National individual Consultant - Communications

Communication consultant required for UNICEF Ghana to promote inclusive development and the District League Table

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Summary

Background

As public advocacy remains an integral component to the Child Poverty and Inclusive Development Agenda, it is necessary to engage a consultant on a short term basis to provide external communication support primarily to this area of work. Therefore additional overall support is required for the External Communication Unit at UNICEF Ghana Country Office.

Justification

In 2016 a new advocacy strategy was rolled out by both the Policy/ACMA section and the Communication Unit on poverty and inequality. In 2017, this strategy has significantly enlarged its media work. Given the size of this agenda the capacity in the Communication unit to ensure continued smooth delivering of the strategy is overstretched and insufficient capacity is available. This consultant would work for 2 days a week to support the section as required. A previous consultancy with the aim of designing the communications plan for this strategy was recently successfully completed. This consultancy continues on from where the previous one concluded with the strategy’s implementation as well as support the District League Table media requirements which are substantial.

Purposes of the Consultancy

The consultancy is primarily aimed at (a) implementing a public advocacy plan for UNICEF’s Child Poverty and Inclusive Development Agenda; and (b) design and implementation of the District League Table’s media plan.  The consultant would develop communication materials for the key moments on poverty and inequality and the DLT, and generate media attention for these issues. The consultant would work closely with Social Policy and External Communications.

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT

The tasks listed below will not be performed on a regular and consistent basis.  Although the consultant will be issued an 11.5 months  one GHCedis contract, the supervisor will come up with specific tasks on need basis and agree with consultant on number of days for the tasks.  Upon submission of deliverables, consultant will be paid agreed daily fees (GHC) for the number of days. UNICEF will make arrangement for any official field travel. 

Specific Tasks

The Consultant will focus on the following specific tasks:

Poverty and Inequality Media engagement:

• • Implement the communication plan for support of the Policy Advocacy Strategy on inclusive development
  • Engage with key media outlets, journalists, media partners to ensure implementation of identified outputs in the plan;
  • Provide regular management of the partnership with media outlet to ensure deliver of the key poverty/ inequality related assets as outlined in the partnership
  • Organise at least 1 follow-up journalist/editor engagement on the agenda
  • Organise and position approximately 1 media interview per month with key spokespeople
  • Organise and execute at least 1 media event on the agenda
  • Provide organisation of media support to key events as they arise (tax workshop, budget release etc)

  • Produce media assets (briefs, photo-stories etc) as required. 

    District League Table Media Management

  • Develop a communication (media, social media, online) plan for the District League Table 2017, including pre-launch work, launch, and post-launch engagements.

  • Implement DLT media plan delivering key assets, engagements and coverage throughout October-April 2018 with monthly reporting. This will include but is not limited to:

    • Journalists group management
    • Journalists’ heads-up meeting
    • Pre-launch interviews
    • Media launch attendance and coverage

    • Extensive stories/panels/sofa/interviews/journalist field trips etc.

    • Expected Deliverables

Inclusive Development

• Communication plan for Inclusive Development including:
• Implementation of the Multimedia collaboration;
• At least 1 follow-up journalist/editor engagement on the agenda;
• Approximately 1 media interview per month with key spokespeople;
• 1 media event on the agenda;
• Media support to key events as they arise (tax workshop, budget release etc), including mobilising journalists and follow-up to ensure coverage;

• Media assets (briefs, photo-stories etc) as required. 

• Implementation of communication plan for DLT 2017 (in partnership with CDD), including:
• Journalists group management
• Support to pre-launch events and limited regional media coverage;
• Journalists’ heads-up meeting
• Pre-launch interviews and coverage (sofa, panel, radio/TV)
• Media launch attendance and coverage
• Extensive stories/panels/sofa/interviews/journalist field trips etc.

• Media assets (briefs, photo-stories etc.) as required.

  Reporting

The Consultant will report to the Communication Manager (External Relations and Fundraising) and be guided by the Chief of Policy Section. The Consultant will inform the Communication Officer in Accra before contacting media houses to ensure consistency in communicating externally (specifically to media outlets).

Schedule of Payment

The Consultant will be employed for an agreed period of days between the line manager, relevant section chief and the consultant for the tasks.

Expected background and Experience

Candidates should have the following qualifications:

• Advanced degree in journalism, communication studies or related field
• Minimum of 5 years relevant and progressive professional experience in media, journalism, editorial reviews and related areas.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Use of English language concise and clear. 
• Proven working relationship with media in Ghana.
• Knowledge in layout design, knowledge in handling photographs, ability to understand the printing processes an advantage.

General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics

• The Consultant will work from the UNICEF office and be provided with a desk in the ACMA section.
• S/he will attend External Communication Unit meetings
• S/he should provide her/his own laptop computer
• The consultant must provide proof of health insurance.
• The consultant will be provided with the applicable DSA when travelling outside his/her regular duty station for work purposes.

Policy both parties should be aware of:

• Under the consultancy agreements, a month is defined as 21 working days, and fees are prorated accordingly.  Consultants are not paid for weekends or public holidays.
• Consultants are not entitled to payment of overtime.  All remuneration must be within the contract agreement.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or Contractor.
• Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.
• Consultant will be required to sign the Health statement for consultants/Individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that they have appropriate health insurance, including Medical Evacuation.
• The Form 'Designation, change or revocation of beneficiary' must be completed by the consultant upon arrival, at the HR Section.

Applications should be submitted to online. Applicants should CLEARLY write the title of the consultancy in the subject line of their application

Interested candidates should apply online to the link provided.