Consultancy: 11 months Communication Consultant, SCCC, UNICEF Supply Division, Copenhagen DK

The purpose of this assignment is to bolster the production of innovative, contextualized content for all digital platforms along with assisting in reporting internal and external reports, and in planning and implementing advocacy and communication strategies to enhance UNICEF credibility and brand.

Communication Consultant

Duration: 11 months from October 2017 through September 2018

Location: On-site at Supply Division, Copenhagen, Denmark

Start Date: 30 October 2017

Reporting to: Communications Specialist, SCCC, UNICEF Supply Division, Copenhagen

BACKGROUND

The Strategy, Change & Communication Centre (SCCC) is responsible for Supply Division’s (SD’s) communication function.  Supplies are critical in storylines on what UNICEF does and how the organization transforms lives. SD is a favourite destination of media, fundraisers, university students and many who want to enrich their understanding and support for UNICEF. Such requests for visits are coordinated by and, for the vast majority, executed by knowledgeable and highly articulate SCCC staff who are skilled in communicating about supplies, UNICEF’s mission and people – and how all these come together to save lives. SCCC hosts 50 visits per year on average. Each visit will approximately a week to organize and a half day to execute.

In addition, in line with the Global Communication and Public Advocacy Strategy and the Digital Transformation Project rolled out by the Division of Communication, SD is engaged in content production to feed digital platforms (Twitter, internet and intranet) and broadcast meaningful contents to staff, donors, partners, media, and the general audience, especially to millennials and the middle class, two key audiences who are rapidly gaining in size and influence. In addition, recurrent crises, sudden emergencies and instability in countries increase the funding needs and visibility requirements, which add pressure on the communications unit to create high quality communication materials and match donor visibility needs.

Last, among the key critical deliverables are SD’s external annual reports and the SD’s perspectives/inputs for inclusion in divisional and regional offices’ Annual Results Reports (ARRs). Writing quality is of primary importance in these UNICEF publications and must conform to high standards of accuracy and prescribed standards for style. Timing is also of major importance as tight deadlines will apply throughout as well as a high degree of coordination and interaction with subject matter experts and managers in order to translate highly technical information into accessible text digestible for a public audience. 

Report, visits and content production carry a high degree of reputational risk for Supply Division and UNICEF more broadly if not carried out in a timely and professional manner. They require a high degree of interaction with a diverse range of colleagues (including chiefs, deputy director and director level).

This position is in Supply Division, UNICEF HQ Division, and will be located in the Strategy, Change and Communication Centre.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this assignment is to bolster the production of innovative, contextualized content for all digital platforms along with assisting in reporting internal and external reports, and in planning and implementing advocacy and communication strategies to enhance UNICEF credibility and brand.

Main Duties/Responsibilities:

Strategic content planning, production and dissemination

• Create weekly and monthly content schedules and production plans for web-based communication platforms (Twitter and intra/internet) based on SD’s priorities. 

• Regularly gather quality content or adapt UNICEF globally produced packages and ensure it is published daily on selected platforms. Content should include visual elements that can range from infographics, photos with superimposed texts to simple photos posted with written content. 

SD 2018 External Annual Report (EAR) and other strategic documents 

• Help managing, writing content and working with professional companies and consultants on the content and graphical elements of the EAR and other strategic documents such as Quarterly reports. 

• Ensure timing of inputs and fact-check/proof read final copies. 

  KEY DELIVERABLES

   

  Content production for the web-based platforms: develop and update monthly content schedule and production plans; daily update on Twitter with visual elements; video content production every two months with the help of the Communication assistant and consultants if need be. 

  External and media relations, networking and partnerships: contribute to the organisation of special events at SD and gather contents for international days and other campaigns; support the organisation of media, goodwill ambassadors, donors and national committees’ visits to SD and countries when necessary. 
• Reporting: Ensure that SD’s EAR has accurate, fact-checked content, free from mathematical, grammatical and style errors, delivered by 31 May 2018. Ensure timing of inputs for Quarterly internal reports.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

        Education:

• Diploma or degree in the field of journalism, communication or similar.

  Work Experience:

• A minimum of three years’ experience writing and editing both to the web and to print.
• Knowledge of UNICEF’s work and mandate. Knowledge of the Supply function an advantage.
• Experience from a similar role in a multicultural environment.

• Experience in online community management is considered an advantage. 

  Languages:

• Excellent written and spoken English.

   Competency Profile:

       1)   Core Values

• Commitment
• Diversity and Inclusion

• Integrity

  2)  Core Competencies

• Writing
• Editing
• Content research and evaluation in order to produce written material
• Organization of own time

• Attention to detail 

  3)  Key Functional Competencies

• Writing to the web
• Working with stakeholders to create content
• Community management

• Sourcing, writing and editing 

  4) Skills and knowledge

• Knowledge about UNICEF’s mandate and Supply chain management is an advantage.  

  EVALUATION PROCESS 

  Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/application.
2. Financial quote at a daily rate in US Dollars excluding all taxes. Quote should also include travel costs.
3. CV.
4. Examples of previous, relevant work such as articles, web page content etc. For each sample, please explain your specific role in the development of the final materials.
5. At least 2 References

Applications should be submitted online through www.unicef.org/about/employ. Requisition no: 507285.   Queries can be directed to aboher@unicef.org with subject line Communication Consultant. Applications must be received by 27 September 2017 5:00pm CET. Please indicate your availability and daily rate to undertake the terms of reference above.  Applications submitted without a daily rate will not be considered.

UNICEF considers best value for money as a criteria for evaluating potential candidates.  As a general principle, the fees payable to a consultant or individual contractor follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.  Please note that consultants and individual contractors are responsible for assuming costs for obtaining visas and travel insurance and no additional payments will be made to cover living expenses.

Successful applicants will be invited to a telephone interview and to participate in a writing test and will be evaluated by the following criteria:

General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants / Individual Contractors

1. Legal Status

The individual engaged by UNICEF under this contract as a consultant or individual contractor (the “Contractor”) is engaged in a personal capacity and not as representative of a Government or of any other entity external to the United Nations.  The Contractor is neither a "staff member" under the Staff Regulations of the United Nations and UNICEF policies and procedures nor an "official" for the purpose of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, 1946 (“the Convention”).  The Contractor may, however, be afforded the status of "Expert on Mission" in the sense of Section 22 of Article VI of the Convention and if the Contractor is required by UNICEF to travel in order to fulfill the requirements of this contract, the Contractor may be issued a United Nations Certificate in accordance with Section 26 of Article VII of the Convention.

2. Obligations

The Contractor shall complete the assignment set out in the Terms of Reference for this contract with due diligence, efficiency and economy, in accordance with generally accepted professional techniques and practices.

The Contractor must respect the impartiality and independence of UNICEF and the United Nations and in connection with this contract shall neither seek nor accept instructions from anyone other than UNICEF.  During the term of this contract the Contractor must refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on UNICEF or the United Nations and must not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICEF.  The Contractor must exercise the utmost discretion in all matters relating to this contract. 

In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, the Contractor  (a) will conduct him- or herself in a manner consistent with the Standards of Conduct in the International Civil Service; and (b)  will comply with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICEF relating to fraud and corruption; information disclosure; use of electronic communication assets; discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority; and the requirements set forth in the Secretary General's Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. 

Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official in the office concerned, the Contractor must not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government or other entity external to UNICEF any information that has not been made public and which has become known to the Contractor by reason of his or her association with UNICEF or the United Nations.  The Contractor may not use such information without the written authorization of UNICEF, and shall under no circumstances use such information for his or her private advantage or that of others. These obligations do not lapse upon termination of this contact.

3. Title rights

UNICEF shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to material created by the Contractor which bears a direct relation to, or is made in order to perform, this contract.  At the request of UNICEF, the Contractor shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to UNICEF in compliance with the requirements of the law governing such rights.

4. Travel

If UNICEF determines that the Contractor needs to travel in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, that travel shall be specified in the contract and the Contractor’s travel costs shall be set out in the contract. In cases where travel costs have not been set in the contract, travel may either be organized by UNICEF or reimbursed upon submission of receipts within ten (10) days of completion of a specific travel on the following basis:

1. UNICEF will pay for travel in economy class via the most direct and economical route, provided however that in exceptional circumstances, such as for medical reasons, travel in business class may be approved by UNICEF on a case-by-case basis.  

2. UNICEF will pay for out-of-pocket expenses associated with such travel, up to an amount equivalent to the daily subsistence allowance that would be paid to staff members undertaking similar travel for official purposes.

    

   5. Statement of good health

   Before commencing work, the Contractor must deliver to UNICEF a certified self-statement of good health and take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement.  In addition, the Contractor must include in this statement of good health (a) confirmation that he or she has been informed regarding inoculations required for him or her to receive, at his or her own cost and from his or her own medical practitioner or other party, for travel to the country or countries to which travel is authorized; and (b) a statement he or she is covered by medical/health insurance and that, if required to travel beyond commuting distance from his or her usual place or residence to UNICEF (other than to duty station(s) with hardship ratings “H” and “A”, a list of which has been provided to the Contractor) the Contractor’s medical/health insurance covers medical evacuations. The Contractor will be responsible for assuming all costs that may be incurred in relation to the statement of good health.  

   6. Insurance

   The Contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of this contract as he or she considers appropriate taking into account, among other things, the requirements of paragraph 5 above.  The Contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.  The responsibility of UNICEF and the United Nations is limited solely to the payment of compensation under the conditions described in paragraph 7 below. 

   7. Service incurred death, injury or illness

   If the Contractor is travelling with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF's expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, or is performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval, the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate), shall be entitled to compensation from UNICEF in the event of death, injury or illness attributable to the fact that the Contractor was travelling  with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF's expenses in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, or was performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval.  Such compensation will be paid through a third party insurance provider retained by UNICEF and shall be capped at the amounts set out in the Administrative Instruction on Consultants and Individual Contractors. Under no circumstances will UNICEF be liable for any other or greater payments to the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate). 

   8. Arbitration

1. Any dispute arising out of or, in connection with, this contract shall be resolved through amicable negotiation between the parties.  

2. If the parties are not able to reach agreement after attempting amicable negotiation for a period of thirty (30) days after one party has notified the other of such a dispute, either party may submit the matter to arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL procedures within fifteen (15) days thereafter.  If neither party submits the matter for arbitration within the specified time the dispute will be deemed resolved to the full satisfaction of both parties.  Such arbitration shall take place in New York before a single arbitrator agreed to by both parties; provided however that should the parties be unable to agree on a single arbitrator within thirty days of the request for arbitration, the arbitrator shall be designated by the United Nations Legal Counsel.  The decision rendered in the arbitration shall constitute final adjudication of the dispute.  

   9. Penalties for Underperformance

   Payment of fees to the Contractor under this contract, including each installment or periodic payment (if any), is subject to the Contractor’s full and complete performance of his or her obligations under this contract with regard to such payment to UNICEF’s satisfaction, and UNICEF’s certification to that effect.  

   10. Termination of Contract

   This contract may be terminated by either party before its specified termination date by giving notice in writing to the other party.  The period of notice shall be five (5) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a total period of less than two (2) months and ten (10) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor)  in the case of contracts for a longer period; provided however that in the event of termination on the grounds of impropriety or other misconduct by the Contractor (including but not limited to breach by the Contractor of relevant UNICEF policies, procedures, and administrative instructions), UNICEF shall be entitled to terminate the contract without notice.  If this contract is terminated in accordance with this paragraph, the Contractor shall be paid on a pro rata basis determined by UNICEF for the actual amount of work performed to UNICEF’s satisfaction at the time of termination. UNICEF will also pay any outstanding reimbursement claims related to travel by the Contractor.  Any additional costs incurred by UNICEF resulting from the termination of the contract by either party may be withheld from any amount otherwise due to the Contractor under this paragraph. 

   11. Taxation

   UNICEF and the United Nations accept no liability for any taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant and individual contractor on payments made under this contract.  Neither UNICEF nor the United Nations will issue a statement of earnings to the consultant and individual contractor.   

   To view our competency framework, please click here. 

   UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.