Home-based: Resource Mobilization and Communications Consultant (3 months; Jan to Mar 2024) - Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS)

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, an advocate.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

The Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS) provides strategic and coordinated support to Country Offices preparing for and responding to humanitarian crises, in collaboration with Regional Offices, to ensure that they have the right capacities to respond effectively and deliver on its Corporate Commitments to Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs). EMOPS leads efforts to ensure that UNICEF’s role in complex and protracted emergencies and natural disasters is clearly defined, that the organisation is properly equipped to fulfil that role, and that all levels of the organisation are prepared to deliver our mandate. The Deputy Director’s Office (DO) in Geneva manages large scale activities to support UNICEF’s organisational strategies and capacity to undertake effective humanitarian action.

Under the guidance of the Emergency Manager (Planning and Operations) and working closely with the EMOPS Geneva and New York teams, as well as relevant sections in Public Partnerships Division, Private Fundraising Partnerships, and partner contacts as necessary, the consultant will support the communication related to donor engagement and resource mobilization, led by EMOPS. The objective of the consultancy is to facilitate the review, mapping and development of a global support and humanitarian capacity narrative that can mobilize critical resources to enable EMOPS to deliver results for children in emergencies.

Scope of work

Under the supervision of the Emergency Manager, the Resource Mobilization and Communications consultant will be responsible for, but not limited to:

1. Conducting a review and mapping of existing humanitarian resource mobilization mechanisms and products (e.g., Humanitarian Action for Children, Humanitarian Annual Results Report) to identify common themes, gaps, needs and opportunities for advocacy of core humanitarian capacity, to inform narrative development.
2. Developing a narrative on the impact and added value of core humanitarian support to deliver results for children in emergencies, based on the review and mapping. Examples of core humanitarian support include, but are not limited to, coordination, provision of field support, policy setting, risk management, localization, and anticipatory action efforts. The narrative will lay out a clear vision for EMOPS that can be effectively communicated to donors. It will provide understanding how investing in the humanitarian capacity would benefit UNICEF’s emergency preparedness and response and advocate for resources.
3. Identifying and producing investment cases based on priority needs and areas identified within the developed narrative.
4. Develop engagement strategy for amplification/propagation of the narrative product/s and investment cases with key stakeholders, partners, and donors. There is a possibility to expand this deliverable to the development of other advocacy and fundraising communications tools and products.
5. Any other activities identified during the course of the assignment.

Work Assignment Overview

*Tasks / Milestone******Deliverables / Outputs******Timeline / Deadline*****Phase 1: Mapping and assessment

Humanitarian resource mobilization mechanisms and products are reviewed

1X a comprehensive mapping of existing humanitarian resource mobilization mechanisms and products, identify common themes, needs, gaps and opportunities for enhancing advocacy for core humanitarian capacity (e.g. coordination, field support, risk management, policy setting etc.). Present formats and availability of fundraising communications, such as appeal documents and websites. Conduct analysis of key stakeholders/partners. Identify partner needs, interests and potential contribution opportunities.

Consolidate current core humanitarian support needs and thematic areas. Assess if current advocacy modalities sufficiently cover scope of requirements. Establish degree to which these needs are well-positioned with partners. Identify key responsible persons and teams within UNICEF to support efforts

Benchmark UNICEFs global humanitarian support advocacy efforts with other leading humanitarian actors, identifying best practices and approaches.

January 2024Phase 2: Narrative development and investment cases

2.1 Narrative for core humanitarian capacity is developed

1X internal guidance document. Guidance will support advocacy on the impact and added value of core humanitarian capacity for delivering results for children in emergencies, outlining the key areas of UNICEF’s core humanitarian support and highlighting the roles/ways of working. Position needs and requirements for partners and donors, including funding gaps and projections. Incorporate key messaging and current/potential partnership modalities. Include case studies that can be used to illustrate impact of core support for children in emergencies.

1X advocacy/resource mobilization external narrative. Outline the impact and added value of core humanitarian capacity for delivering results for children in emergencies. Demonstrates how investments in core, global humanitarian functions (i.e. coordination, policy setting, field support, risk management) translate into effective humanitarian response. Highlight importance of investing in capacity for effective emergency response, including areas of focus. Include funding requirements, gaps. Include case studies that can be used to illustrate impact of core support for children in emergencies.

Prerequisite: Consultations, the number of which is to be determined, with relevant sections and focal points to review advocacy needs for provision of core humanitarian capacity and to inform narrative development.

February 20242.2 Investment cases for global support are identified1X concept note for standalone investment cases identified through previous deliverables. Identify areas of core humanitarian support that would benefit from focused, dedicated advocacy, resource mobilization and engagement efforts. Examples may include anticipatory action, field support, localization, cluster coordination. Provide breakdown of resource requirements. Develop investment cases based on discussion with the EMOPS team.Phase 3: Engagement and communication Strategy

Develop engagement strategy

1X Engagement strategy. Provide recommendations to leverage various communications channels for dissemination of external narrative/products to existing and potential partners and donors. Strategy may include web platforms, inclusion/expansion in existing UNICEF advocacy and partner products (e.g. HAC Global Support), standalone appeals, milestones and opportunities. Define metrics for measuring success of strategy. Identify capacity-building requirements within UNICEF to support the strategy as relevant. Include sustainability plan to support continued efforts.March 2024Final deliverables met and reporting1X final report produced on activities during the consultancy is delivered. Report includes recommendations for further internal/external fundraising and engagement strategies.Estimated Duration of the Contract

3 months; from January to March 2024.

Consultant’s Work Place and Official Travel

The Consultant will be home-based.

As part of this assignment, one (1) travel is foreseen. 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

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned 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.

Please propose a lumpsum professional fee (in USD) to undertake this 3-month assignment between 01 January and 30 March 2024. Please do not include travel fees as this will be reimbursed as and when they take place.

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

• Advanced university degree in social sciences, International Development, Humanitarian Emergencies, or related fields. A first-level university degree, in combination with qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• Minimum of eight (8) years progressive experience in the following fields: Programme development, Partnerships, Communications or Fundraising, is required.
• At least five (5) years of experience at international level is desirable. Previous regional or country office experience is an asset.
• Experience in partnerships, resource mobilization, partnership engagement, external communications, as well as strong analytical skills are required.
• Demonstrated ability to develop communication or engagement plans/strategies/products are requirements.
• Strong project management experience working across cross-functional environments is desired.
• Strong experience in working with a diverse group of stakeholders is an advantage.
• Ability to work under minimal supervision is required.
• Prior experience of direct engagement with donors, partners and stakeholders as well as specialized training/experience in emergency funding management are highly desirable.
• Familiarity with UNICEF, its systems and ways of working is an advantage.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is 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.

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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 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.

Remarks:

Please include a full CV and a Financial Proposal in your application by indicating your availability and professional fee (in USD) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications should also include a cover letter and a portfolio of sample work (portfolio of work). Sample works can include communication or engagement plans, communications and engagement frameworks/analysis. Applications without the portfolio of sample work and proposed professional fee will not be considered further. 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.