and support involvement with relevant United Nations Agencies and Mechanisms. S/he will increase Plan’s influence regarding child rights and contribute to Plan’s global advocacy and communication work at the United Nations in New York. By bringing up national and international child rights issue at the global level; duty bearers are reminded of their responsibilities and obligations to act.
Dimensions of Role:
• Deputizes for the Plan UN Representative and Head of Office New York
• Supports Plan and the UN Office with the development of effective strategies and policies to use in successful advocacy asks at the UN
• Identifies and pursues advocacy opportunities independently
• Advises Plan staff on UN related activities and collaborates with them on advocacy and communication work
• In collaboration with Plan’s Communications team uses key messages developed in the field in wide ranging work with key external stakeholders vis-à-vis the UN
• Manage the Communications portfolio of the Plan UN Office
Typical Responsibilities - Key End Results of Position:
Child rights advocacy:
Advocacy and Communication officer will have an active role in ensuring the full and effective implementation of Plan’s UN Strategy in relation to Priority One: The Promotion of Child Rights. In this regard, the Officer will support Plan’s advocacy activities, as well as identify additional advocacy opportunities relevant to Plan’s work. The officer will be monitoring and reporting on the progress of the advocacy work carried out regarding the rights of the child in the below mentioned areas.
- UN General Assembly (UNGA): The Advocacy and Communication Officer will carry out advocacy activities within the Third Committee of the General Assembly, where the focus is on human rights and social development.
This will include:
Participate actively in the annual consultations on the Third Committee agenda item: The Promotion and Protection of Child Rights, with a particular focus on the following resolutions:
• The Rights of the Child
• The Girl Child
• Alternative Care for Children
• All other resolution on child rights, in particular resolutions emanating from the Human Rights Council recommended for adoption by the UNGA
And in relation to the above resolutions the following would be required:
• Develop advocacy asks
• Develop written and oral statements to be delivered at the UN
• Draft thematic advocacy briefs
• Provide input to child rights resolutions and thematic reports
• Advocate for Policy changes in relation to the promotion and protection of child rights
• Monitor and report on the progress of the advocacy work carried out
Internal and external communication and information:
The Officer will develop a communication strategy in order to strengthen and find new ways of enhancing the office’s current internal and external communication and information channels.
This will include:
• The development and regular upkeep of a Plan UN Office website
• Uploading information on the Plan website and intranet decisions and activities at the UN relevant to Plan
• Develop the use of social media networking for the Plan UN Office
• The development and dissemination of a monthly newsletter by the Plan UN Office
• Draft media statements and press briefings
• Manage and strengthen the communication and collaboration with other Plan offices in order to facilitate and support their presence and involvement in connection to the United Nations
Other Responsibilities:
Being a small office with few staff members, the Child Rights Advocacy and Communication Officer will carry out various adhoc tasks related to the effective functioning of the Office, including some administrative tasks.
There may also be supervisory tasks such as overseeing the work of the intern for Office administration and the gender equality and girl’s empowerment intern.
The Officer needs to keep abreast of the current development issues as well as communications and advocacy trends, and ensure that all activities undertaken on behalf of Plan, externally or internally, are executed in accordance with the overall aims of the organization and in line with Plan’s policies and procedures.
Success Indicators:
• Effective implementation of the One Plan UN Strategy in relation to chid rights
• Increased and more strategically aligned engagement of Plan with the UN and its Agencies and Mechanisms on child rights
• Positive relations developed with external stakeholders as indicated by invitations for cooperation and partnership building
• Better understanding and awareness of UN related work within Plan as indicated by more interaction, subscription to the newsletter and/or use of communications coming out of the Office
Dealing with Problems:
The following are a requisite:
• Intercultural understanding and communication needed
• A good understanding of the UN system and child rights within the UN
• Ability to analyse both UN documents and situations inside the UN and provide policy and advocacy recommendations
• Ability to analyse and interpret situations inside the office and find appropriate responses is required
Communications and Working Relationships:
Internally: Medium level of communications: Child rights officers in CO’s and NO’s, thematic experts and campaign managers. The Child Rights Advocacy and Communication Officer will have an important role in strengthening the communication and collaboration with other Plan office in order to facilitate and support their presence and involvement in connection to the United Nations. The incumbent shall be able to communicate decisions taken at the UN relevant to Plan offices.
Externally: Medium and high-level of contact:
The Officer will be representing Plan in its advocacy work at the UN and coming into contact with a variety of stakeholders, including Ambassadors and other diplomats from Permanent Missions in New York, UN Secretariat, UN agencies and mechanisms and INGO’s.
Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours, Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:
Knowledge/experiences:
• Demonstrable documented experience in international work environments and intercultural communication, including a good understanding of NGO structures and the UN human rights system and how these operate
• Documented experience in advocacy and lobby work with international actors
• A Master degree or equivalent experience in human rights, political science, international development, communication or any other specific field relevant to Plan’s work
• Understanding of, or experience in, implementing and monitoring child rights in a national /international context,
• Knowledge on sustainable development and child rights are an asset
Skills: • Analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work to a high standard manage stress while prioritising multiple tasks and meeting deadlines
• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills
• Proven excellent writing and analytical skills
• Sound diplomatic skills
• Good networking skills
• Proven leadership skills
• Experience in conducting workshops and trainings an asset
• Fully computer literate - skilled and confident user of office applications such as MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, e-mail and calendar applications
• Some web design experience, including knowledge of layout design, copy editing and content management
• Knowledge of digital media would be an asset
• Good knowledge of social media including uploading and developing materials for websites and intranet
Behaviors:
• Demonstrated commitment to child rights
• Versatile, personable and flexible, including taking up various tasks done in a small office
• Self-driven and fortitude
• Independent professional able to contribute to the overall goal of the organization.
• Creative and with initiative to seek workable solutions.
• Works collaboratively and listens actively to the views of those involved.
• Decisive and results focused following debate.
• Capacity to work in a multi-cultural environment.
Physical Environment and Demands:
Normal office work, not physically heavy. Not 100% office bound as a fair amount of work includes interaction at the UN and with Member States and other INGO’s. Travel will be necessary to attend meetings and workshops.
References will be taken and background and anti-terrorism checks will be carried out in conformity with Plans Child Protection Policy. Plan operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all areas of the international community.
To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter detailing your salary requirements and quoting reference IH124 to recadmin@plan-international.org
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