National Consultancy: Development of the Sector-Wide Transformative Communication Strategy for Education Sector (Open to Malawian Nationals Only)

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, Protection… 

The Government of Malawi, through the Ministry of Education, is implementing various progressive policies and programs to accelerate the transformation of the country’s education sector. As articulated in the National Education Policy of 2013 (NEP 2013) , the Government’s primary policy goals are to: (1) promote equitable access to education, (2) improve the relevance and quality of education and education services, and (3) strengthen governance and management of the education sector. The NEP 2013 aims to ensure that all learners are adequately equipped with knowledge, skills, values, expertise, and competencies to contribute to their self-development and effectively participate in national development.

The National Education Sector Investment Plan (2020-2030), serving as the Ministry’s strategic vehicle for achieving the goals of the NEP 2013, guides the planning and implementation of all education programs, projects and activities at national, regional and district levels. Its development was guided by the principles of lifelong learning and inclusivity, in line with Sustainable Development Goal number 4.

The NESIP (2020-2030) is strategically aligned with the Human Capital Development aspirations outlined in the First 10-Year Implementation Plan (MIP-1, 2021-2030) of Malawi’s long-term development vision, Malawi 2063 (MW2063), and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. The NESIP (2020-2030) promotes a multidisciplinary approach to science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education, emphasizing literacy and numeracy, livelihood knowledge and skills, scientific literacy and application, digital skills, and research, development and innovation. This alignment aims to establish a knowledge-based, technology-driven and innovation-led economy by developing a globally competitive and highly skilled workforce capable of propelling the nation into the 21st century. It also catalyses the creation of knowledge, information, and technologies vital for the country’s accelerated socio-economic growth and development.

How can you make a difference? 

Objectives of the assignment

• To conduct a comprehensive analysis of the current communication landscape within the education sector.
• To develop a costed, data-informed, evidence-based and results-oriented Transformative Communications Strategy for the Education Sector (2025-2030) to improve communication of MoE’s education transformation agenda at national and sub-national levels, in alignment with the Ministry’s NESIP (2020-2030) and MIP-1 (2021-2030) education-specific deliverables.
• To recommend innovative and practical communication tactics, technologies, channels, tools and platforms for effective information dissemination and stakeholder engagement at national and sub-

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

• Conduct a secondary data review of relevant education and communication legislative instruments, education policies, guidelines, strategies, journals, communication materials, digital and traditional communication platforms, and relevant studies.
• Understand the communication needs, interests, concerns, capacities and limitations related to each stakeholder at national and sub-national level.
• Understand the communication and political context, stakeholder perceptions, the education sector’s reputation, and prevailing crisis communication and issue management approaches and protocols.
• Conduct an in-depth assessment of the current communication practices (including field consultations in Mangochi, Blantyre and Mzuzu), trends and benchmarks at national and sub national levels of the education sector, including comparative advantages, current communication efforts, available communication platforms, gaps and challenges, stakeholder analysis, target audience analysis, channel analysis, content analysis and SWOT analysis.
• Conduct key analyses relevant to communication and specific to the Ministry and education sector, i.e. Situation Analysis, Political Analysis, Behavioural Analysis, Competitive Analysis, Perception and Reputation Analysis, and Crisis Communication and Issue Management Analysis.
• Validate data/information collected from different primary and secondary sources.
• Drawing on data obtained from the Ministry’s Education Management Information System (EMIS), the 2023 Education Sector Report (ESR), NESIP, National Education Policy and other related strategic policy documents, develop a data-informed, evidence-based and results-oriented Transformative Communications Strategy for the Education Sector (2025-2030) with clearly defined goals; segmented target audiences; key messages; positioning statements and overall narrative; and strategies for stakeholder engagement, crisis communication and issue management, including all related supporting materials (i.e. designs, templates, audiovisuals, etc.).
• Develop a detailed and actionable Strategy Implementation Plan with timelines, responsibilities, resource allocations and budget projections.
• Recommend appropriate communication strategies for identifying, assessing and mitigating risks.
• Establish a robust Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework for measuring and tracking the impact of the communication strategy, detailing key performance indicators, data collection methods, and mechanisms for incorporation and application of stakeholder feedback on communication activities.

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

Academic qualification:

Master’s degree in communication, Social Science or other related field. Candidates with a PhD will have an added advantage.

Work experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in developing communication strategies for public and multinational private sector institutions.

Technical skills, knowledge and strength areas: 

• Demonstrable track record and proven work experience in the field of strategic communication.
• Proven expertise in sectoral analyses, stakeholder engagement and communication planning.
• Relevant and demonstrated knowledge of effective communication tools, technologies, and practices.
• Expertise and experience in qualitative and quantitative research, designing communication and behavioural change strategies, operational plans, and MEL Frameworks.
• Solid understanding of Malawi’s education sector, context and communication landscape will have an added advantage.
• Strong oral and written communication skills to present complex material in an easily understandable way.
• Excellent analytical and writing capacity in English.
• Ability to work flexibly in sometimes challenging situations and to establish good working cooperation with Government and development partners.
• Excellent workshop facilitation skills.

Languages:  English

Please refer to the attached full Terms of Reference  Terms of Reference _Wide Transformative Communication Strategy .pdf for more details on the consultancy and requirements.

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. 

HOW TO APPLY…

Interested Individual Consultant should provide the following:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Academic certificates
3. Brief technical proposal (no longer than five pages) demonstrating the Individual Consultant’s understanding of the assignment and approach/methodology to the assignment
4. Financial proposal including a breakdown of their all-inclusive fees (including professional fees, stationery, communication, and other miscellaneous costs). Financial Proposal for Consultancy.xlsx Complete the attached form.
5. References details from three most recent supervisors.

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.