Communication and Design Consultant for the UNICEF Seal Initiative – Online Learning Platform, Remote, Brazil

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Background and rationale

The UNICEF Seal is an initiative of UNICEF Brazil to encourage and recognize real and positive advances in the promotion, realization and guarantee of the rights of children and adolescents in municipalities in the Semiarid and Amazon regions. As a core strategy of the organization, the UNICEF Seal has been supporting Brazilian municipalities since 1999. The current edition (2021-2024) of the UNICEF Seal, which has 2,2023 municipalities enrolled - the greatest number of participants the initiative has ever had -, presents a new methodology with seven systemic outputs[1] and seven social indicators[2] that shall be achieved by each municipality”. By accomplishing the results of the UNICEF Seal during the four years of the initiative, the municipalities will improve their services and develop sustainable policies for children and adolescents. In addition, the municipalities will also contribute to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as the UNICEF Seal supports and has a direct impact on 10 out of the 17 SDGs.

The Covid-19 has brought new challenges to the guarantee of rights of children and adolescents, and in Brazil the pandemic has made poverty and inequality rise again, with children and adolescents being one of the most affected groups. The disruptions to public policies for children and adolescents and to the years of social progress and inclusion has made this current edition of UNICEF Seal even more important. In this context, the UNICEF Seal will focus on learning and knowledge exchange aiming to create sustainable policies for the municipalities. By strengthening public policies and addressing the setbacks caused by the pandemic, the 2021-2024 UNICEF Seal edition is key to improve the rights of children and adolescents in Brazil.

In past editions, the UNICEF Seal always held in-person meetings and trainings to the municipalities, nevertheless the context of the pandemic has requested new ways of learning. Therefore, as part of its new methodology, online learning courses for each of the seven systemic outputs and seven social indicators will be provided to the municipalities.

The courses will be developed by each programme area of UNICEF responsible for its systemic output and social indicator, and they will have the technical support of the UNICEF Seal team. Each course will follow a specific structure and will be available at UNICEF’s online learning platform (AVA – Ambiente Virtual de Aprendizagem, in Portuguese).

As this online learning strategy for the UNICEF Seal will be implemented for the first time, it will require technical support so as to ensure that all courses are available at the platform in due time and with all appropriate resources. This new modality, although challenging, will allow the UNICEF Seal to expand its learning strategy and provide more focused training to professionals in the Amazon and Semiarid regions, thus supporting the and strengthening the structure and quality of public services delivered in each municipality for children and adolescents. After each course, the professionals from each municipality will have all the appropriate tools to implement the necessary structural changes and achieve the systemic outputs and the social indicators of the UNICEF Seal.

[1] Systemic Outcome 1 – Child Development in Early Childhood; Systemic Result 2 - Quality education for all; Systemic Outcome 3 - Hygiene habits and guaranteed access to water for all children and adolescents in schools; Systemic Result 4 – Education, work and professional training opportunities for adolescents and young people; Systemic Outcome 5 – Comprehensive development, mental health and well-being of children and adolescents in the second decade of life; Systemic Result 6 - Prevention and responses to violence against children and adolescents; and Systemic Result 7 - Social protection and comprehensive care for vulnerable families via intersectoral services.

[2] Percentage of 1-year-old children who received the Triple Viral D2 vaccine; (ii) Percentage of elementary school students who dropped out of school (public network); (iii) Percentage of students in the final years of elementary school who dropped out of school (public network); (iv) Percentage of teenagers between 15 and 17 years old who are enrolled in high school; (v) Percentage of live births to mothers between 10 and 19 years old; (vi) Percentage of public schools with an adequate source of access to water services; and (vii) Percentage of cases of violence against children and adolescents properly registered on the SIPIA portal; (viii) Monthly average of families followed by PAIF by total families in the single registry in December.

Purpose

Under the overall guidance of the UNICEF Seal Initiative Coordinator, the consultant will provide technical support to the programme areas of UNICEF in the process of developing online courses for each systemic output and social indicator. As create and design an online course involve several aspects and challenges besides the content itself, the consultant will support the programme areas in the main aspects the course shall entail and which structure the course shall have. Although the consultant will not be responsible for the content of the course itself, the consultant will review each course so as to identify whether its content and structure are aligned with the requirements of UNICEF’s online learning platform (based on the Moodle system).

The consultant will be responsible for providing support to any technical requirement a programme area might request such as the inclusion of videos and interviews. In addition, the consultant will also be responsible for the design and visual identity of each course and for including the courses in UNICEF’s online learning platform.

According to the proposed agenda for the courses, the consultant will prepare communicational materials and design and develop layouts in UNICEF’s online learning platform to highlight them. Considering that some courses and social indicators shall be concluded and achieved by the professionals of each municipality until December 2022, as per UNICEF Seal’s methodology, it is important that a communication strategy for the courses be prepared by the consultant.

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 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.

Expected results

The overall expected results are as follow:

1. Technical support to ensure that the online courses to be developed by each programme area are structured accordingly. Each course, after a thorough review, will be added in UNICEF’s online learning platform by the consultant. For each course, communicational and design material shall be developed as well whether necessary. Considering the UNICEF Seal online learning courses agenda for 2022, the consultant will be responsible for, at around, 20 (twenty) online learning courses.

Activities:

1. Provide technical support to the programme areas for the development of the online learning courses;
2. Review each online learning course;
3. Design the layout for each online learning course;
4. Add the online learning courses in UNICEF’s online learning platform (based on the Moodle system);
5. Design the layout for activities and contents in UNICEF’s online learning platform;
6. Liaise with the ICT team to support and guide the implementation of technical improvements in UNICEF’s online learning platform;

Deliverables:

1.Deliverable: Three online learning courses for the UNICEF Seal added in UNICEF’s online learning platform

The consultant will provide technical support to the programme areas for the development of courses and will be responsible for reviewing and adding three courses in UNICEF’s online learning platform. In addition, the consultant will also design and organize the layout of UNICEF’s online learning platform and liaise with the ICT team.

1.1. Duration (how many days are needed): 32 days

1.2. Deadline (final delivery date): February 25th, 2022.

1.3. Payment (% of the contract): 15% of contract fee

2. Deliverable: Seven online learning courses for the UNICEF Seal added in UNICEF’s online learning platform

The consultant will provide technical support to the programme areas for the development of courses and will be responsible for reviewing and adding seven courses in UNICEF’s online learning platform. In addition, the consultant will also design and organize the layout of UNICEF’s online learning platform and liaise with the ICT team.

2.1. Duration (how many days are needed): 70 days

2.2. Deadline (final delivery date): April 29th, 2022

2.3. Payment (% of the contract): 35% of contract fee

3. Deliverable: Four online learning courses for the UNICEF Seal added in UNICEF’s online learning platform

The consultant will provide technical support to the programme areas for the development of courses and will be responsible for reviewing and adding four courses in UNICEF’s online learning platform. In addition, the consultant will also design and organize the layout of UNICEF’s online learning platform and liaise with the ICT team.

3.1. Duration (how many days are needed): 98 days

3.2. Deadline (final delivery date): July 29th ,2022

3.3. Payment (% of the contract): 20% of contract fee

4. Deliverable: Four online learning courses for the UNICEF Seal added in UNICEF’s online learning platform

The consultant will provide technical support to programme areas for the development of courses and will be responsible for reviewing and adding four courses in UNICEF’s online learning platform. In addition, the consultant will also design and organize the layout of UNICEF’s online learning platform and liaise with the ICT team.

4.1 Duration (how many days are needed): 98 days

4.2. Deadline (final delivery date): October 28th, 2022

4.3. Payment (% of the contract): 20% of contract fee

5. Deliverable: Two online learning courses for the UNICEF Seal added in UNICEF’s online learning platform

The consultant will provide technical support to programme areas for the development of courses and will be responsible for reviewing and adding two courses in UNICEF’s online learning platform. In addition, the consultant will also design and organize the layout of UNICEF’s online learning platform and liaise with the ICT team.

5.1. Duration (how many days are needed): 56 days

5.2. Deadline (final delivery date): December 16th, 2022

5.3. Payment (% of the contract): 10% of contract fee

Performance indicators

• Punctuality in meeting deadlines;
• Quality of content;
• Accountability and professionalism;
• Teamwork;
• Feedback from the UNICEF Seal Initiative Coordinator.

Technical background and experience required

• University Degree in Social Sciences or other relevant disciplines (Communication, International Relations, Design, Politics Sciences, Human Rights, Planning, Management, Communication etc.);
• Minimum of 4 years of relevant work experience with online learning courses, design, communication and human rights;
• Fluency in Portuguese;
• Solid knowledge of Moodle;
• Experience in implementing and reviewing online learning courses in Moodle;
• Experience in developing online learning courses;
• Solid knowledge in developing audiovisual, design and textual content for online learning courses;
• Experience in liaise with stakeholders during the execution of a project;
• Prior work experience with the United Nations system is desirable;
• Prior work experience with ICT or computer science teams is desirable;

Key competencies

Builds and maintains partnerships; Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness; Drive to achieve results for impact; Innovates and embraces change; Manages ambiguity and complexity; Thinks and acts strategically; Works collaboratively with others.

Core values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

General conditions: procedures & Logistics

• The consultant will work remote under a part-time basis and prior authorization and/or clearance from UNICEF to engage in external activities is required.
• Consultant will work from home using own equipment and stationery. UNICEF will provide office space for consultative meetings when needed.
• Travel costs should be included in the consultant’s fee.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or Individual Contractor.
• Consultants/ICs will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.

Financial Proposal

• Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.
• A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants and individual contractors are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.
• The payment 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.
• Travel costs should be included in the consultant’s fee.

Insurance and health coverage

• The contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expenses, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of the contract as he or she considers appropriate.
• The contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.

Restrictions

• Consultants and individual contractors may not receive training at the expense of UNICEF. Notwithstanding, consultants and individual contracts must complete the applicable mandatory trainings.
• In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government​, or unless on leave without pay.

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.