Communication Consultant with experience in Social and Development Initiatives

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all qualified candidates, irrespective of nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, gender identity and sexual orientation, as well as persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. UNICEF’s office is accessible to a certain extent, and employees are entitled to reasonable accommodations that are needed for ensuring equitable working conditions.

Providing quality education for all children, regardless of their background, is one of the top priorities for UNICEF. Our goal is to enable the most vulnerable and marginalized children to realize their full potential through accessing and completing quality inclusive education. The adoption of the Law on the Foundations of the Education System (LoFES) back in 2009 marked a milestone in introduction to inclusive education, with emphasis on the equal right to education to all children, as well as access to education without discrimination and segregation, of all children, students and adults, from marginalized and vulnerable groups. Thus, all children who need additional support in education should be enrolled in regular schools with the support of individual educational plans, tailored to each student’s strengths and needs, including different types of additional educational, health or social support, removing the legal barriers for enrolment of children living in informal settlements.

Despite evident progress made in the implementation of inclusive education and high overall rate of participation in education, a considerable number of children are still at risk of being excluded. This is hampered by a variety of reasons, including the lack of resources and capacity to support additional needs, but also by negative attitudes towards children with disabilities and children from minority groups. The implementation and realization of inclusive education (IE) is therefore of key significance for the realization of child and human rights, social inclusion and human capital development.

UNICEF supports the Government of Serbia in realizing the inclusive education principles through different initiatives, including technical assistance to policy and governance work, research initiatives and analytical work, and planning towards building a more inclusive education system. To support UNICEF Serbia in communication analysis, communication planning, addressing social norms and attitudes, and execution of the communicating strategy for inclusive education, UNICEF is seeking a consultant with relevant expertise and experience to secure technical services related to the development and execution of the UNICEF Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Strategy, with a focus on inclusive quality pre-university education at all levels, for every child.

Work Assignment Overview:

The consultant will be responsible for the development and implementation of the SBC analysis, planning, and for supporting the implementation of key strategic activities in the area of inclusive quality pre-university education at all levels.

Duration of the assignment: April 2023 – May 2024, part-time (50%), office-based

Task description:

1. Support the implementation of the Social and Behavioural Change Strategy through the development of Communication and Visibility materials.
2. Support communication planning for 5 Resource Centres for Assistive Technologies, which includes the development of communication and visibility materials for the 5 RCs.
3. Support the development of the communication framework for advocacy, communication, visibility and promotion of inclusive education in 20 local self-governments.
4. Support communication planning and promotion of 6 school-candidates for the status of the Model Institution for Inclusive Education.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: social and behavioural science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication, media, public relations, marketing or another relevant field.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development, communication for development, behavioural and social change, social marketing, public advocacy, marketing, journalism or another related area.
• A recent professional experience in media, marketing, and/or social mobilization.
• Knowledge and versatility in using community, service and other media (including digital media and social networks) platforms for communicating targeted public information and outreach messages.
• Proficiency in English and fluency in Serbian.
• Ability to work independently and effectively with attention to detail and to follow-through.
• A high level of organization skills with the ability to work quickly and efficiently as part of a team.

Desired qualifications:

• Media engagement capacity (proven through professional experience).
• Knowledge of education and social welfare sectors in Serbia.
• A good understanding of UNICEF’s work in education.
• Experience in working with children, families and vulnerable population groups.
• Experience in working with social sectors (health, education and social welfare) and local communities as well as private sector.
• Previous experience with UNICEF or UN agencies.

How to apply:

The application must include a financial proposal in RSD as a separate document, providing the following information:

1. Monthly fee for part-time engagement of 4 hours per working day (all costs included, e.g. usage of mobile phone),
2. Daily travel allowance for overnight stay in Serbia (including accommodation),
3. Transportation costs per km (for travel within Serbia).

Note: Please do not forget to specify your name in the proposal file (to be uploaded online under the “Financial Proposal” tab). Do not indicate financials anywhere else in the online application form – please mark "n/a” or “00" under the fee-related questions in the online application form.

Important notes:

Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

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

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.

For every child, you must demonstrate UNICEF's core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability.

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.