Communication Officer

Host entity: UNICEF Ukraine

Volunteer type: National

Areas of expertise: Art, design, culture, Communication, advocacy, public information, Administration

Application deadline: 20/09/2026

Mission and objectives

The mission of this UN Volunteer assignment is to support UNICEF’s Communication and Advocacy work in Ukraine by providing day-to-day technical and operational assistance, with a particular focus on documenting UNICEF’s results for children, strengthening public outreach, supporting media engagement and developing high-quality communication products related to Education, Social Protection, Child Protection, Youth, Health, WASH and other sectors.

Assignment context

UNICEF Ukraine continues to document the impact of the war on children and families while implementing communication, advocacy, fundraising, social and behaviour change, emergency response and public information activities across multiple sectors and locations. These efforts require timely, accurate and compelling communication products that raise awareness of children’s needs, communicate UNICEF’s results, support advocacy and mobilize public and donor support for children’s rights.

The scale and complexity of UNICEF Ukraine’s response, combined with the growing demand for field-based content, media engagement, digital communication and partner visibility, has created a need for additional communication capacity. An additional UN Volunteer Communication Officer will support the Communication Section in planning, coordinating and delivering communication activities in close collaboration with programme teams, partners and the UNICEF Country Office.

The assignment will contribute to the identification, development, production and dissemination of communication content, including human-interest stories, interviews, press materials, digital and social media content, photographs, videos, briefing materials, campaign products and donor visibility materials. The Volunteer will also support engagement with journalists, government and humanitarian partners, as well as the organization of communication activities, field visits, campaigns and events.

Through these activities, the UN Volunteer will help amplify UNICEF’s messages, strengthen public outreach, promote children’s rights, increase visibility of UNICEF-supported interventions and ensure that the voices and experiences of children, families and communities are represented appropriately. Communication will be undertaken in accordance with UNICEF’s values, communication standards and global guidelines, including ethical storytelling, child safeguarding, informed consent, confidentiality, data protection, conflict sensitivity and the principle of do no harm.

The UN Volunteer will provide additional technical and operational support to ensure that communication activities are coordinated, timely and aligned with UNICEF Ukraine’s communication and advocacy strategy, humanitarian priorities and global campaigns.

Task description

Under the supervision of the Communication Specialist, the UN Volunteer will:

• Support implementation of UNICEF Ukraine’s communication and advocacy work plan and strategy.
• Gather, verify and organize information on UNICEF-supported humanitarian, recovery and development programmes.
• Draft and translate press releases, articles, human-interest stories, interviews, briefing notes, talking points, web content and social media materials in Ukrainian and English, as required.
• Support the production of photographs, videos, audio-visual materials, factsheets, infographics, presentations and other communication products.
• Document the situation, needs and perspectives of children, adolescents, caregivers and communities affected by the war, while applying ethical storytelling, informed consent, child safeguarding and do-no-harm principles.
• Support communication on priority advocacy areas, including Better Care, Better Skills and Learning, Better Start and Better WASH.
• Monitor Ukrainian and international media coverage, public perception, misinformation and emerging communication risks related to children and UNICEF’s work.
• Maintain a library of media coverage and communication materials.
• Assist in preparing campaign materials, media kits, country factsheets and inputs to reports and resource mobilization materials.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Skills and experience

• Communication, journalism, public relations, media relations, advocacy, digital communications or other relevant programmes; experience in humanitarian, emergency response, recovery or development communications is an asset, as is experience working with UNICEF, the UN or another international development or humanitarian organization.
• Experience in developing and adapting communication materials, including press releases, human-interest stories, articles, briefing notes, talking points, web content, social media content, photo and video products, factsheets and campaign materials.
• Experience in public information, stakeholder engagement, campaign coordination or supporting media visits and public events; experience engaging influencers, celebrities, digital creators or opinion leaders is an asset.
• Knowledge of ethical storytelling, child safeguarding, informed consent, confidentiality, data protection, conflict-sensitive communication and the principle of do no harm.
• Knowledge of communication and advocacy approaches in humanitarian and development settings; familiarity with social and behaviour change communication is an asset.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including excellent drafting, editing, formulation and reporting skills.
• Accuracy and professionalism in content development, document production, fact-checking, proofreading and editing.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including journalists, influencers, government authorities, UN and humanitarian partners, civil society organizations, grassroots communities, youth organizations and other stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate sensitively and appropriately about children, families and communities affected by conflict, displacement and other protection risks.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging and rapidly changing environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel, email and internet applications; familiarity with content-management systems, social media platforms, media-monitoring tools, digital analytics, databases, graphic design or photo and video editing software is an asset.
• Affinity with or interest in children’s rights, humanitarian action, public information, advocacy, communications, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development and the United Nations system.
• Fluency in Ukrainian and English is required; knowledge of additional languages is an asset.

Competencies and values

• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Self-management

Living conditions

As it is a national UN Volunteer's assignment, the UN volunteer shall organize his/her accommodation by themselves.

Entitlements of National UN Volunteer Specialist USD $ 1,869

The contract lasts for the period indicated in the vacancy with the possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. This is a full-time contract.

Allowances:
- Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): A Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) USD $ 1,869 (equivalent in UAH) is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities, and normal cost of living expenses. This includes Well-Being Differentials for the period while the ICSC applies hardship classification to duty stations in Ukraine as “E”.
• USD 350 entry lump sum, one-time payment.

Medical and life insurance:
• Medical insurance: The UN Volunteer and eligible PFU dependents will receive UNV-provided medical insurance coverage. Coverage for UN Volunteers begins at the Commencement of Service and normally ceases on the last day of the UN Volunteer Contract.
• Life Insurance: UN Volunteers are covered by life insurance for the duration of the UN Volunteer assignment. If a UN Volunteer dies during the UN Volunteer assignment, the eligible designated beneficiaries will be entitled to receive a life insurance lump sum.

Leave entitlements:
• Annual leave:  UN Volunteers accrue an entitlement to 2.5 days of Annual Leave per completed month of the UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave up to a maximum of 30 days is carried over in case of a contract extension within the same UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave may not be carried over in case of reassignment or a new assignment.
• Learning leave: Subject to supervisor approval and exigencies of service, UN Volunteers may request up to ten working days of Learning Leave per consecutive 12 months of the UN Volunteer assignment, starting with the Commencement of Service date, provided the Learning Leave is used within the contract period.
• Certified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers are entitled to up to 30 days of certified sick leave based on a 12-month cycle. This amount is reset every 12-month cycle.
• Uncertified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers receive seven days of uncertified sick leave working days in a calendar year. This amount will be reset at the established interval period.

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.