Copywriting Consultant

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, a champion.

As of 24 March 2022, over 11 million refugees have crossed Ukrainian-Polish border. Significant amount of refugees chose to stay in Poland. Women and children, constitute about 90 percent of those who have fled Ukraine, and are extremely vulnerable to significant risks, including human trafficking and exploitation. UNICEF and partners have thus prioritised dissemination of related awareness messages, alerts and information. For children arriving in neighbouring countries, particularly unaccompanied and separated children, there remains critical need to ensure safety, stability, minimum protection standards and access to services in reception facilities and children fleeing Ukraine, urging neighbouring countries to ensure immediate identification, registration and safe spaces for children and families linked to national child protection systems and expand capacity of emergency care arrangements.

Community Engagement for Social and Behaviour Change (CE, SBC) plays a key role in the Ukraine crisis response. In collaboration with the different teams and sector, and in alignment with the Core Commitments for Children (CCCs), the CE, SBC planned interventions aim to 1) support affected groups’ access to life saving information, and adoption of positive and protective practices and use of services; 2) support crisis affected groups’ engagement in the set-up of services and the response design; 3) ensure accountability and feedback mechanisms are in place for a dignified and affected people’s centered response; 4) reinforce capacity development of service providers, to better understand and address affected groups’ needs for information, services and support, as well as 5) reinforce community engagement for service delivery and social inclusion and prevent stigma and discrimination. 

To achieve the main Community Engagement, Social and Behavior Change objectives, the UNICEF Poland team developed a “One stop-shop online safe space for women and children”. The web platform has a comprehensive selection of up-to-date and life-saving information, guidance and services for parents, youth and children fleeing Ukraine to the neighboring countries (Poland). It provides regularly updated information based on people’s needs that is based on the official information from UNICEF, other UN agencies, government partners and trusted civil society organizations. The design of the web resource is based on the latest behavior and intuitive navigation that respond to the needs of target audience. In order to ensure timely and regular update of this digital platform UNICEF response team in Poland is looking to engage an individual consultant.

UNICEF continues to engage with young people through U-Report Europe. Presently, almost 24,000 U-Reporters are registered, with Poland hosting the largest community of almost 3,800 U-Reporters on the platform. U-Report Europe (l.ead.me/UReport) – is a youth engagement platform that allows young people to express their opinions and participate in decision-making processes on various issues that affect them. It is part of the global U-Report initiative, which was launched by UNICEF in 2011.

U-Report Europe enables young people to become active agents of change by providing them with a platform to share their views on topics like education, health, employment, climate change, discrimination, and more. The information gathered through the chatbot is used to inform policymakers, government officials, and other stakeholders about young people’s perspectives and needs. It serves as a powerful tool to advocate for policy changes and ensure that the voices of young Europeans are heard and taken into account in decision-making processes.

How can you make a difference?

Under the overall supervision of SBC and ADAP Specialists, and in close coordination with all sectors/programmes involved in the response, the consultant will assist UNICEF Poland Emergency Team in drafting and editing engaging content for the web platforms, update it on a regular basis based on programmatic priorities and data from communities’ needs assessment, feedback collected and other identified needs.

Major Tasks to be accomplished:

1. Review, compile and summarise in a friendly and contextualized format existing information/key messages in programmes’ guidance, messaging banks, social media platforms, IEC materials produced for Ukrainian-speakers and host country audiences
2. Based on the analysis of the information collected through the different data sources (surveys, social listening mechanisms, U-Report, feedback mechanisms, etc) develop new materials, texts and messages for the web platforms. 
3. Development of long forms texts for the web platforms, shorter versions for other digital resources, and print materials.  
4. Support development, adjustment, co-creation of IEC materials in different formats depending on target audiences.
5. Prepare information packs to be layout out externally for digital/online platforms, campaigns, printed and/or audiovisual channels use.
6. Content creation and copywriting for the digital platforms and social media channels:

• Manage the content of the Spilno platform on a daily basis and ensure key deadlines are met for the dissemination of time-sensitive content;
• Maintain regular contact with external parties drafting content for UNICEF-supported websites
• Edit relevant content generated for UNICEF-supported digital platforms for Ukrainian refugees
• Develop new scripts for U-Report chatbot and webpage (one script/article per month).

Deliverables:

• Thematic Content Creation: Develop engaging and informative written content for various thematic programs, including but not limited to Education, Youth and Adolescent Participation, Child Protection, Health, and Social and Behavior Change.
• Copywriting for Multimedia Projects: Create compelling and concise copy for multimedia projects, collaborating with the photography and videography team to ensure alignment with visual elements.
• Editing and Proofreading: Review and refine existing content, ensuring accuracy, coherence, and adherence to brand guidelines.
• Campaign Messaging: Develop clear and impactful messaging for specific campaigns within each thematic area, ensuring consistency and resonance with the target audience.
• Content Adaptation: Tailor written materials for various platforms and audiences, considering cultural nuances and communication preferences.
• Language Quality Assurance: Ensure language proficiency and appropriateness of content for diverse audiences, maintaining sensitivity to cultural and ethical considerations.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• At least 5 years of professional experience in journalism, development communication, copywriting of human-centered stories and/or storytelling or similar field.
• Diplomas/certificates relevant to the field of services (I.e., media, communication, journalism, film production studies or certificates; or in another relevant field).
• Demonstrated ability to produce high quality materials according to specified technical requirements in a fast-paced environment and changing conditions including short deadlines.
• Spoken and written fluent knowledge of Ukrainian and working knowledge of. Knowledge of Russian is an asset.

Technical Evaluation Criteria

The selection of consultants for the LTA will be based on technical evaluation and financial offers in the ratio of 80:20. A maximum of 80 points will be allocated to the technical aspects of the bids, with a further 20 points for the price component, for a maximum score of 100 points. The criteria for technical evaluation will be as follows:

Financial Proposal (please submit as a separate attachment)

The application to be submitted through the online portal should contain 4 separate attachments:

1. A cover letter consisting of two parts: 1. explaining the motivation for applying in 300-500 words and 2. presenting the required qualifications and skillset of the candidate in accordance with each of the professional requirements as stated above in point 9.a-f of this document (to be uploaded online)
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) (to be uploaded online)
3. Three Work Samples – this includes three previously written human-interest stories / reports / advertising materials / content created /photography material / videography material. It is critical to submit work samples as you will observe from the advertisement that marks have been assigned to these criteria for arriving at the most suitable candidate.
4. Financial proposal indicating professional fee as per the above template. Please do not forget to specify your name in the file while saving (to be uploaded under other supporting documents).

Without all the above 4 documents your application will be considered incomplete and invalid and will not be considered further.

• Any attempt to unduly influence UNICEF’s selection process will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.
• Joint applications of two or more individuals are not accepted.
• Please note, UNICEF does not charge any fee during any stage of the process.
• Female candidates meeting the requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds including persons living with disabilities to apply.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. 

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.