Consultancy: Senior Writer (HIV and Children) Req

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, hope.

Vacancy Announcement: World AIDS Day Report Writer

Consultancy Title: Senior Writer (HIV and Children) Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: HIV/AIDS/ Programme Group/ NYHQ

Duration: 30 days

Home/ office Based: Remote

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

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

A short-term writing consultancy to support the production of the UNICEF report on Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents living with and at risk for HIV.

Scope of Work:

Writing content for UNICEF’s 2023 Report on Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents living with and at risk for HIV. Report in clear and compelling (non-technical) language, following UNICEF Brand guidelines and Style Book, using source materials and data provided by the requesting Section. Initial drafts will be subject to revision based on feedback from technical review and fact-checking.

Report writing will include:

1. Desk review, for which a partial list of reports and documents will be provided by UNICEF counterparts, together with a draft structure and outline, as well as key data elements for the report;
2. Narrative building, drawing from the data and building on the draft outline
3. Incorporation of other available data – including sub national, qualitative data or study data into the narrative
4. Identification and development of select human-interest stories, in consultation with the UNICEF core team to inform the narrative.
5. Derived from best practices and published materials, identify programming solutions and strategies to address the shortcomings identified in the report.
6. Ensure that the voices of pregnant and parent adolescents are reflected consistently through the document and inform the narrative logic of the report
7. Together with the UNICEF core team, work with partners to ensure that the report is collaborative, and consensus based.

Report will require:

1. Technical Editing

Advise on the selection and effective use of tables, illustrations, text boxes, footnotes and annexes. Ensure that they prove their point and that any text included is edited. Check that any tables, figures and annexes are correctly cited in the text. Check that the main text correctly reflects the information given in tables and figures, and that any simple mathematical calculations (e.g., column totals) are correct. Make suggestions on layout, as appropriate.

2. Copy-editing

Ensure the highest professional editorial standards, including correct grammar, syntax and punctuation; accuracy and consistency in spelling, capitalization and abbreviation/acronyms; correct terminology and United Nations country names; correct and consistent use of footnotes, endnotes, references and other bibliographic entries; accuracy of all URLs included in the text; readability and consistency of logic and flow; clear and concise titles, headings and subheadings; complete and correct front and back matter. The report must follow the clear content and style guidelines provided by UNICEF.

Before finalizing the edited report will be sent to the UNICEF core team leads with changes and comments using the track changes feature in Microsoft Word for initial review, feedback and subsequent revision and finalization.

Expected Outcome

Complete substantive writing and editing of the report to a standard consistent with UNICEF professional publications

Following considerations must be made during the writing assignment:

Protecting the rights of the child must be given priority above all considerations when collecting and writing stories and other materials

Ensuring evidence generation adheres to UNICEF Procedure for Ethical Standards in Research, Evaluation and Data Collection and Analysis.

Ensuring clarity, readability, logic, appropriateness as well as engaging writing in all products

Ensuring language accuracy. The final product must not require significant further editing/copy-editing

Ensuring factual accuracy including accurate representation of the issues and programmes.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

• Deliverable 1 – Writing – 1st draft for review
• Deliverable 2 – Writing, incorporating comments and editing - 2nd draft
• Deliverable 3 – Copy editing, finalizing – Final draft

Qualifications

Education:

Advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Social Science, Public Health; or equivalent professional work experience in the communication area, combined with an advanced university degree in a related discipline.

Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in communication and writing for an external audience

Outstanding writing skills in the English language with demonstrated ability for logical and analytical writing as well as ‘de-jargoning’ technical language for a wider audience

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Strong communicator with excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently within deadlines and under pressure
• Well organized and structured, good attention for detail
• Strong drive for results, taking pride in delivering as per expectation in terms of quality and timeliness
• Knowledge and understanding of UNICEF HQ context
• Initiative, passion and commitment to UNICEF's mission
• Knowledge of child rights issues is desirable
• Ability to synthesize complex documents into key messages and clear summary documents is desirable
• Experience in drafting advocacy documents from researches or studies is desirable
• Experience in conducting interviews for collecting information/case studies is desirable
• Experience working with UNICEF or other development organizations is a plus

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.

U.S. Visa information:

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.

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, 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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.