Communications consultancy

Contract

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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 future

The UNICEF Office for Relations with EU institutions in Brussels manages UNICEF’s relationship with European Union Institutions (namely the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, the European External Action Service and the European Parliament) in order to expand political space for children through evidence-based policy advocacy, to mobilize and to leverage EU resources for children and for UNICEF, and to provide support and guidance to Country and Regional Offices for the effective management of EU-funded programmes. The Brussels Office coordinates UNICEF’s global interactions with EU institutions effectively, strategically and with a focus on results.

Within the UNICEF Office in Brussels, the Advocacy and Policy Section leads on mainstreaming child rights into EU policy and practice, advocating and communicating with EU institutions and the general public through social media channels. This work requires working closely with UNICEF offices in EU Member States (Country Offices and National Committees), and developing partnerships with the European Commission, the European Parliament, key EU Member States. Communication activities (including campaigns, engagement with adolescents and working with the media) are key to support advocacy and increase UNICEF’s brand in the EU. At the same time, the Brussels Office supports UNICEF Country and Regional Offices in ensuring that they fulfill their communication and visibility contractual obligations.

How can you make a difference?

The incumbent will have two main responsibilities:

• Support the Brussels Office, Country and Regional Offices in the development, implementation, monitoring and reporting activities planned on main projects (e.g. EU UNICEF AU-U Report and Joint EU UNICEF Education campaign);
• Support the Brussels Office in the development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of communication activities on the EU-UNICEF partnership on children’s rights targeting EU media outlets and the EU general public, in close collaboration with UNICEF presence in EU Member States (e.g. events, high level visits, report launches, etc).

Expected results and duties:

1. Initiatives around the programme “Bringing youth voices to strengthen EU-AU partnership: reaching Adolescents, Young People and Communities Through U-Report” (Feb-June 2021)

Voices of young people are key to defining the future direction for the partnership between Africa and Europe. In 2021, African and EU leaders will come together at the 6th EU-AU Summit to define the future direction for the partnership between the two continents. UNICEF and DG DEVCO, with close involvement of the African Union Commission, are joining forces to empower young people to have their voices heard to inform and shape the Africa-EU partnership. Through U-Report (https://ureport.in/ ), opinions of young people in Africa and Europe were gathered on key issues worrying them - and where the Africa-EU partnership could contribute to.

Duties & Tasks

Under the overall lead of the project and in close collaboration with the Global U Report Coordinator, facilitate the collaboration between DG DEVCO, AU Commission and UNICEF in Brussels regarding communication and social media, as well as the work in countries participating in this initiative. Tasks include:

• Coordinate DEVCO, AUC and UNICEF communications focal points to ensure comms parameters are agreed and approved to disseminate the U Report results in Europe and in Africa, particularly amongst girls.
• Design and develop social media packs and digital activations for UNICEF/EU institutions channels and possibly using youth partner channels.

2. Coordination of the EU-UNICEF joint campaign on education (Feb -Sept 2021)

Although more children than ever before are enrolled in school, for too many, schooling does not equal learning. Roughly one in five school-aged children are not in school at all. In 2016, over 600 million children and adolescents were estimated to be not reaching minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics. This learning crisis is the greatest global challenge to preparing children and adolescents for life, work and active citizenship. UNICEF and the EU are joining efforts to promote equitable access to quality education for all children, everywhere.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic immediate response, education may have not been prioritized in many countries. If we want to build back better, we need to invest to ensure that every child has a better education goes to a better school everywhere. The COVID crisis gives us an opportunity to address the pre-existing learning crisis by fast-tracking solutions tackling deep inequalities in access to school, learning outcomes and digital connectivity. In order to engage children, parents and teachers, UNICEF and the EU have launched a 3-phase public engagement campaign, connected with #Reimagining, the new UNICEF Global Campaign framework.

Duties & Tasks

In close coordination with UNICEF HQ Communication Division, communication colleagues from the UNICEF offices in EU Member States and EU counterparts, coordinate the development and implementation of the three phases of the campaign, including:

• Lead on the implementation of the second phase of the campaign, a digital activation on the continuity of education to ensure that all children -especially the most vulnerable ones and girls- are able to go back to a better-quality education. Coordinate with the external creative agency under contract to ensure they deliver on communications assets.
• Coordinate the concept development of the third-phase to be co-created with the EU and rolled out in 2021.
• Creation and conceptualization of EU-UNICEF social media activations, showcasing education as an equalizer and a springboard for the potential of children, developing social media packs and digital activations for UNICEF/EU institutions channels.
• One event organized with young people and EU counterparts to highlight the need to invest in education.

3. Communication on the EU-UNICEF partnership (Feb -Dec 2021)

The UNICEF Office for Relations with EU Institutions has a work plan to ensure communication activities, including media, on children’s rights targeting EU media outlets and the EU general public.

Duties & Tasks

• Lead on in the development, implementation, monitoring and reporting on a communications and media, including traditional channels and social media, strategy and associated work plan, including: context; objectives; target audiences; messages and media mix; resources; specific actions, activities and products; monitoring and evaluation of impact.
• Maintain updated UNICEF EU Office webpage by editing and uploading relevant content.
• Plan and implement communication activities and special online and offline events (e.g World Children’s Day, Youth COP, etc) including preparation of content (e.g. concept notes for events, scripts for videos, etc) and information materials (e.g., press releases, programme summaries, country fact sheets and media kits) as well as necessary logistic arrangements.
• Catalogue and archive relevant communication material, such as photos and videos
• Create and upload relevant content to Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and/or other relevant channels
• Develop and update media relations contact list/database of journalists and media outlets covering all media – print, TV, radio, web, photo.
• Support UNICEF Country Offices to deliver on their obligations on communications and visibility related to EU funding by reviewing their plans and supporting their implementation.
• Maintain close collaboration with HQ Communication Division and communication colleagues from the UNICEF offices in EU Member State for effective overall coordination.

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

• Advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations
• At least five years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in communication, print, broadcast, and/or new media.
• Excellent writing, communication and presentation skills in English and another UN language (working knowledge of French and/or Arabic an asset).
• Demonstrated understanding and experience in creating successful, engaging and interactive digital campaigns and social media packages at national and/or global levels for various audiences, incl. young audiences (the 13 – 17 years old)
• Engagement on topics related to child rights, preferably towards EU institutions and/or familiarity with the work of UNICEF an asset.
• Knowledge of the EU institutions and its dynamics, with practical experience working for them or with them an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to propose and lead initiatives with a variety of stakeholders, managing challenging deadlines with a cooperative and team spirit.
• Ability to work independently and under tight deadline.
• Ability to work harmoniously in an international environment

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

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.

Remarks:

Duty station: Brussels. The incumbent will be based in Brussels. In light of the current COVID-19 context, teleworking is applicable and the location requirements are to have excellent internet connection, adequate hardware/software for digital interaction and to work in the same time zone as Brussels (CEST/CET). Depending on the evolution of COVID-19 situation, part-time physical attendance in Brussels might be required; any travel costs to Brussels for this purpose are to be included in the fee. Expenses related to duty travel in addition to Brussels will be covered by UNICEF separately.

Reporting The consultant will report to the Senior Policy and Advocacy Advisor of the UNICEF Office for Relations with the EU institutions in Brussels.

Time frame Start date: 1 February 2021 End date: 31 December 2021 This is a part-time job that requires flexibility depending on the planning and opportunities, estimated in around 70 working days.

Fee: Applicants are requested to submit a daily fee (which includes any commuting expenses linked to presence in the office, see Duty Station above) in USD (or as per instructions) in the application form.

The consultancy is at P.3 level (https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=SC ).

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.