Consultancy: Development of concept notes of Health and Nutrition Program, Pretoria, South Africa

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, health.

UNICEF South Africa

UNICEF works in South Africa to protect the rights of every child and to improve the lives of children and their families. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfil their potential to the benefit of a better world. We believe that ensuring a child is happy and healthy begins before birth: from ensuring their mother has access to good health care to reaching adulthood as a healthy, empowered and informed young person of the next generation. This journey relies on every child having access to quality health care, good nutrition, education, and growing up in a safe environment free from violence.

Established in 1946, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

UNICEF has had a presence in South Africa since the end of apartheid and continues to work towards bettering the lives of children in the country. From its office in Pretoria, the UNICEF South Africa Country Office works with a range of partners in government, civil society, academia and various other sectors to create a safer and healthier environment for every child.

How can you make a difference?

Familiarizing and scoping

• The consultant will review country program documents, health and nutrition program strategic notes, adolescent development program strategic notes and other related documents.
• Become familiar with the Private Fundraising & Partnerships (PFP) strategy, Business for Results (B4) approach, UNICEF’s engagement with business on health and nutrition and other issue areas, and any other information that the consultant and supervisor deem necessary.
• Review the country's context, policies, priorities, and challenges.
• Develop a framework and template to write up the /concept notes.

Prioritizing

• Once the consultant has a clear understanding of UNICEF’s strategy, work, and relationship with the public and private sector and requirements, the consultant will recommend a list of at least 10 concept notes on specific topics of relevance to the health and nutrition program by discussing with UNICEF staff.
• The list of concept notes will be reviewed by UNICEF colleagues to determine their suitability. Feedback will be provided to determine the final list of shortlisted concept notes.

Research and interviews

Once the topics of the concept notes are selected, the consultant will develop each concept note in full. The steps that need to be taken include but are not limited to:

• Interviews with and collection of additional information from relevant staff from in the health and nutrition section
• For each concept note, develop an in-depth explanation of the relevant background, the challenges, the sustainable response, why partner with UNICEF, how you can invest with UNICEF

Writing and presentation

• The concept notes should be drafted in a MS Word document. Once the concept notes are drafted, they should be shared with the relevant UNICEF colleagues for feedback.
• Once the concept notes have been thoroughly reviewed by all relevant UNICEF colleagues, the consultant should complete final drafts of each concept note (max 4 pages).
• After the final draft of each concept note is complete, the consultant will create one-page short summaries (around 300 words maximum per concept note and one PowerPoint slide for each concept note. These will highlight the key messages from each concept note and should include images or graphics where appropriate.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in in health, nutrition and social sciences, communications, journalism, or related areas
• • Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible professional work experience in communications and/or knowledge management, some at the international level
  • Understanding of UNICEF’s context, mission and public voice is essential
  • Experience with multilateral institutions is preferred
  • Strong organizational, planning and analytical skills
  • Excellent written and verbal communication in English
  • Good judgement, initiative, high sense of responsibility, tact and discretion
  • Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to establish harmonious working relations in a multicultural environment
  • Familiarity with private sector partnerships with the UN, business and human rights agenda, and excellent understanding of corporate social responsibility, shared value, multi-stakeholder partnerships and/or advocacy;
  • Previous experience of work with UNICEF and/or other UN/international entities/ or familiarity with the work of UNICEF would be an asset.
  • Ability to work independently, demonstrate initiative, and produce results.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To 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 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.