Consultancy: Learning Advocacy - Advocacy Section - Global Communication & Advocacy (12 months, remote-based) - GCA, NYHQ

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, #Learning Advocate

UNICEF is mandated to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, and the Strategic Plan recognizes the importance of advocacy to deliver against UNICEF’s mission and secure programmatic results for children. Advocacy plays an essential role in supporting and pressing governments and other influential actors to ensure measurable, sustainable change for children, whether through private influencing, mobilizing public support, policy advice, or a holistic blended approach. As stated in the Global Communication and Advocacy Strategy, truly global or ‘glocal’ advocacy requires identifying strategic advocacy opportunities at the national, regional and global levels, and working together to capitalize on these opportunities to advance advocacy goals. We accelerate our impact for children by leveraging the full strength of the organization. Towards this end, UNICEF has announced four Global Advocacy Priorities (GAPs) to be implemented across the organization

How can you make a difference?

The Advocacy Section in the Division of Global Communication and Advocacy (GCA) requires the services of an advocacy specialist to deliver critical and time-bound products for the implementation of 2023-2024 activities under Global Advocacy Priority 2, on learning.

This includes:

1. Ensuring strategic and aligned roll-out of our education advocacy and communication efforts; b) develop critical advocacy strategic planning documents, resources and materials as key deliverables under a number of external partnerships; and c) develop and monitor delivery under advocacy and communications workplans related to the external partnerships.

Expected results: (measurable results)

• Advocacy strategies are in place on foundational learning, as a key accelerator to address the learning crisis, under UNICEF’s partnerships with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on remedial learning and with the Hempel Foundation on foundational learning
• Results frameworks that underpin both strategies
• New project management structures to ensure smooth delivery and accountability of both strategies
• A matric management system with all relevant information
• Feedback from Country Office, Regional Office and National Committee colleagues that advocacy messages, guidance and tools produced under these partnerships are supporting national foundational learning advocacy.

Description of the assignment

1. Develop advocacy workplans for our collaboration with two key partners under UNICEF’s Global Advocacy Priority on learning
2. Create compelling advocacy resources and materials (toolkits, key messages, briefs and coherent advocacy narratives) in support of agreed major global, regional or national advocacy influencing moments or events on the learning crisis
3. Drive coordination between internal stakeholders and priority national committees, country offices and partners for the planning and implementation of major advocacy milestones
4. Project manage the development of advocacy and communication resources, assets and content and ensure the smooth delivery of high-level advocacy influencing moments or events.
5. Participate in meetings to facilitate general alignment across workstreams and offices at the global, regional and national levels.
6. Develop and lead bespoke advocacy capacity building for offices, as required.
7. Perform other related tasks which may be assigned by the team.

Working in close coordination with the Advocacy Manager, the DGCA learning project taskforce and other internal and external stakeholders, the advocacy specialist will deliver the following:

Timeframe (estimate) : Start date - 24 July 2023 E****nd date: 23 July 2024

Travel (If Applicable) – Maybe. To be determined during the course of the consultancy.

The Consultant will not be entitled to any separate travel entitlements under the Contract. All expenditure related to the travel plans set out in the Contract are deemed to be covered as per financial proposal. If UNICEF determines that the Consultant unexpectedly needs to travel in addition to the travel already included in the Contract in order to perform the Deliverables, such travel shall be further added through an amendment setting out the additional fee in consideration of the additional travel requirements on the following basis: (a) UNICEF will pay for travel in economy class via the most direct and economical route; provided however that in exceptional circumstances, such as for medical reasons, travel in business class may be approved by UNICEF on a case-by-case basis. (b) UNICEF will reimburse the Consultant for out-of-pocket expenses associated with such travel by paying an amount not exceeding the daily subsistence

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

Education:

• Advanced university degree in social sciences, international relations, public policy, international development, public relations, communication, or a related field.

Work Experience

• At least five years’ experience in advocacy and campaign strategy development and execution in international or national NGOs, UN or multilateral organizations. Specific experience on child health and nutrition is an asset. Knowledge of the United Nations system or other international organizations are an asset.

• Experience in developing clear theories of change, with specific, measurable and timebound objectives and performance indicators.

• Experience in strategic public engagement activity, based on an understanding of the target audience.

• Strong track record in writing engaging campaign narratives and delivering creative campaign tactics.
• Demonstrated experience in design and management of projects, including monitoring of results.

• Experience in operating independently at a senior level and in providing expert advice and support on advocacy and campaigns.

• Knowledge of international development, humanitarian issues and children’s rights.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is considered as an asset.

Others:

• Demonstrated strong communication, presentation and writing skills are essential – a clear, concise, compelling writing style, which is adaptable for difference audiences, including mainstream public.
• Strong verbal communication skills, interpreting and condensing technical language or complicated global issues for different audiences.
• Strategic thinking and critical analysis.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment
• Commitment and drive, with a clear focus on results.
• Positive, proactive, ‘can-do’ approach.
• Ability to juggle competing priorities, whilst maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines.
• Creative and innovative.
• Familiarity with UNICEF and its systems and ways of working is an advantage.

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.

Application Guidance All applications must contain the following (incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration)

1. Fully completed FINANCIAL PROPOSAL FORM Financial Proposal Form - Updated 10 April 2023.xlsx

2. Fully completed TECHNICAL PROPOSAL FORM Technical Proposal Form - Updated 10 April 2023.xlsx

3. Fully completed applicant online applicant profile

4. Cover letter

5. Resume

Assessment Criteria (applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria):

1 Overall Response Completeness of response (complete Technical form, CV, project lists, and references) - 5 points Demonstrates a complete understanding of and is responsive to the Technical requirements and UNICEF’s situation - 5 points Proposal is clear and well-written - 5 points 2 Approach Quality of proposed methodologies - 5 points Proposed approach will result in attainment of all requirements and objectives - 5 points 3 Delivery The proposed plan for delivering the services required in this EOI is clear, precise, detailed, realistic and fully supported - 5 points 4 Consultant Credentials Points Educational background and expertise - 5 points Ability to perform required tasks based on interview & written test - 30 points Range and depth of experience with similar assignment - 10 points Total Points Possible - 75 points

Each Proposal will be evaluated against a weighted allocation of 75% for the technical proposal and 25% for the financial proposal. The total maximum obtainable is 100 points. The minimum acceptable technical score is 49.

Technical Proposal

Financial Proposal

75 points

25 points

Requests for services under an individual contract requires that the consultant indicates their all-inclusive fees (including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable) for the services to be provided. When submitting their bid, the consultant is also advised to take into consideration as part of their bid for the assignment the cost of health insurance and/or photographic, video-graphic equipment if such equipment is needed to complete the deliverables of the assignment.

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.

Health Insurance

The Consultant is fully responsible for arranging, at their own expense, such life, health, and other forms of insurance covering the term of the Contract as he or she considers appropriate. The Consultant is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.

IMPORTANT – G4 Visa is only valid if the consultant will reside within the tri-state area during the duration of the assignment. It is illegal to apply and obtain a visa for consultants who do not intend to reside within the tri-state area during the duration of the consultancy assignment.

FEE

Requests for services under an individual contract requires that the consultant indicates their all-inclusive fees (including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable) for the services to be provided.

When submitting their bid, the consultant is also advised to take into consideration as part of their bid for the assignment the cost of health insurance and/or photographic, video-graphic equipment if such equipment is needed to complete the deliverables of the assignment.

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.