Individual national consultant for digital communication - social media engagement and website management for UNICEF Uzbekistan

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.

Background

Rooted in UNICEF’s quest and strategy to be a leading voice for children and young people in Uzbekistan, UNICEF seeks to capitalize on existing digital communication platforms to provide credible communication that can shape the child rights agenda by reaching all audiences locally, regionally and global – with strong, principled, accurate and consistent content that is acknowledged for its authority and compassion.

Further, as there is a growing threat of ‘fake news’ and the evident importance of participating on the digital and social media spaces, UNICEF Uzbekistan needs to strengthen planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating its digital communication initiatives to get children’s and women’s issues into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF's objectives in Uzbekistan, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand.

To this end the office requires professional services for UNICEF Uzbekistan’s website management (Drupal, Sharepoint) and social media engagement and monitoring, particularly on Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Yammer and Twitter.

Consequently, the UNICEF Uzbekistan Office in Tashkent seeks to hire the services of a digital communication professional for 12 months. The consultancy is aimed at increasing the voice, reach and engagement of UNICEF Uzbekistan on digital platforms including UNICEF’s website and various social media channels.

Under the overall guidance of Chief of Communication, the Consultants will work closely with the Communication

Section, and with other UNICEF programme staff to plan, implement and monitor digital content in 2021 and 2022 on Office’s website and social media platforms.

Objectives

The broad goal of the consultancy is aimed at increasing the voice on children and young people’s issues, through enhancing UNICEF’s reach and engagement with varied audiences on digital platforms including UNICEF’s website and various social media channels. The consultancy will contribute to increasing in public discourse in digital domain, particularly using UNICEF Uzbekistan’s website and social media accounts, in a measurable manner. Specifically, the assignment will aim:

1. To support UCO communication advocacy priorities in the areas of Child Protection, Youth, Disability Inclusion and Early Childhood Development through robust digital and social media strategies;

2. To generate content for digital and social media platforms to reach more UNICEF’s varied audiences

3. To engage in a robust influencer engagement with UNICEF Uzbekistan’s Digital Influencers to position issues of children, young people and women.

Timeline & Deliverables

While the consultancy will be valid for 11.5 months, the consultant will have specific deliverables to be completed as following:

Social Media Engagement

• Develop a monthly Social Media Plan that touches on all programme priorities and issues that need public engagement and goodwill and post on key social media platforms of UNICEF Uzbekistan on a daily basis (Facebook, and Instagram); and other social media platforms on at least twice a week (Twitter, Telegram). On some platforms (YouTube, LinkedIn, Yammer), the consultant will be asked to include to develop and post content on a need basis by Communication Section.

• Implement a Digital Influencer Strategy and report monthly on implementation of the strategy with select influencers

• Analyze and report on large thematic social media/digital campaigns at request.

• Keep the record of quarterly statistical data on all online communication channels used by UNICEF.

• Observe and recommend using evolving trends in social media to Communication Section with the perspective of attracting more followers and visitors.

Website Management

• Up to date and timely management of UNICEF Uzbekistan Website in three languages (English, Russian and Uzbekistan)

• Provide monthly analytical reports of UNICEF Uzbekistan’s website, including total number of visitors, unique and returning visitors. Number of indicators may be increased for quarterly reports.

• Solicit and publish unique high calibre content on UNICEF Uzbekistan’s website, which operates on Drupal web platform, with relevant pictures. Content will be provided by Communication Section.

• Create pertinent hyperlinks and be fluid in creating pages that cluster relevant and pertinent information as demanded by audience needs

Methodology

As the current website of UNICEF Uzbekistan is on Drupal web platform, the consultant is expected to complete online training modules / understand Drupal content management system. The consultant will be proactive in soliciting relevant content from UNICEF programmes and Communication peers. The consultant will follow the aesthetic design of the current website and will follow the governance related instructions of the UNICEF Headquarters for website management. The consultant will be responsible for timeliness and quality of website publications. This will require quick response to requests and following the global guidelines for digital engagement.

The consultant will be provided access to UNICEF Uzbekistan’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Telegram, LinkedIn and YouTube. UNICEF Uzbekistan may join other platforms also. The consultant will use tools like Hootsuite to ensure maximum efficiency in planning, implementing and measuring UNICEF’s social media posts.Content will have to be designed as per the UNICEF’s global guidelines, which will be shared with the consultant before undertaking the assignment. The consultant will review trends and good practices of other organizations to advise UNICEF Communication Section on ways to be more effective in attracting new followers to the UNICEF social media pages.

Management

The consultancy is office-based, and the consultant may be provided internet access in the office. Chief of Communication is responsible to define the results to be achieved through the consultancy. Consultant will develop, implement and monitor plans, in collaboration with the Communication Officer.

As UNICEF Headquarter hosts the website, HQ will offer training modules on Drupal, support for trouble shooting and analytics.

UNICEF Regional Office seeks content to be posted on Regional digital platforms, and the consultant will provide these to Regional Office through the Chief of Communication. Communication Section and Programme Colleagues will provide content to be posted on website. Consultant will work with the Communication Officer to ensure timeliness and quality of publishing on website in three languages.

All content will be posted only after clearance with Communication Officer, Communication for Development Officer or Chief of Communication.

Payments will be made on certification of monthly deliverables received in timely and qualitative way.

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

• University degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, Digital communication, Information Technology or a related field.
• Good command of written English, Fluency in Russian and Uzbek languages is also mandatory (Review of previous original written work in English).
• Over two years of work experience on social media, digital marketing or editorial for an organization, either private or public sector. Working with a UN agency will be an asset, though not essential.
• Experience in developing and implementing social media or digital communication/marketing strategies.
• Good knowledge of current social media practices, issues and trends, including hands-on experience of social media platforms, e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, Twitter
• Knowledge of content management system for website management and analytics.

Procedures and Working Conditions

Office may provide IT equipment with internet access to the consultant. However, the consultant will be expected to use her/his own laptop with necessary applications to complete the assignments. The applicant has to be present in office during office working hours. Consultancy may include some travel.

UNICEF will reserve all copyrights on content produced during this consultancy. All payments will be made via bank transfer in local currency in consultant’s bank account in Uzbekistan.

Reservations

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if deliverable(s) incomplete, not finalized or for failure to meet deadlines. UNICEF will reserve copyright of all developed materials and own primary data collected through this assignment. The materials cannot be published or disseminated without prior written permission of UNICEF. UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. The contractor must respect the confidentiality of the information handled during the assignment. Documents and information provided must be used only for the tasks related to these terms of reference.

UNICEF undertakes no liability for taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant on payments made under this contract.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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:

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.