Communications Consultant, Juba- South Sudan, 11.5 Months (For South Sudan National only)

Contract

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Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

South Sudan’s Child mortality and morbidity rates are high: under‐five mortality is 91 per 1,000 live births while neonatal mortality is 39 per 1,000 births; child malnutrition is severe, with an underweight prevalence at 23 percent of children (UNICEF, 2016). Maternal mortality is among the highest in the world, estimated at 789 per 100,000 births. Endemic diseases pose a heavy burden, particularly malaria, which accounts for 20–40 percent of all health facility visits. The health care system particularly in Jonglei and Upper Nile State is extremely stretched: only about 40 percent of the population can access health care within a 5‐kilometer radius. Life expectancy of 56 years is low.

In response to this situation, since 2019, UNICEF is implementing a World Bank-funded Project including the preparedness and deployment of vaccines in South Sudan, deliver of essential health service delivery in the states of Upper Nile and Jonglei States, while developing Government capacity for health sector stewardship. The project has entered the second phase (July 2021 – 2022) with a clear commitment from all parties to boost the implementation and achieve better results and beyond.

The coverage for most RMNCAH services in the country remains low with facility-based deliveries at 21%, low ANC fourth visit rates and post-natal care. Family planning remains as well quite low while the child mortality indicators are as well high. There is still poor vaccination rates with malnutrition remaining a huge concern in the country. Several barriers to health care range from insecurity, inadequate health facilities, terrain, flooding and low health workforce with disproportionate distribution from urban to rural.

Communications and visibility for the World Bank funded health project is a key component to enable awareness of all stakeholders of the results and impact of the project and ensure UNICEF and the World Bank are appropriately visible. It also feeds into the advocacy agenda of UNICEF to ensure public audiences are aware of the health needs for children in the country and there is public support for the development of the health sector and the health and well-being of children. Communications products and activities must be continued under this significant investment and there is the need for a communications consultant to lead on the production and organization of communications, visibility and advocacy activities

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Update the Communication Strategy for the project and associated costed communications work plan

• Ensure regular updates of the new communications strategy and costed workplan for the project building on the previous strategy and activities under the World Bank health project

• In conjunction with the Communications section and Health section coordinate with World Bank and Government counterparts for ongoing input and changes into the strategy and plan.

  Implement communications activities from the communications strategy and plan

  Develop campaign concept notes for specific health related campaigns

• In conjunction with Health Section and Field Offices:

  • Produce written products including Human Interest Stories, feature articles, press materials,
  • Produce and coordinate radio programmes and PSA production and distribution with various radio stations
  • Conceptualize, develop and produce video materials with external videographers and companies.
  • Produce regular social media content related to the programme and support the distribution and publishing on various social media channels
  • Ensure quality photographic coverage of the project through coordination with field teams, external photographers and communications staff to document the project
  • Manage and coordinate events related to the project
  • Coordinate media enquiries and proactively engage with media for coverage of the project in national and international media.

Implement visibility related activities to ensure UNICEF, Government and the World Bank are appropriately recognised and the investment receives quality recognition

• Support Health Section and Field Offices in ensuring project sites are appropriately branded.
• Ensure regular visibility online for the partners involved in the project.
• Assist with donor visits and government engagement and events related to the project.

Monitor communications activities and contribute to reporting of communications activities related to the project.

• Regular monitoring of online activities, including website traffic, social media reach related to the project.
• Monitor success of project advocacy campaigns including events and visibility activities.
• Coordinate contributions for donor reporting of communications activities.
• Assist the Health Section with meetings and relations with the donor and partners on communications related issues.

Support capacity building initiatives for the Ministry of Health

• Mentor MoH’s Communication Officers on Training (COT)
• Support the development of the Communication and Visibility Strategy for the MoH
• Support the MoH’s COT in the implementation of communication and visibility activities

Scope of Work:

• The Consultant will provide technical communications support and coordination to the World Bank health project in Upper Nile and Jonglei, based from Juba to ensure communications and visibility requirements are successfully implemented. The consultant will be based in Juba and is expected to have regular travels Upper Nile and Jonglei and surrounding areas of UNICEF interventions to ensure coverage of the project.

Work Assignment Overview

Update the WB Health Project Communications Strategy and Plan

• Communications Strategy
• Costed Communications Pan

Concept notes and plan for identified communications campaigns

• Concept notes and campaign plans

Produce written products including Human Interest Stories, feature articles, press materials. Contribute to Media engagement and support

• 1-2 Human interest story per month
• Media materials produced (press releases) as needed
• Media engaged as needed

Produce and coordinate radio programmes and PSA production and distribution with various radio stations

• Radio products produced during campaigns

Regular review and engagement with MoH Communication staff to build capacity

• Fortnightly meetings with 2 MoH Comms staff, review of products and strategies, advice and mentoring to them.

Conceptualize, develop and produce video materials with external videographers and companies.

• Planned videos are successfully produced and disseminated

Regular social media content produced

• Content for social media is written and produced and disseminated on UNICEF social media platforms

Photographic coverage

• Quality Photos are captured and prepared for the project

Events coordinated and produced

• Project events are organized and produced as required

Project and Donor Visibility requirements are met

• UNICEF and donor visibility items produced and in place in the field and online

Activities monitored and reported on

• Reports – comms activities
• Donor reports contributed too

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• A Bachelors degree in communications, public relations, journalism or another relevant technical field
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in communications, public relations, communications for development or related field
• Experience in health or humanitarian program/project development in a UN system agency or organization is an asset
• Experience working in Jonglei and Upper Nile and/or in a similar project is an added advantage
• Knowledge of the duty station is considered an asset for this consultancy
• Diplomacy, conflict management, flexibility, understanding of local cultural and social practices are key success factors for this consultancy

A range of specialized skills:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, media relations, online communications platforms
• Knowledge of web applications and social media platforms
• In-depth analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and proven interpersonal skills
• Experience in building successful relationships with government counterparts, UN agencies, CSOs, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Ability to cope with hardship conditions.
• Knowledge of computer management skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint software.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic) or a local language is an asset.

All applications must be submitted with detailed financial and technical proposal

Payment Schedule

Payment will be done upon delivery of key task and submission of all necessary reports as stipulated in the detailed in the vacancy announcement.

https://www.unicef.org/southsudan/

o view our competency framework, please visit here.

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:

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.