Junior Consultancy for Communications and Research Dissemination, Office of Research - Innocenti, Florence Italy

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, Research

If you would like to learn more about this exciting opportunity please see below:

Title: Junior Consultancy for Communications and Research Dissemination -with a dedicated focus on Social and Economic Policy research - Communication Unit

Duty Station: Florence, Italy – Remote possible during COVID-19

This consultancy is located in Florence, Italy and, COVID pending, requires in-person office attendance at the UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti (Florence, Italy). The work may allow for partial remote/teleworking options.

Type of contract: 11.5 months full time with monthly payments

Start date: 1 March 2022

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: The overall objective of the communication and research dissemination consultancy is to match the increasing outputs of our office with support to disseminate research findings to target audiences. The communications consultant will develop and produce communication content and materials (text/audio/simple video/web seminars and social media posts) based on research produced by the Office of Research – Innocenti. Work may also include synthesizing and summarizing reports into presentations, briefs, and other digital content for dissemination on websites and social media channels, as well as partner channels. The content produced and shared will contribute to wider visibility and increased uptake of UNICEF Innocenti research and knowledge findings and publications. The communications consultant will be embedded as a focal point in the Social and Eocnomic Policy unit, reporting to the Communication section, working with the digital dissemination team on a coordinated agenda on UNICEF Innocenti office priorities, with a dedicated focus to SEP’s work. The consultant will play an active role in shaping and contributing to the digital communications strategy of the office and achieving KPIs for research visibility, awareness, and uptake.

Scope of Work: In order to achieve the objectives above, the consultant will perform the following activities: a. Amplify visibility for report launches and campaigns 1. Craft targeted messages for social media channels as needed to support the entire office; 2. Contribute to writing/editing/developing e-mail marketing, articles, summaries, briefs, and blogs highlighting and synthesizing UNICEF Innocenti research projects; 3. Develop communication products to share findings, events, publications, and research-related activities in line with our communication strategies. b. Provide dedicated dissemination support for Social and Economic Policy unit: • Communication consultant will support the dissemination needs for all aspects of the social and economic policy unit and research themes including social protection and cash transfers, child poverty, child wellbeing, children’s experiences of COVID-19, core capacities for living and learning – life skills, children in high-income countries (Report Card), the MAPS project, and more cross-teams research within the Social and Economic Policy unit as well as other communication projects in coordination with the communication team, as needed. • Ensuring all areas of Social and Economic Policy research reaches segmented, targeted audience and stakeholders strategically – this includes social media and e-marketing/newsletter posts and campaigns, as well as events and research outputs. c. Develop presentations, templated brief layouts and graphics to support research projects • Develop infographics, PDFs and PowerPoints aligned to research priorities including report summaries, report launches, workshops and events; • Craft creative, targeted messaging and posts for social media channels and other web dissemination products, as well as for print products: 2-pagers, brochures, flyers, PDFs. • Synthesize and summarize UNICEF Innocenti events and research outputs more broadly into documents and web-based formats. • Use most up-to-date technology including Canva, Infogram, Biteable, Adobe to create communications products that can be disseminated easily and widely. • Use social media and multimedia content to drive downloads of UNICEF Innocenti publications, and increase interest in initiatives and research activities published on unicef-irc.org. In coordination with the communication team and under supervision of the Communication Specialist and Chief of Communication, provide continuous monitoring, maintenance and posting to UNICEF Innocenti social media channels and web content as needed, where appropriate, driven by research output priorities.

With special attention to Social and Economic Policy research: 1. Liaise with other members of Communications team to coordinate on research-focused multimedia and graphics development and dissemination. 2. Presentations and Webinars: Development, Design and Technical coordination and facilitation for continued UNICEF Innocenti presentations and webinars, as needed. 3. Blog facilitation: Coordinate and facilitate blogs from UNICEF Innocenti staff related to Innocenti publications, initiatives and research. 4. Video: Contribute to online video creation and use of edited video footage, as needed to increase visibility – using Biteable and other software as needed to produce 2-4x short videos per month. 5. Infographics: Produce 2-5 infographics or motion graphics per month on current UNICEF Innocenti research – using Canva, Infogram or other software. 6. Writing, editing and short brief/flyer content development for key research outputs as needed. 7. Event support and promotion for the SEP team and in coordination with other priorities of the communication team. 8. Ensuring all SEP outputs are optimized for SEO and accessibility online and that publication formats are reaching desired audiences. 9. Establish communities and monitor engagement on social and online channels to increase uptake and awareness of research.

Minimum Qualifications required: • Minimum of 2 years of experience in journalism, digital, multi-media or fields of study related to the Innocenti research priorities; • University degree in multi-media journalism, digital marketing, communication, journalism or relevant academic field of study with strong link to research uptake communication work; • Experience working in Canva • Experience working on social media for research • Proven writing ability • Bachelors degree

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required: • Proven experience in communicating about research and evidence products and findings to support uptake and to inform policy; • Experience writing and producing web content in various formats; • Experience with web CMS systems for publishing digital content in various formats; • Familiarity with the fields of research undertaken by Office of Research-Innocenti; • Ability to work flexibly and get up to speed quickly using available CMS and mainstream social media platforms. • Fluency in English essential; Italian and other UN languages are helpful. • Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite, editing and creating infographics; editing video and sound. Must know Canva.

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:

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 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. See General Terms & Conditions in the application portal.

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.

Depending on the type and length of contract, consultants may be eligible to receive Paid Time Off (PTO) credit at the rate of one- and one-half days (1.5 days) for each full month of service, to be credited on the last calendar day of the month, and up to 17 days for a maximum of 11.5 months contract.

Payment of professional fees shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including but not limited to lump sum travel, visa, health insurance and subsistence costs, as applicable.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed 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

Consultants and individual contractors traveling on behalf of UNICEF must meet the standard trip prerequisites, including but not limited to medical clearance and medical evacuation insurance coverage for the duration of the trip, obtain security clearance, be compliant with training requirements (BSAFE), arrange for own necessary visas, vaccinations and liability vaiwer where applicable. Trip prerequisites will be met at the expense of the consultant or individual contractor.

Travel costs to undertake any required fieldwork associated with this Consultancy will be covered by UNICEF’s Office of Research-Innocenti in accordance with UNICEF travel policy. The contract holder will be responsible for arranging their own travel and must be in line with UNICEF policy on entitlements for consultant travel. The consultant will be responsible to use the UNICEF approved airlines exclusively.