Individual Consultancy (Maldivian National) - Communication Consultant to support the HEOC implement Risk Communication and Community Engagement activities (COVID-19 response)

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.

ADVERT (TOR/2022/04) - Communication Consultant (Maldivian National) to support the HEOC implement Risk Communication and Community Engagement activities (COVID-19 response).

Background: Almost two years into the COVID-19 pandemic and given the unfolding socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on the life of Maldivian families and children, UNICEF continues to support the national partners with the mitigation of these effects and to ensure the sustainability of the developmental gains the Maldives achieved over the years.

Purpose and Objectives: The overall objective of the assignment is to support the HEOC in the coordination and implementation of the RCCE plan developed with UNICEF’s support, as part of the COVID-19 pandemic response, as well as support demand generation for COVID-19 vaccination and address mounting misinformation.

Major tasks of the assignment (between February 2022 – January 2023)

The objectives of the assignment include:

• In consultation with UNICEF and Communication cluster partners at the HEOC, support the development of public messages and weekly content schedule.
• Liaise with UNICEF and HEOC to identify areas of support, as well as undertake the drafting of funding requests for support via HACT modalities.
• Assist in identifying public engagement opportunities, including through partnerships with media, CSOs, etc., to communicate verified information to the public as well as acquire timely feedback.
• Support the preparations for HEOC press conferences including support to preparing the press sheet and other technical support required.
• Provide daily social listening/monitoring reports (from social and news media) based on public perceptions towards required life-saving behaviors, measures/directions issued by HEOC, and the impacts of the pandemic on daily lives, COVID-19 vaccination as well as other related sentiments.
• Provide guidance on adjusting messaging and engagement and other actions to be taken based on social listening/monitoring.
• Provide guidance on attending to instances and queries of misinformation and disinformation.
• Support monitoring of messages disseminated to determine the number of people engaged and reached, including special needs groups.
• Support in framing and carrying out online polls and surveys (on different platforms such as social media and online news) to gather required data to support the communication and advocacy efforts of the HEOC.

Deliverables:

1. Daily social listening/media monitoring report.
2. Weekly messaging content schedule.
3. Monthly progress reports focusing on all the inputs provided to major tasks of the assignment with data on the number of engagements with media, partners, and the public.

Duration of assignment: 11.5 months, extendable depending on need and funding.

Duty Station: Male', Maldives.

Supervisor: The consultant will report to the Communication for Development Officer at UNICEF and Head of Communication Cluster at HEOC.

Qualifications or specialized knowledge and/or experience required

Academic qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Public Health, or a Health / Social Science related field. A Diploma in a relevant field with experience can be considered in lieu of the Degree

Knowledge, skills, and experience:

• Minimum 3 years of work experience in communication and/or in social and behavior change communication campaigns.
• Experience in Project Management, or event management especially in public health will be desirable.
• Past work in working with a non-profit organization, UN, or UNICEF teams in similar assignments is an asset.

Personal competencies:

• Ability to work in intensive work environments, and able to work under pressure.
• Highly skilled at working with teams of diverse capacities.
• Ability to keep to planned timelines. Flexible and resourceful.
• An action-oriented approach and a strong drive for results.

Application Deadline: 5th February 2022, 06:00 pm (Maldives time)

Application Link:

https://secure.dc7.pageuppeople.com/apply/671/gateway/Default.aspx?c=apply&sJobIDs=547885&SourceTypeID=796&sLanguage=en-us

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 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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.