Consultancy: To Support content development and research for the Knowledge and Advocacy Unit, HIV/AIDS Section, PD - NYHQ, Requisition #515326

The overall purpose of the contract is to support the Knowledge, Advocacy and Partnerships team to consolidate and harness the latest evidence on Children and AIDS to inform the global agenda and to shape policies and catalyse action at the country level. This is a part-time consultancy.

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 & Rationale

UNICEF’s HIV and AIDS programme plays a vital role as a hub of information flow within the entire organization (HQ, Country Offices and Regional Offices), and from UNICEF to external partners, national and international policy makers, and donors. National implementers and regional advocates look to this information hub for latest evidence and science with respect to children and HIV, good practices in programming, and up-to-date guidance for operationalizing policies across all the programme areas.  As a knowledge leader on Children and AIDS, UNICEF collects and disseminates evidence, as it relates to children and adolescents. Sharing this new knowledge is imperative to improve HIV programming and influence policymakers. Synthesizing existing and new evidence will also feed into the Learning Collaborative, the flagship effort of the HIV Section’s knowledge management work. Developing tools and templates that facilitate documentation of effective interventions is also a key function of the knowledge management (KM) role in the HIV/AIDS section.

Purpose

The overall purpose of the contract is to support the Knowledge, Advocacy and Partnerships team to consolidate and harness the latest evidence on Children and AIDS to inform the global agenda and to shape policies and catalyse action at the country level. This is a part-time consultancy.

Expected results: (measurable results)

The consultant is expected to deliver the following:

• Develop quarterly newsletter and disseminate new resources for the HIV Section and Learning Collaborative
• Maintain and update the Children and AIDS website and support dissemination of key resources
• Conduct literature reviews and support writing of three briefs on the intersection of HIV with other sectors
• Templates for quality assurance of publications developed

Nature of supervision

The consultant will work under the supervision of the Programme Specialist in the Knowledge Management and Advocacy team. The supervisor will have frequent interactions with the consultant at various stages to brief the consultant on the assignment; agree on the process and clarify the deliverables; provide feedback and comments on intermediary products; and track the progress made by the consultant. The supervisor will evaluate the consultant’s work and certify delivery of work.

Payments by UNICEF are delivery-based. Any deliverable not meeting the required specifications will be reworked and resubmitted at no additional cost to UNICEF. The proposed payment schedule for this assignment is monthly payment upon submission of progress reports on completed tasks, outlined against planned outputs. Based on the report and satisfactory performance, payments will be certified by the supervisor.

Tasks & Expected results: (measurable results)

The consultant is expected to deliver the following key results, in collaboration with staff in the HIV Section and consultation with other sections as needed.

Timeframe

Start date:   4 September 2018            
End date:     15 April, 2019

Key competences, technical background, and experience required Deadline

• An Advanced university degree (Master’s) or Graduate Student in Public Health, Social Sciences, International Affairs, or Journalism required
• Three to five years professional experience in researching, covering and profiling public health issues.
• Proven ability to interpret new technical knowledge on HIV and AIDS in light of the current knowledge on children and AIDS and trends in the field.
• Prior work experience with a multi-lateral or international health and development agency required
• Proven ability to communicate technical knowledge on AIDS in terms that are accessible to programme professionals, including non-specialists.
• Ability to work independently and in consultation with UNICEF staff
• Ability to use good judgement incorporating feedback from various team members and partners
• Rapid turnaround of work and ability to multi-task.
• A native command of the English language is preferred. French is a distinct advantage.

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable). Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

Remarks

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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.