Creative Speechwriter & Editor Specialist

Mission and objectivesUNICEF works in the world’s toughest places to reach the most disadvantaged children and adolescents – and to protect the rights of every child, everywhere. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive and fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines, we support child health and nutrition, safe water and sanitation, quality education and skill building, HIV prevention and treatment for mothers and babies, and the protection of children and adolescents from violence and exploitation. Before, during and after humanitarian emergencies, UNICEF is on the ground, bringing lifesaving help and hope to children and families. Non-political and impartial, we are never neutral when it comes to defending children’s rights and safeguarding their lives and futures.

ContextThe UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO), based in Dakar, Senegal, serves as a strategic hub providing guidance and oversight to 24 Country Offices across a region marked by both immense challenges and opportunities for children’s rights and well-being. The region faces complex humanitarian crises, persistent inequalities, and rapid social change, requiring agile, high-impact leadership and communications. The Office of the Regional Director (RD) (Front Office) is at the center of UNICEF’s advocacy, partnership, and coordination efforts in the region. The Regional Director’s engagements—ranging from high-level missions and donor dialogues to media appearances and internal staff briefings—demand clear, compelling, and timely communications. The Front Office also plays a pivotal role in ensuring that UNICEF’s values, priorities, and results are effectively communicated both internally and externally, fostering a cohesive and motivated workforce. In this dynamic environment, the UN Volunteer (UNV) will provide critical support by crafting high impact speeches, crisp talking points, and consistently structured briefing notes (BNs) that amplify the Regional Director’s voice and vision. The assignment also includes executive officer functions, supporting the Regional Chief of Staff and Executive Manager in workflow coordination, information management, and follow-up on key actions. The role will leverage digital tools and internal communication strategies to strengthen engagement, collaboration, and knowledge sharing across the regional office and country teams. This assignment offers a unique opportunity to contribute to UNICEF’s mission at a strategic level, working closely with senior leadership and diverse teams to drive results for children across West and Central Africa. These require BNs delivered on tight timelines and in multiple languages. The IUNV will strengthen message discipline and quality control, ensuring all products follow RD Office templates and timelines and reflect UNICEF’s voice and standards.

Task DescriptionA. Executive Communications and Speechwriting • Draft keynote speeches, remarks, video-scripts, op-eds, and talking points for the Regional Director, tailored to audience, strategic priorities, venue and purpose; embed clear asks, proof points and storylines. • Shape long‑form narratives into crisp talking points, review and edit briefing notes and talking points for clarity, brevity, actionable asks, and alignment with UNICEF style and Front Office templates. • Produce quality communication and advocacy products, presentations, newsletters, and multimedia assets that tell UNICEF’s story from a regional perspective. • Edit and refine external and internal communications materials to ensure clarity, accuracy, and alignment with UNICEF standards • Ensure all products comply with UNICEF’s Style Book and FO SOPs. B. Message development, evidence & coordination • Partner with programmes, planning and data, partnerships, communications, and strategic operations teams to surface data, evidence and examples that strengthen RD advocacy (e.g., funding, risk, humanitarian access). • Convene short content huddles with information-holders to reconcile substance and tone ahead of front office’s clearance C. Support to Strategic review of Briefing Notes & Talking Points • Support the triage and edit incoming Briefing Notes submissions for logic, brevity actionable asks, and link to agendas. • Help with meeting timelines and workflows flagging risks/gaps early; maintain a light quality checklist. • Support alignment of writing materials and products with WCA Regional priorities • Support coordination efforts and liaising with sections, centers of excellence, data hubs and country offices to consolidate inputs for RD engagements. D. Support to Internal Communications and Staff Engagement Function • Support the development and implementation of internal communication strategies to foster staff engagement, collaboration, and alignment with organizational goals. • Produce and disseminate internal newsletters, announcements, and updates to keep staff informed and connected. • Facilitate transparent and inclusive exchanges among staff at all levels, promoting UNICEF’s values and a cohesive organizational culture. • Leverage digital platforms and tools to enhance communication flow and knowledge sharing within the regional office and across country teams. E. Knowledge, standards & capacity support • Curate a micro repository of best-in-class RD speeches/BNs and a one page writing aide mémoires • Develop quick-reference guides for BN drafting and speechwriting. • Promote compliance with UNICEF publications & style guidance in Front Office outputs. 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.

Competencies and valuesCore Values attributes - Care - Respect - Integrity - Trust - Accountability - Sustainability Core competencies skills - Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness - Works Collaboratively with others - Builds and Maintains Partnerships - Innovates and Embraces Change - Thinks and Acts Strategically - Drives to achieve impactful results. - Manages ambiguity and complexity.

Living conditions and remarksGeneral Information: Dakar a lively and colourful costal city and is the political, commercial, and cultural capital of Senegal. It is multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious city and is known for its vibrant art and music scene. Being one of the safest and democratically stable countries in the sub-region, many NGOs and international organizations particularly the United Nations system are based in Senegal, especially in the capital Dakar. There are 34 agencies in Senegal and the Government is building a UN House in the new upcoming city of Diamniadio near Dakar and the resort area of the Petite Côte. UN agencies are expected to move in the new iconic UN House in the near future. The journey from Diamniadio to Dakar takes about 1 hour. There are housing possibilities in cities closer to Diamniadio. Security: The Security Level in Dakar is classified as low (Level 2) as per the UN security management system in Senegal. Dakar is a family duty station, and the UN hardship level classification is B. According to UNDSS opportunistic thefts are the most prevalent crimes against UN Personnel. Housing: Different types of short and long-term accommodation are available in Dakar: stand-alone housing, houses in gated compounds, furnished and unfurnished apartments. The accommodation facilities are in general good, and the choice is vast. Schools & Childcare: Most of international staff’s children attend international schools (French and English) with an academic system that is widely recognized abroad. International schools often include a kindergarten and pre-school classes (sometimes even a nursery) for younger children. It is advisable to ask your embassy in Dakar which schools your compatriots prefer for their children. Work for spouses & partners: Work opportunities for spouses/partners are limited. However, if hired by any organization a work permit must be applied for through the same hiring organization. You might need to ask HR about the UN spouse scheme and see their advice.