Home-based: Junior Communication Consultant (250 working days with travel as needed) - Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO), Rome, Italy

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, hope

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

Under the direct supervision of the Country Coordinator, working closely with the Communication Assistant in Rome, Italy, the Junior Communication Consultant will support the implementation of the communication strategy and plan, the production and dissemination of communication materials and the organization of events for the Migrant and Refugee Response in Italy.

Background

Since 2016, UNICEF is responding to the unique needs of adolescents and young people who are seeking asylum in Europe, on the move, stranded or pushed back. The operation established in Italy aims to provide support to the Government of Italy on children and young migrants and refugees, to ensure timely, equal and appropriate care, protection and support for their social inclusion, as part of the Regional Migrant and Refugee Response.

In Italy, UNICEF’s country office is implementing three main programmes: the Youth & Adolescent Development programme focuses on participation and skills building activities to guarantee Unaccompanied Minors (UAMs) and young migrants and refugees have access to key information, have their voices heard and are empowered to take the lead and have the skills and competencies needed for their social inclusion in Italy. The focus of the Child Protection and Gender-Based Violence programmes is access to key life protecting information, promotion of uptake of services, identification and referral of at-risk boys and girls to relevant services, including psychosocial assistance, GBV services and access to alternative care and guardianship.

Scope of Work

Communication and advocacy for the promotion of children’s rights and related policy reform has been a key feature of all 3 programme areas and has grown exponentially over the past 5 years.

Working closely with the Communication Assistant, the consultant will support the implementation and monitoring of the communication strategy and plan. The consultant will develop key communication and knowledge management assets (briefs, articles, factsheets, etc.) and maintain engagement in the key internal and external communication channels (newsletter, website, intranet). The consultant will also support the organization of external events.

Under the direct supervision of the Country Coordinator, working closely with the Communication Assistant in Rome, the consultant will undertake the following in accordance with UNICEF’s most recent global brand guidelines:

1. Develop communication and other materials based on UNICEF activities in Italy, according to programme priorities (awareness raising, advocacy etc.)
2. Edit and finalize written communication materials (concept documents, advocacy briefs, progress reports, donor proposals and reports, etc.)
3. Develop Press Releases and Human Interest Stories for relevant programmatic results based on field visits and compilation of programmatic information
4. Compile and structure all relevant materials for UNICEF programming, communication, monitoring and reporting in UNICEF shared workspace based on the document structure and filing system

The supervisor and the consultant will agree on the detailed workplan throughout the assignment and the number of days to be worked each month based on requested deliverables.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks / Milestone******Deliverables / Outputs******Timeline / DeadlineDevelop communication and other materials based on UNICEF activities in Italy, according to programmatic priorities (awareness raising, advocacy etc.) based on field visits and compilation of programmatic informationTwenty-five (25) articles, press releases, Human Interest Stories and related social media posts and additional multimedia materials produced/translated in Italian and English80 working days throughout the contractEdit and finalize written communication materials (concept documents, progress reports, donor reports, etc.)Twenty-five (25) communication documents edited and translated in Italian and English70 working days throughout the contractSupport the organization of events according to the needs (including logistics, event invitations, preparation of background documents)Five events (3 media trainings, 1 staff training + 1 public advocacy event) supported70 working days between October and November 2023, March 2024, October 2024Compile and structure all relevant materials for UNICEF programming, communication, monitoring and reporting in UNICEF shared workspace based on the document structure and filing systemAll materials stored in SharePoint30 working days throughout the contractEstimated Duration of the Contract

250 working days (between September 2023 and October 2024)

Consultant's Work Place and Official Travel

The assignment will be home-based.

As part of this assignment, some local/in-country travel is expected. The consultant will arrange her/his travel as and when they take place, and related costs will be reimbursed per UNICEF travel policy.

Travel Clause

• All UNICEF rules and regulations related to travel of Consultants apply.
• All travels shall be undertaken only upon the prior written approval by UNICEF.
• The consultant must be fit to travel, be in a possession of the valid UN BSAFE certificate, obligatory inoculation(s) and have a valid own travel/medical insurance and an immunization/vaccination card.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

The consultant will be paid monthly upon submission of an invoice, indicating the number of days worked, as per the agreed workplan. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

Please submit a lumpsum professional fee (in EUR) in your application based on 250 working days to undertake this assignment. Consultants 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. Please do not include travel fees in your financial proposal as this will be reimbursed as and when they take place.

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

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Bachelors in communications, journalism, marketing, design, social science, political science or related field.
• Minimum two years of professional experience in press offices or media/news agencies;
• Knowledge of social media listening tools such as Talkwalker;
• Previous experience with the production of digital contents or campaigns;
• Previous experience with the production of press releases, articles, human interest stories;
• Previous experience with the production of audio-visual materials (videos);
• Proven experience with the organization of events;
• Fluent Italian and English.

Desired:

• Experience of working with migrants and refugees.
• Previous experience with the work on migration issues will be considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most marginalized children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family 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.

Remarks:

Please include a full CV in your application, as well as a portfolio including a sample of digital contents/campaigns, PRs, articles, HISs, videos produced. Additionally, indicate your availability and lumpsum professional fee (in EUR) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without the requested work samples and a professional fee will not be considered. 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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants 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.