Digital Communication Associate

Host entity: UNICEF Ukraine

Volunteer type: National

Areas of expertise: Art, design, culture, Communication, advocacy, public information, Information technology and telecommunications

Application deadline: 21/09/2026

Mission and objectives

UNICEF is supporting health, nutrition, HIV prevention, education, access to safe drinking water, sanitation and protection for children and families caught in the conflict.

Assignment context

UNICEF is the United Nations agency mandated to promote and protect the rights and well-being of every child. In Ukraine, UNICEF works with government institutions, local authorities, civil society organizations, communities, donors, and the private sector to support children and families affected by the ongoing war through humanitarian response, recovery, and long-term development programmes. UNICEF’s work spans education, child protection, health, nutrition, social policy, water and sanitation, adolescent development, and emergency response.

UNICEF Ukraine maintains a strong and growing digital presence across multiple online platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, TikTok, X, LinkedIn, and its website. These channels play a critical role in informing the public about the situation of children in Ukraine, amplifying advocacy priorities, promoting UNICEF-supported programmes and partnerships, engaging supporters and donors, and mobilizing audiences around key campaigns and emergency response efforts. Through timely, audience-focused, and impactful digital storytelling, UNICEF Ukraine reaches millions of people with information, evidence, and stories that highlight both the challenges facing children and the positive results achieved through collective action.

The Digital Communication Associate UN Volunteer will be part of UNICEF Ukraine’s Communication Section, supporting the organization’s digital engagement, advocacy, and visibility efforts. The assignment contributes to UNICEF’s objective of raising awareness about children’s rights and the situation of children in Ukraine, while showcasing the impact of UNICEF-supported programmes and partnerships across the country.

The volunteer will support the planning, production, publication, and monitoring of content across UNICEF Ukraine’s digital platforms, including social media channels and web properties. This includes creating engaging digital content, supporting online campaigns, contributing to storytelling from field programmes, monitoring digital performance, and helping ensure timely, accurate, and audience-focused communication. The role will work closely with communication colleagues, programme teams, field offices, content creators, partners, and external service providers to strengthen UNICEF’s digital presence and public engagement.
This United Nations Volunteer assignment is part of UNICEF Ukraine’s broader communication and advocacy efforts to inform, engage, and mobilize audiences in support of children and families affected by the war, while advancing UNICEF’s mission to protect the rights and futures of every child.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Communication Officer and in close collaboration with the Communication Section, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Draft, edit and adapt engaging content for UNICEF Ukraine’s digital platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, and web channels, ensuring consistency with UNICEF branding, editorial standards, and communication objectives.
• Develop social media copy, captions, scripts, headlines, and other written content tailored to different audiences and platforms.
• Prepare creative briefs and work closely with graphic designers, photographers, videographers, and other content creators to produce high-quality visual and multimedia content for digital channels. Use Canva to create simple graphics.
• Manage the publication and scheduling of content on UNICEF Ukraine’s Facebook and YouTube channels, ensuring timely and accurate posting and adherence to editorial calendars. Coordinate with partners and stakeholders on collaborative publications.
• Support the planning and implementation of digital communication campaigns that promote children’s rights, UNICEF-supported programmes, advocacy priorities, and emergency response efforts.
• Support content publishing and community engagement activities on additional social media platforms, including Instagram and Threads, as required.
• Identify emerging trends, digital storytelling opportunities, and creative content ideas to strengthen audience engagement and expand the reach of UNICEF’s messages. Contribute to the development of innovative digital content formats.
• Support the publication and updating of content on UNICEF Ukraine’s website as required.
• Monitor digital content performance and audience engagement metrics and contribute to regular reporting and recommendations for content optimization.
• Support other communication, advocacy, and visibility activities of the Communication Section as required.

Skills and experience

• Desirable experience in 2 years of copywriting, social media management, digital communications, content creation, or related fields. Demonstrated experience developing, writing, editing, and adapting content for social media and digital platforms.
• Experience managing and publishing content across social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or similar platforms.
• Experience supporting digital communication campaigns and creating audience-focused content that drives engagement and awareness. Experience preparing creative briefs and coordinating with designers, photographers, videographers, or other content creators to produce digital assets. Familiarity with website content management systems and web publishing is an asset.
• Excellent written skills in Ukrainian is required; ability to write in English; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; attention to detail;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Teams, Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with office technology equipment;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Sound security awareness;
• Have affinity with or interest in child rights area, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system.

Competencies and values

• Build and maintain partnerships
• Demonstrate self-awareness and ethical awareness; drive to achieve results for impact;
• Innovate and embrace change;
• Manage ambiguity and complexity;
• Think and act strategically;
• Work collaboratively with others

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 Associate >> USD$ 1,495

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) of USD 1,495 (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.