Expression of Interest - Roster of Individual Consultants for Production of human-interest stories and blogs for UNICEF Zimbabwe

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Application deadline 1 year ago: Wednesday 31 Aug 2022 at 21:55 UTC

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Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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, an opportunity!

UNICEF has been operating in Zimbabwe since 1982. We are a team of passionate professionals committed to the protection and fulfillment of children’s rights.

Supporting the Government’s vision of a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society, the 2022 to 2026 UNICEF Zimbabwe country programme is aimed at contributing to sustainable socioeconomic development that provides all children, including adolescents, with opportunities to fulfil their potential, lead a healthy life, access quality learning and protection and meaningfully participate in society.

For more information about UNICEF Zimbabwe please click here

You can also access and explore all new UNICEF vacancies and create job alerts via the UNICEF Zimbabwe website link below:

https://www.unicef.org/zimbabwe/work-us

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Zimbabwe is inviting applications from individuals interested in being included in the roster of Individual Consultants for Production of human-interest stories and blogs

BACKGROUND

UNICEF Zimbabwe regularly produces human interest stories for evidence-based advocacy, accountability, awareness-raising and fundraising which are shared in donor proposals and reports, Programme documents with the Government and implementing partners, on the country office website and UNICEF social media platforms, and published in local print media.

In emergency situations, timely human interest stories are also critical to effective communication and fundraising efforts. National Committees and other UNICEF fundraisers depend on such stories - distributed as soon as possible after the onset of an emergency - to provide the immediate evidence of the situation of children and women in emergency situations.

ASSIGNMENTS:

The major tasks to be undertaken by the selected Consultants will include but not limited to the following. The Consultants will:

  • Conceptualize, research, write, edit and finalize human interest stories, news articles, case studies and briefs (of between 350 and 1200 words) with accompanying high-resolution photographs, where needed.
  • Write and edit text for photo essays, the CO website and other platforms as required.

METHODOLOGY:

  • Research and prepare for the assignment (liaison with Communication and Programme staff to arrange dates and itinerary).
  • Liaise with UNICEF Communication and Programme staff to research, edit and finalize stories and blogs.
  • Stories to incorporate the following elements: ‘Impact – Issue – Action’
  • For every story develop search engine optimization (SEO) i.e. title (up to 60 characters), sub-title (up to 200 characters), short title (up to 45 characters) and teaser (up to 156 Characters).
  • Research issues being documented, including in-depth interviews with relevant people from the communities, service providers, government counterparts and beneficiaries, while being mindful of the sensitivities of specific situations, to support the story writing.
  • Take photos of the activities relevant to the story being produced when (with consent forms signed) required.
  • Ensure stories are proofread, including checking spelling, country and city names as well as acronyms and other abbreviations (follow official UNICEF terminology and conventions, style consistency, references etc. utilizing the UNICEF style guide, which will be provided by the UNICEF Zimbabwe Country Office.)
  • Amply the guidelines for text stories provided by UNICEF Zimbabwe Country Office
  • Be available for feedback and inputs as per the requirements of the office.
  • After submission of story drafts, additional time will be allowed and agreed for fact checking and review.
  • Adherence to UNICEF technical and ethical guidelines on interviewing and reporting on children (be provided by the UNICEF Zimbabwe Country Office).
  • Wherever feasible and appropriate, the writer will be credited. UNICEF has full copyright of the material.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES:

  • The scope of the work and due dates will vary depending on the assignment.
  • Stories to be delivered in soft copy (Microsoft Word).
  • At least 3 high resolution photographs to accompany/complement human interest stories.

    Major tasks and deliverables:

Deliverable****Word Count****Cost (USD)Human interest story with 3 photos350 - 750

751 - 1200

News article350 - 750

751 - 1200

Case Study600 - 1200

1200 - 3000

Programme/project brief/factsheet350 - 750

751 - 1200

Media brief or press release350 - 750

751 - 1200

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

Education:

A Bachelor’s degrees in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, Advertising, or related field.

Experience:

Evidence of at least 5 years of professional experience in writing; especially human-interest stories and news.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

  • Evidence of professional writing experience; particularly human-interest stories and news articles.
  • Excellent ability to conduct interviews in complex and testing environments.
  • Ability to generate story ideas and translate complex information into clear and simple language for effective communication with different audiences.
  • The consultant must be able to produce work under tight deadlines.
  • The consultant may be required to work on Saturdays and Sundays, based on the requirements of the assignment.
  • Experience in working with UNICEF or comparable international organizations/media would be an asset.
  • Familiarity with children’s issues will be a plus.

Special consideration will be given to candidates with demonstrated skills in taking high definition digital photographs.

Languages :

Fluency in English. Knowledge of Shona and/or Ndebele will be an advantage

If interested in being assessed for the roster and available to undertake the individual consultancy when required, please submit your application online and attach the required documents including the technical proposal and financial proposal indicating a daily subsistence/per diem rate.

The detailed consultancy terms of reference is downloadable via this link; Terms of Reference _Writers.pdf

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.

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org