Consultancy: English Editing Services for Programme, Communication & Advocacy Documents on Education and Early Childhood Development, LACRO

Contract

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The current COVID-19 Pandemic has affected more than 150 million learners in Latin America and the Caribbean Region, where most countries have closed schools to prevent the further transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Decisions about school closures during public health emergencies are complex and highly context-specific, especially when dealing with new viruses, about which much remains unknown. As governments and health authorities are deciding whether and when to close schools and other public institutions in response to a public health crisis, prolonged school closures are having major adverse consequences on children and adolescents, particularly of the most vulnerable populations.

The longer children are out of school, the higher the risks that vulnerable children will not return. Children and adolescents from the poorest households are already almost five times more likely to be out of primary school than those from the richest. Being out of schools puts children and adolescents, especially girls, at increased risk of teenaged pregnancy, sexual abuse, child marriage and other dangers. These negative impacts will be significantly higher for children and adolescents living in the poorest countries and those affected by conflict, increasing inequality.

School closures should not negate a child’s or adolescent’s right to education. Solid plans and flexible measures should be implemented to ensure the continuity of education and support learning opportunities. These efforts must aspire to reach all children and adolescents through appropriate mechanisms, tools and platforms, with due consideration for the most vulnerable groups such as girls, children and adolescents on the move and refugees, with disabilities, living in the most remote communities, from poor and low-income families and indigenous populations.

UNICEF LACRO contributes to ensuring that every girl, boy and adolescent in LAC benefits from policies, programmes and interventions that guarantee their access to education and learning opportunities from early childhood, through primary and secondary education. Programming efforts prioritize delivering results for children who are most at risk of not fulfilling their right to education, particularly, out-of-school children, children with disabilities, children who suffer discrimination because of their ethnicity, and those affected by armed violence, and emergencies.

In this context, the generation and exchange of information, advocacy and external communication efforts are essential for UNICEF LACRO to mobilize support from governments, donors, other agencies of the United Nations System, civil society organizations and communities so that all adolescents in the region can fulfil their right to an inclusive and equitable quality education, in line with the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2018-2021 and the SDG4: “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”

For every child, education

Purpose of the Job

The purpose of this consultancy is to support the design and implementation of LAC-RO’s education and ECD-related advocacy strategies and knowledge generation processes (included the COVID-19 education response), including the revision, editing and design of key documentations and communication platforms for LACRO’s Education and ECD section with the objective to ensure the quality and timely publication and exchange of information among the RO, COs and partners.

How can you make a difference?

Specific Tasks

• Undertake and coordinate the editing process of key documentations and communication/advocacy materials on Education and ECD, including Early Learning, Secondary age Education and Skills Development, Education in Emergencies, Inclusive Education and Disabilities.
• Coordinate the editorial process of key documentations and communication/advocacy products, including publications, reports, briefing notes, social media packages; fact sheets; press releases, summary reports, statements, among others.
• Act as a Communications focal point for LAC-RO Education and ECD team to ensure the timely communication and coordination with LAC-RO’s Editorial Committee and the Communications Section.

Expected Results

• Support the organization and content update of the Regional Education and ECD knowledge management platforms, including Parenting and Early Learning, Secondary-age Education and Skills Development, Education in Emergencies, Inclusive Education and Disabilities.
• Develop key messages for the different areas of work of the Education and ECD sections including Early Childhood Development, Early Learning, Secondary-age Education and Skills Development, Education in Emergencies, Inclusive Education and Disabilities, with the purpose of being adopted in briefing notes, social media packages; fact sheets; Q&As; press releases, summary reports, statements, among others.
• Facilitate and support the revision, editing, translation and design processes of key documentations, as well as advocacy and communication products, ensuring quality and compliance with UNICEF policies and guidelines.

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

• Education: University degree in communications, journalism, marketing, education or any related area.
• Work Experience: More than seven years working in the field of communication, journalism or marketing in the public or private sector.
• Languages: Fluency in English and Spanish. Fluency in Portuguese or French would be an asset.
• Technical knowledge:
  • Experience in public relations, audiovisual production and Print Media.
  • Work experience with the media sector, particularly as an editor and/or writer is required.
  • Knowledge about the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
  • Familiarity with UNICEF and the United Nations Agencies type of language and terminology.
  • Experience working in the Education sector and/or Early Childhood Development, experience working with educational resources of UNICEF or other United Nations agencies will be an asset.
  • Experience in editorial coordination, including design and layout, translation and editing of documents, publications, leaflets, visual materials, etc.
• Other skills:
  • Ability to develop and adapt materials respecting the guidelines, branding and editorial policies of UNICEF.
  • Ability to work efficiently under tight deadlines. Must be detail oriented and creative and possess strong communication skills.
  • Capacity to work in stressful conditions.
  • Flexibility and adaptability to shifting conditions and work demands.
  • Capacity to communicate effectively and work collaboratively.
  • High level of Integrity and commitment to UNICEF's mission and professional values.
  • Good judgment, initiative, high sense of responsibility, tact and discretion.
  • Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to establish harmonious working relations in a multicultural environment.

For every Child, you demonstrate UNICEF…

Core values of care, respect, integrity, trust, and accountability. UNICEF competencies: building and maintains partnerships, demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness, drive to achieve results for impact, innovates and embraces change, manages ambiguity and complexity, thinks and acts strategically, works collaboratively with others and nurtures, and, leads and manages people.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

Supervision: The consultant will work under the general supervision of the Education Specialist (Secondary Education and Learning) in close coordination with the ECD and Education Specialists and Officers of UNICEF’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Workplace: The consultant/ individual contractor will be requested to work remotely, home-based.

Duration: Estimated start date of this individual contract is 15 March 2021.

How to apply: Application should be submitted online and should include: CV, cover letter and financial proposal. The cover letter with reference links to two (2) recent works that certify experience required according to the purpose of the call. Moreover, the financial proposal should include the monthly consultancy fee, as well as all the necessary costs required to deliver the expected deliverables.

Remarks:

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.

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.