Consultancy: GCI Communications Officer - Req

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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: GCI Communications Officer

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

Duration: 1 November 2022 - 15 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.

UNGEI, together with UNESCO-IIEP, coordinates the Gender at the Center Initiative (GCI). GCI is a multistakeholder 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 promote gender equality in and through education. GCI mobilizes expertise and resources for country-owned, gender-responsive education sector interventions, strategies and plans. GCI is guided and implemented by the GCI Alliance, a group of technical partners, donors, Ministries of Education and Civil Society Organizations working together to achieve GCI objectives.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

Scope of Work

Under the supervision of the GCI Lead, and in close collaboration with the GCI Project Manager and the UNGEI Secretariat Communications and Advocacy Team, the GCI Communications Officer will be responsible for managing and implementing GCI’s communications strategy and outputs. The consultant will ensure that GCI’s position, plans, partnerships and approaches are highlighted and amplified with GCI Alliance partners and within the wider education community. Using a variety of communication channels (print and digital), the consultant will contribute to increasing the visibility of GCI within GCI partner countries and at regional and global level. The consultant will also provide substantive communications support for the preparation, planning and implementation of on-line and face to face events and workshops. The ideal candidate will be a dynamic self-starter with strong expertise in digital and print communication and excellent writing skills, in English and French.

Manage GCI Communications Portfolio:

• Ensure visibility of GCI achievements with GCI Alliance partners and within the global education community, across a variety of communication channels.
• Increase visibility of GCI within GCI partner countries, by partnering with communications leads from partner organizations in GCI countries.
• Develop and manage GCI Communications Community with communications leads from GCI Alliance partners (donors, technical partners, Civil Society Organizations, young activists), setting up regular meetings to coordinate communication activities and campaigns.
• Ensure media outreach for key GCI events, preparing news articles, press releases, media pitches, and op-eds and maintain good working relationships with key outlets and journalists.

Digital Communications:

• Working closely with the UNGEI Secretariat Digital Communications Lead, implement GCI digital communications strategy.
• Manage GCI webspace on the UNGEI website, ensuring the webspace contains up to date information on GCI activities and news, including from GCI partners; develop and upload new materials.
• Write, edit and commission blog posts and news pieces capturing GCI activities and events (workshops, trainings, campaigns, etc.); liaise with young activists and guest writers to develop blog posts that reflect the vision and activities from GCI Alliance partners.
• Ensure timely social media communications on GCI activities, campaigns and events; writing, editing and managing posts for a variety of social media channels (Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.) .
• Develop social media toolkits for partners and external audiences to support the launch of GCI publications, blogs, events, and campaigns.
• Oversee the production of the semi-annual GCI newsletter, liaising with IIEP-UNESCO and GCI implementing partners to collect content, write and edit newsletter articles, oversee overall structure and visual editing.
• Manage a database of pictures from GCI activities, liaising with UNGEI colleagues and GCI implementing partners to collect pictures, and use compelling pictures for various communication outlets.

Editorial Support:

• quality assure all GCI-related content distributed by UNGEI to maintain strong visual and editorial identity and reputation; edit communication materials produced by UNGEI colleagues.
• Work with UNGEI and GCI contractors and team members to produce original audio, video, written and visual content for GCI campaigns and communications activities.
• Support GCI colleagues with the preparation of compelling PowerPoint presentations, ensuring they align with GCI branding and visual identity
• Ensure lay-out and editing of key GCI documents, including alignment with GCI branding.

Knowledge Management:

• Collect, edit and write good practices based on the GCI program and ensure they are disseminated among donors, technical partners and other key stakeholders.
• Manage partner requests to contribute good practices and evidence from the GCI program, collecting, editing and writing contributions within the required timeframe.
• Support GCI colleagues with narrative and visual contributions for donor reporting.

Advocacy:

• Working closely with the UNGEI Secretariat Advocacy and Research Lead, develop compelling high-quality policy advocacy materials based on GCI priorities, activities and evidence.
• Support UNGEI colleagues with developing talking points in relation to GCI activities for the preparation of speeches, presentations and events.
• Support the members of the UNGEI team and partners in the planning, set up and promotion of digital and in person events.

Key deliverables:

Manage GCI digital communications

• GCI newsletter is delivered every 6 months;
• GCI activities are visible on social media;
• A minimum of 6 blog posts are produced per year;
• GCI Alliance partners are up to date on GCI activities and progress

Manage GCI webspace

• GCI webspace contains compelling materials and up to date information on GCI activities and progress, including from GCI partners.

Coordinate GCI Communications Community

• GCI Alliance Communications leads hold regular meetings and coordinate communication strategies, activities and campaigns.

Develop and edit GCI communications outputs

• All GCI communications outputs (news pieces, presentations, blogs, etc.) are high-quality and align with GCI visual and editorial identity.

Manage GCI evidence and good practices

• GCI evidence and achievements are documented and disseminated through compelling write-ups of good practices and advocacy materials.

Qualifications

Education

• Master Degree in Communications, marketing, public relations, business administration and management, technology, or social sciences.

Work experience/Competencies

• 3 to 5 years of relevant professional work experience at the national and international levels in strategic communications, managing digital advocacy and communications and copy-editing.
• Editorial experience overseeing and managing the production of written and visual/audio content in a relevant field, including digital social media.
• Experience as a strategist, planner and content creator with a proven track record of developing creative ideas and campaigns, including a focus on profile-raising.
• Superior communications skills in professional writing, both in English and French. Ability to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Extensive experience with digital platforms, including organizing and managing and developing online blogs, consultations, outreach and social media.
• Experience developing and embedding content into Drupal, Wordpress and other content management systems.
• Demonstrated planning, communication and writing skills. Ability to handle multiple tasks, prioritize and work to tight deadlines.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment. Strong team player.
• Commitment to advancing gender equality, girls’ education, and human rights.
• Demonstrated commitment to UNGEI values, including feminist principles.

Language Proficiency:

• Fluency in English and French (oral and written) required.

Requirements****:

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include:
• your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, race, sexual orientation, nationality, culture, appearance, socio-economic status, ability, age, religious, and ethnic backgrounds, 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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.