Individual Contractor (6 months, Full-time): Support UNICEF’s Child Rights and Business (CRB) agenda with research, coordination and knowledge management, BECR, Programme Group Leadership Te

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, respect and support

The Business Engagement and Child Rights Team (BECR) within the Programme Group Leadership Team (PGLT) is responsible for guiding and supporting UNICEF’s engagement with business in these areas and to address negative impact of business activities on children’s rights.

Children make up almost a third of the world’s population and interplay with business as consumers, employees’ family members and workers. They are a unique stakeholder group in local communities as well as in society at large. They have specific vulnerabilities and needs, and in some cases, business activities that have no negative impact on adults may be harmful to children’s development and well-being.

Addressing these impacts offers enormous potential to improve the rights of children and to protect them from harm through the way in which businesses treat workers, operate production, develop and market products, provide services and exert influence on economic and social development.

As businesses increasingly shift towards an approach that considers societal value as part of their core business models, UNICEF seeks new opportunities to engage with the private sector to address adverse impact, identify areas of common interest and strengthen innovative collaboration.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF is seeking an individual contractor to support the child rights and business (CRB) agenda with research, content generation, knowledge management, communication and outreach activities. Given recent developments across the responsible business landscape, efforts to ensure that children’s rights considerations are adequately embedded at all levels of government regulation and business frameworks are vital. Mutually compounding crises and the reversal of key child rights gains reinforce the need to mainstream the CRB agenda and deepen strategic engagements with governments and the private sector. Working closely with several team members, the consultant will provide cross-cutting support to advance key deliverables as defined in the 2023 workplan.

MAIN TASKS

Workstream 1: research, analysis and coordination support

• Provide technical support in guidance and policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends and keep track of emerging policy issues
• Prepare background research and various written outputs such as background papers, concept notes, funding proposals, reports and evaluations, and case studies
• Provide technical support to headquarters, regional and country offices to strengthen cohesion and consistency in the application of CRB know-how and integration into programmes

• Provide substantive support to the organization of (and participation in) meetings and events at global, regional and country levels through research, content development and organizational support

• Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned and contribute to their communication to technical, policy and lay audiences through a wide range of media.

Workstream 2: outreach, communication, advocacy and knowledge management

• Coordinate and support the development/expansion of knowledge management strategies, methodologies, and products

• Support the development and maintenance of CRB presence on internet and intranet sites, knowledge communities and working groups.

• Support mapping and documenting promising practices at RO and CO levels
• Support the development and independently manage the finalization of key deliverables (e.g. reports, videos) by liaising with internal stakeholders (e.g. Regional Offices, Country Offices, National Committees) and external service providers (e.g. editing, design)

DELIVERABLES:

• Support the drafting and finalization of reports and guidance on priority themes (e.g. family-friendly policies, digital, finance) (Q1 2023)
• Maintaining and regularly updating knowledge communities including Yammer, SharePoint, ICON/Intranet and internet sites (on-going)
• Organizing coordination calls with National Committees and support with on-going knowledge exchange and internal (on-going)

• Supporting development and managing production (incl. leading on consultation process, editing and layout) of various knowledge products (ongoing)

• Supporting organization of events and webinars with key stakeholders (ongoing)

• Support the design and implementation external outreach and advocacy activities (ongoing)
• Supporting organization of virtual events and webinars with key internal and external stakeholders (on-going)

ESTIMATED DURATION OF THE CONTRACT AND PROPOSAL

6 months, (full-time), tentatively starting in November 2022.

REPORTING TO

Corporate Alliances Specialist, CRB.

WORKPLACE

Office based at UNICEF HQ office in Geneva (with flexibility of remote working within Geneva is acceptable).

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

Education:

• An advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in communication, international relations/political science, international development or related field is required. Alternatively, a first level university degree (Bachelor’s) in combination with 2 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 3 years of progressive responsible professional work experience on issues related to business and human rights, corporate social responsibility, or another relevant field is required.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills.
• Good understanding of UNICEF and/or UN system; familiarity with UNICEF is an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required. Applicants must have a proven record of excellent writing and analytical skills in English.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Remarks: Please indicate your ability, availability and gross daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable). Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered. Also, please mention the earliest date you can start.

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. 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 is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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.