Individual Contractor - Media relations and Content Developer - Remote - SWA - Hosted Funds - REQ: 556280
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, Access to Water
How can you make a difference?
Purpose of Activity/Assignment:
The Media Relations and Content Developer Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Communications Specialist and in close collaboration with the rest of the communications Team. The consultant will undertake media relation on behalf of SWA and develop high-quality content for SWA’s communications channels. This consultant will be primarily responsible for leading media and public relations work to support SWA’s programmatic, policy and campaigning priorities, as well as the partnership’s activities globally, regionally, and nationally, as appropriate. The consultant will also ensure the regular development of stories that focus on the work of SWA partners and promote SWA’s approach to water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Background and Rationale
Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) is a global partnership of over 300 national governments, donors, civil society organizations, the private sector, and other development partners working together to increase political will and strengthen resource allocations for water supply and sanitation. Strengthening resource allocations will require improved mobilization and better targeting of resources by both donors and national governments. The goal of SWA is sanitation and water for all.
UNICEF hosts part of the Secretariat of SWA. The communications of SWA are managed and coordinated by the communications team (CT), composed of a Communications Specialist and a Digital Communications Officer, both based in the SWA Geneva office. The CT also works with a wider network of suppliers, from designers to copywriters, from video producers to translators. More information on SWA’s website.
To support the Communications team in its efforts to give visibility to SWA’s work, we are looking for an expert in media relations that would support in particular, with the placement of SWA-related content in key mainstream media, through our high-level representatives (e.g., CEO, Global Leadership Council).
Consultant’s tasks and deliverables
The Media Relations and Content Developer Consultant’s work will play a central role in building awareness of and support for SWA and its priority issues, both globally and in key target countries. In this role, the consultant is asked to:
- Support implementation of media strategies, tactics, and messages, advising the Communications Team, the CEO, Secretariat, and partners on media issues.
- Build and maintain excellent relationships with relevant journalists, broadcasters, and commentators in international, regional, and target country media.
- Represent the Communications Team (CEG) in the SWA Secretariat’s Country Engagement Team, supporting Regional Coordinators to identify and develop regional or national stories. Manage national and regional freelance stringers as required.
- Develop media announcements, releases, and advisories.
- Pitch stories to journalists and organize press briefings and other media events, as required.
- Support the CEO and other SWA spokespersons in engagement with the media, on and off the record, prepare talking points, briefings, and facilitate radio, TV, and print media interviews where necessary.
- Monitor, analyze and evaluate media coverage.
- Undertake any other responsibilities, tasks or activities as reasonably required, in support of the Communications Team.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- Master’s degree in communications, journalism, advertising, public relations, marketing, or related areas.
- A minimum of SEVEN years of relevant professional experience in media relations, mainstream journalism/ communications, or communications coordination.
- Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
- Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
- Aspects considered as assets:
- Proven ability to achieve coverage is main-stream media of development-related issues.
- Knowledge of the UN and SWA a distinct advantage, as well as knowledge of water, sanitation, and hygiene topics.
- Demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills.
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.
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.
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.