Home based : Communication Consultant, writer and editor – (130 working days between 01 March 2024 and 14 February 2025) – Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO)

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, an advocate

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:
UNICEF in Europe and Central Asia seeks to strengthen its written content to engage existing and new audiences on issues impacting the situation of children in countries across the region and UNICEF’s work for children. UNICEF in Europe and Central Asia seeks to further shape written content to support regional advocacy priorities, and deliver on advocacy outcomes and communication campaigns, and create written content that aligns with the news agenda and supports opportunities for engagement in areas that lack traction.

Scope of work

For the scope of this assignment, the consultant is required to edit written content, and research and produce high-quality written content including media materials, advocacy messages, human interest stories, speeches, articles, video scripts, brochures, web content and social media content, case studies, fact sheets, reports and other communication products that relate to UNICEF’s advocacy and communication work in Europe and Central Asia. All content must adhere to UNICEF’s branding standards and editorial guidelines, and child safeguarding principles.

• Research, write and edit a wide range of content, including articles, reports, media materials, opinion pieces, success and human-interest stories, speeches, fact sheets, social media posts, web content, brochures, and video scripts to engage audiences in child rights and UNICEF’s work for children.
• Edit and proofread a variety of written materials to ensure accuracy, consistency, clarity, and adherence to UNICEF’s guidelines and standards.
• Conduct research and fact-checking to ensure the accuracy and credibility of information presented in written content.
• Collaborate with colleagues to develop compelling narratives that showcase UNICEF’s work for children and the situation for children in the region based on thematic areas and advocacy priorities.
• Work closely with UNICEF staff, partners, and external stakeholders to gather information and insights for content creation.
• Ensure all content adheres to UNICEF’s branding and editorial style guidelines.

This assignment comprises 130 working days, however, depending on evolving needs, the number of days and duration of the contract may increase. The scope of work as listed above will remain the same.

Activity and Deliverables

Work Assignments Overview	Deliverables/Outputs	Delivery deadline
Strengthen ECAR written content to further engage our audiences and new audiences in the situation for children in Europe and Central Asia and UNICEF’s work for children across the region.	Develop a regional written content plan to support advocacy work for children across the region. This includes working closely with country offices and programme colleagues to research potential stories to engage audiences in UNICEF’s work and the situation of children across the region. Researching and writing / editing compelling human interest stories, coverage of all countries in the region throughout the year. Supporting on the development of media materials including editing press materials from country offices and refugee response offices.	Throughout the assignment 65 working days
Shape and edit written content from country offices to support advocacy priorities, and deliver on advocacy outcomes and communication campaigns	Works closely with regional and country office colleagues to edit written content to be delivered at strategic moments to support communication campaigns. This includes editing reports, press materials, key messages, web content and social media copy.	Throughout the assignment 65 working days

Estimated Duration of the Contract

130 working days from 01 March 2024 to 14 February 2025

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home based consultancy, 

The consultant will arrange her/his travel as and when they take place. Travel costs for any travel undertaken from home country will be reimbursed to the Consultant based on actual costs in support for the Activities and Deliverables.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant. Please propose a lumpsum professional fee equivalent to 130 working days to undertake this assignment.

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

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism or related field.
• At least eight years of writing and editing experience, preferably in a humanitarian, development, or child rights context.
• Excellent command of English, with outstanding writing, editing, and proofreading skills, assessed through a written assignment and possibly an interview.
• Familiarity with child rights and development issues is advantageous.
• Experience in digital media and social media content creation is a plus.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multicultural environment.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Fluency in English is required. Fluency in another UN language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Please include a full CV, and a Financial Proposal in your application by indicating your availability and a lumpsum based on 130 working days to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a professional fee will not be considered. 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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants 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.