Writing and editing of programme and communication materials Consultant, Bissau, 5 Months

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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,

The UNICEF Guinea Bissau Country Programme is highly reliant on a few donors and UNICEF core resource allocation. As such, there is a need to diversify the pool of funding that the country office relies on and to fundraise from new and emerging partners in order to fully meet the ambitions of the country programme. A diversified portfolio will serve to reduce the risks associated with heavy reliance on a few major donors with specific thematic interest areas. Working with a variety of partners will allow UNICEF Guinea-Bissau to harness opportunities where they exist and respond to new emerging funding opportunities and challenges. It is in this regard that the development of good quality communication and advocacy materials will contribute to building strong and lasting public, bilateral, and multilateral partnerships. This is critical to the long-term investments and commitment needed for the realisation of child rights and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Support in preparing quality documentation will provide an important springboard for partners' engagement to improve the mobilization and leveraging of the resources needed to meet the ambitions of the UNICEF 2022-2026 country programme.

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work, under the supervision of the Representative:

1. Support the preparation of the 2023 country office annual report to meet internal UNICEF requirements and the development of an external report for the public and development partners, including donors. - Guide section chiefs and sections in the preparation of consecutive drafts in full alignment of the guidelines in developing the annual report. - Collate a first draft of the complete office annual report and share it with UNICEF management and ensure the revision of drafts - Provide a format for discussion for the external-facing annual report. - Develop text and supervise the production of the graphic layout, working with graphic designer services.

2. Develop concept notes and funding proposals to capture investments needed in specific programme areas, notably : - Social Protection - Food Systems Transformation to support nutrition for children and mothers

3. Showcase the effects on children with regards to significant events, writing Human Interest Stories and preparing scripts for videos: - Create the script/storyline guidance for a film crew to develop a video giving an overview of the situation of children in Guinea Bissau, using the status of key indicators over major sectors - Create the script/storyline guidance for a film crew to develop a video on the manifestation and toll of neonatal and maternal mortality on families and communities and where UN supported intervention (UNFPA UNV) has been sparing families the risks and the grief. - Create the script/storyline guidance for a film crew to develop a video on the effects of poor cashew campaigns on livelihoods and consequences of the well-being of children (malnutrition and lower family coping mechanisms)

Methodology:

• Discuss with sections and colleagues to collect information to present programme results and the impact made by UNICEF’s technical and financial investments
• Conceive a first draft of the public Annual Report for internal reviews
• Integrate contributions from different sections and management, and manage a time-sensitive limited set of iterative reviews of improved drafts with UNICEF section teams and management to ensure coherence
• Share the final draft with the Deputy Representative Programme and the Representative for comments
• Finalize the document in accordance with the Representative’s final feedback.
• Develop concept notes/scripts in collaboration with sections and as per the Representative’s guidance.
• Be available for up to a maximum of three rounds of writing and editing of all products before final approval by UNICEF.
• Travel in the country to interview people and collect information and images from communities impacted by UNICEF’s work

Work modalities and fees:

a) Selected candidate is expected to work remotely and on-site for 25 days in Bissau and 12 days in 3 other regions to interact with beneficiaries, collect information and images for the HIS and write the HIS and storylines b) Interested candidates should submit their financial all-inclusive offer (consultancy fees, travel and DSA, VISA, etc) to this consultancy at a daily rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above and indication of availability

Work Assignment Overview:

Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline:

1. Compile consecutive drafts of the country office annual report according to established deadlines

Complete revised draft of the COAR submitted for management revisions

19th January

10th February

10th March

30th March

2. Prepare the external facing Annual Report

Outline of the external annual report for discussion

First draft of the External Annual Report to be reviewed by management

Final designed Annual Report, ready for printing, submitted

3. Develop concept notes and funding proposals which highlight areas with financial gaps

Text of the concept notes finalised, with inputs from sections included and ready to be reviewed by management for feedback

Final versions of concept notes

10 April

20 April

4. Write Human Interest Stories, and illustrate them with photos and video scripts

Draft versions of the HIS and storylines developed for feedback

Final version versions

20th April

30th April

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

An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in journalism, creative writing or similar discipline is required, as well as 8 years of relevant experience working in journalism at a reputable media organization.

• More than 10 years of experience and demonstrated ability to produce high-quality, creative communication materials that meet the highest international standards, including effective writing, copy-editing, and fact-checking communication materials and editorial processes.
• Portfolio with similar documentation to be assessed
• Experience performing similar assignments to be reviewed
• Ability to synthesize complex documents into key messages and experience in drafting advocacy documents from research studies.
• Good time management and ability to work under tight deadlines
• High-level proficiency in standard computer software, in particular, Microsoft Word.
• Familiarity with UNICEF’s work and children’s issues, and UNICEF’s reporting, writing, and story-telling guidelines.
• Demonstrated experience in writing for UNICEF particularly reports, concept notes, donor proposals, human interest stories, in development and humanitarian contexts, etc
• Knowledgeable in rights-centered and results-based management and results-oriented approaches to programme implementation.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and flexible attitude.
• Fluency in English (Oral & Written) is required. Fluency in Portuguese is an asset.

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.