Consultancy: Communications Consultant- Safe Online Initiative- Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children (11.5 months) REQ

Contract

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The Opportunity

The Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children (End Violence Partnership), and its associated Fund, is a unique public-private coalition launched by the UN Secretary-General in July 2016 to accelerate progress towards SDG 16.2: ending all forms of violence against children by 2030.

The End Violence Partnership convenes partners that collaborate globally to raise awareness, catalyse leadership commitments, mobilise new resources, promote evidence-based solutions and innovation, and support those working to end all forms of violence, abuse, and neglect of children.

The Partnership connects and facilitates collective evidence-based advocacy, especially to keep children safe at home, online, in and through schools, and in communities, while the End Violence Fund is a flexible funding vehicle that identifies new and emerging challenges to SDG 16.2, funds innovative initiatives that have the potential to replicate and scale, and generates data, evidence, and learning to inform policy and increase the impact of programmes.

The End Violence Partnership has three priority initiatives:

• Works with countries through the process of Pathfinding and ending corporal punishment, whereby governments commit to ending violence against children by implementing evidence-based solutions such as the INSPIRE strategies.
• Builds on existing efforts to ensure children are safe in and through schools via the Safe to Learn initiative, backed by a growing coalition of partners as well as countries who endorse its five-point Call to Action.
• Strengthens the network of organisations working to keep children Safe Online by leveraging its network of grantees and partners to influence global policy debates and investing in models and solutions to tackle child online sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA).

About the Safe Online Initiative

The Safe Online’s investment portfolio has reached US$48 million, funding 60 projects focused on preventing and eliminating online CSEA with impact in over 70 countries. The investments range from supporting programs at country level, large-scale research projects (e.g. Disrupting Harm), to designing new and scaling-up existing technology-based solutions. Beyond investing in individual projects, the Safe Online initiative (Safe Online) has built a strong collaborative network of partners who are working to share the knowledge, learnings and solutions in this field to maximize collective results for children at risk and those who are victim of online CSEA. Safe Online is also increasingly contributing to global policy discussions on child online safety with governments, tech industry, regulators, and others, ensuring that the safety of children is at the heart of intersections between connectivity and safety; privacy and protection; and technology and human rights.

Purpose

With a growing investment portfolio, Safe Online is evolving its strategy, results framework and business model, to better support the collective impact of the portfolio of grantees and lay the foundations for systemic change at scale, all in view of making the internet safe for children. Heading into the scale-up phase, Safe Online plans to raise awareness and grow demand for change; make a compelling investment case with enhanced evidence on what works to tackle online CSEA to mobilize new resources; and collect the knowledge, solutions, expertise and resources to inform the Safe Online community and wider ecosystem of relevant organizations and entities with a role in tackling online CSEA and other forms of violence against children.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

• Support knowledge generation and sharing\
• Develop communication and knowledge products (e.g. case studies, human-interest stories, project profiles, annual report) to showcase results, generate evidence, and collate lessons learned and best practices from the Safe Online portfolio of grantees.
• Conduct interviews with selected Safe Online grantees, champions, partners and donors to draft stories, op-eds, web articles and other information products to capture approaches and solutions to tackle online CSEA and other priority issues (e.g. data protection, age identification, etc.).
• Provide support to the Advocacy and Knowledge Management Specialist in coordinating the work on evidence and knowledge sharing tools and activities, including a global webinar series, knowledge portal, grantee convening, among others.
• Generate and regularly update relevant content for the Safe Online webpage, social media posting/blogs, monthly newsletter, etc. in close collaboration with the End Violence Communication team.
• Work with the wider End Violence Comms team to ensure alignment with the overal comms and advocacy efforts and plug in Safe Online comms products and assets in broader Partnership efforts.

Assist with advocacy and resource mobilization

• Draft communication products to support advocacy and policy efforts to elevate online safety in public forums and influence key actors to prioritize child online safety in their policies, regulations, budgets and business practices.
• Produce communication material to support key partners (including new allies) collective action on policy, regulation and business-practice reform and policy debates critical for the future of a safe internet for children (e.g. intermediary liability, user protection, privacy regulation, etc.). Help distil complex ideas and approaches into easy-to-understand solutions for internal and external audiences including a diverse range of donors, as well as amplify the work of partners and progress overall.
• Draft public-facing communication products with a coherent storyline and messaging for external engagements, awareness raising, investment rounds, reporting, convening of partners around strategic issues and other initiatives organized by Safe Online.
• Assist with joint information programmes to increase Safe Online profile and promote its visibility across levels and sectors, while making sure they fit within the larger End Violence Partnership narrative and approach.
• Support drafting and production of donor proposals, information kits, key messages and other relevant fundraising products.
• Undertake other tasks as assigned by the supervisor.

Key deliverables and timeline

At least 10-12 interviews with selected Safe Online grantees, champions, partners and donors conducted to draft stories, op-eds, web articles and other information products to capture approaches and solutions to tackle online CSEA and other priority issues. Jan-July 2022

A minimum of 12 communication and knowledge products (e.g. case studies, human-interest stories, project profiles, videos, etc.) are produced to high quality standards to showcase results, generate evidence, and collate lessons learned and best practices from the Safe Online portfolio of grantees. March-Dec 2022

At least 12 public-facing communication products are created to high quality standard with a coherent and easy-to-understand storyline and messaging for internal and external engagements, awareness raising, investment rounds, annual reports, convening of partners around strategic issues and other initiatives organized by Safe Online. Feb-Dec 2022

A minimum of 7 fundraising and policy products and other communication material (e.g. information kits, key messages, proposals, briefs, etc.) are produced to high quality standards to engage a diverse range of donors and support key partners and new allies collective action on policy, regulation and business-practice reforms critical for the future of a safe internet for children.- Feb-Nov 2022

At least 3-5 activities from the Safe Online grantees and partners are highlighted in the End Violence newsletter monthly, and other communication and awareness raising materials are contributed to on a regular basis to support Safe Online advocacy efforts.- Monthly, ongoing

Generate and regularly update relevant content for the Safe Online webpage, social media posting/blogs, LinkedIn, Knowledge Exchange portal, etc. and track reach and engagement, all in close collaboration with the Safe Online and Communication team. - Monthly, ongoing

Attend and support meetings, events and workshops - including Safe Online webinars, convening, etc. - as applicable and assigned by the supervisor.- As required

Other deliverables of the Safe Online Initiative are supported as applicable and assigned by the supervisor.- As required

The contract is expected to commence in January 2022, for a total duration of 11.5 months.

The consultant will be supervised by the Safe Online Director, will support the work of the Advocacy and Knowledge Specialist and Safe Online team, while working in close coordination with the End Violence Communication team. S/he will be hired on a full-time basis on a UNICEF consultancy contract. S/he will contribute to a culture of professionalism that emphasizes curiosity, learning, collaboration and delivery.

While the End Violence Partnership is based primarily in New York, COVID-19 has prompted remote and more flexible working, and we do not expect to return to full-time office-based working. Therefore, the consultant may be home-based. Occasional travel may be required, in consultation with the supervising unit, including to New York if the consultant is based in another country. As and when business travel is possible, some international travel may be required. End Violence staff are encouraged to consider the impact of carbon emissions when making business decisions that may involve travel.

Payment Plan

• Monthly payment, based on satisfactory delivery of tasks and progress reports, approved upon monthly review with supervisor.
• Consultant is responsible for their own health insurance, and for assuming the costs for obtaining visas and travel insurance as necessary.
• Consultant is eligible for standard DSA for all work-related travel.

Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced university degree in communication, public relations, international relations, social sciences or a related field (a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree).
• A minimum of 3-5 years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in communication, print, broadcast, and/or new media.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with excellent storytelling and technical communication with peers and non-technical stakeholders are essential.
• Ability to see the big picture and connect multiple story threads into one greater narrative.
• Good management skills and the ability to deliver against multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to work in a diverse, multicultural, and highly collaborative environment.
• Experience working on issues related to children and/or the protection of children against violence is desirable.
• Oral and written fluency in English is required; knowledge of Spanish, French, and/or other UN languages is desirable.

Core Values Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability

Core Competencies

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

Functional Competencies

• Analysing (2)
• Deciding and initiating action (1)
• Persuading and Influencing (2)
• Applying Technical Expertise (2)
• Learning and researching (2)
• Planning and organizing (2)

Ethics and Safeguarding

In order to ensure the protection of, and respect for, human and child rights throughout the process, applicants will be required to follow relevant international norms and standards of ethics in research and evidence generation - including UNICEF’s Procedure for Ethical Standards in Research, Evaluation and Data Collection and Analysis.

It is also expected that the consultant will perform effectively and conform to a high standard of moral and ethical conduct and comply with relevant provisions of the Safeguarding Policy of the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, and internationally agreed core labour standards.

End Violence 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. End Violence 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. End Violence 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.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

This position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/ assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.

Remarks:

How to Apply: Applications should be submitted by November 26, 2021.

• Applications must include: cover letter, CV and indicate your ability, experience, availability and monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above.
• Applications submitted without a monthly rate will not be considered.
• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) Upload copy of academic credentials
• your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference (can be downloaded here: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_consultancy_assignments.html
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

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.

If selected for this consultancy, the resulting appointment will be limited to EVAC, a UNICEF hosted fund.