Consultancy: Advocacy and Research Lead - UNGEI/Education Section/Programme Group/NYHQ (remote) Ref

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, hope.

Consultancy Title: Advocacy and Research Lead

Section/Division/Duty Station: UNGEI/Education Section/Programme Group/NYHQ (REMOTE)

Duration: 15 November 2022 - 30 October 2023

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

ABOUT UNGEI:

UNGEI is a global partnership for gender equality in and through education. Our mandate is to catalyze and galvanize action locally, nationally, regionally and global for girls’ education and gender equality in education. We bring together diverse partners to support Ministries of Education and other national actors to develop and implement bold commitments to gender equality in education. We convene regional global conversations and action for girls’ education and gender equality in education, including through the leadership of young feminist activists around the world. UNGEI partners include multilaterals, regional umbrella and intergovernmental organizations, national and global civil society organizations and young feminist leaders.

The UNGEI Secretariat is governed by UNICEF policies of employment. We strive to uphold feminist and anti-racist principles in how we work and offer flexible work arrangements.

Gender at the Centre Initiative (GCI) is an eight-country partnership and programme launched by the G7 in 2019 to support Ministries of Education and other national actors in eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa to progress on gender equality in education. The programme is implemented jointly by UNGEI and UNESCO IIEP.

PURPOSE OF ACTIVITY/ASSIGNMENT:

The Advocacy and Research Lead will play a key role in strengthening UNGEI’s policy, advocacy and evidence-building mandates on issues of gender and education. With support from the UNGEI Secretariat team, the Advocacy and Research Lead will work to harness the power of the UNGEI partnership to advocate and push for progress towards gender equality in and through education.

The consultant will lead the development and delivery of global and national policy and advocacy strategies, as well as research projects which are aligned with UNGEI’s strategic objectives. The consultant will work closely with partner organizations and education stakeholders, including donors, young feminist organizations and networks, to develop and implement joint advocacy and research initiatives. They will manage UNGEI’s research projects, developing proposals and work plans, partnering with research institutions, overseeing implementation and reviewing research reports. They will translate research and evidence into high-quality, evidence-based policy and advocacy resources on themes relating to gender and education. The consultant will assist UNGEI program managers in the development of country-specific policy and advocacy materials, messaging and positions for national and regional audiences.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

Scope of Work

Policy and advocacy

• Lead on elaboration of advocacy strategy and deliverables for UNGEI, including the Gender at the Centre Initiative (GCI), help set policy and advocacy priorities and manage workplan.
• Produce high-quality, evidence-based policy and advocacy materials on themes relating to gender and education, including case studies, newsletters, policy notes, blogs, for a wide range of audiences.
• Lead on planning and delivery of UNGEI advocacy campaigns and messaging. In close collaboration with the UNGEI communications team, support planning and delivery of UNGEI advocacy events.
• Work with the UNGEI programme managers to develop additional policy/advocacy resources and support regional/national advocacy efforts as necessary (e.g. regional/country specific briefs, key facts and figures, messaging frameworks).
• Manage engagement with UNGEI partner and ally organizations around policy and advocacy-related activities. Support UNGEI’s engagement in global advocacy platforms and networks and develop strong relationships with sector colleagues and technical specialists.

• In collaboration with UNGEI Digital Communications Lead, manage UNGEI Partner Advocacy and Communications group and lead on delivery of collective advocacy outputs.

• Provide technical support to project partners (including Transform Education) to grow capacity in advocacy and policy influencing.

  Research and learning

• Lead on UNGEI’s research portfolio, managing research projects, including design, overseeing implementation, coordinating with research partners, vendors, technical support and report writing, including for the Gender at the Centre Initiative.

• Lead on the dissemination of research and learning resources in innovative and creative ways. Broaden the reach and impact of research reports and technical notes by producing a range of resources (e.g. short case studies, infographics, summary notes, social media messages, etc.) for different audiences.
• Manage and coordinate the UNGEI Learning Series and Knowledge Hub expansion.

• With support from the UNGEI team, lead on research and learning-related partnership and projects. Identify opportunities to build and strengthen UNGEI partnerships through joint policy advocacy, research and learning opportunities.

  Key deliverables:

• Documents of UNGEI’s advocacy strategy and outputs, including events, campaigns, policy advocacy position, messaging and blogs

• Reports of joint advocacy work with partners
• Reports/minutes of activities related to UNGEI’s research portfolio.

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

Education

• A Master degree in international development, social sciences, gender or relevant qualifications

Work experience/Competencies

• At least 7 years combined experience working in policy, advocacy and/or research in an international context, including experience using evidence and research to support policy and advocacy work.
• Strong expertise in social science research methods. Experience designing and managing the delivery of research projects.
• Excellent analytical and written communication skills, including in order to influence policy and raise public awareness. Excellent oral communication skills. Ability to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience in organizing virtual events, workshops and meetings.
• A good working knowledge of international and regional institutions related to gender equality in education and international development.
• Strong understanding of issues related to gender equality in education and girls’ education.
• Self-motivated, creative, innovative. Proven ability to take ownership and initiative over projects, while working effectively across teams.
• Capacity to prioritize and manage a diverse range of partners, projects and activities. Ability to handle multiple tasks, prioritize and work to tight deadlines.
• Strong commitment to UNGEI’s mission, purpose and values, including a commitment to feminism, gender equality, anti-racism, anti-discrimination, decolonization and social justice in the international development sector and beyond.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment.

Language Proficiency:

• Excellent knowledge of English (written and oral) required. Knowledge of French is an asset.

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.

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.