CONSULTANCY: Generation Unlimited Partnership Communication Specialist - Youth Engagement, DOC - NYHQ - 8 months assignment

The Partnership Communication Specialist supports the articulation with partners and provides operational support for communications, advocacy and outreach. It is responsible for the communication with partners and the preparation and implementation of Gen U’s communications and advocacy strategy in close coordination with the different sections of the Department of Communications (DoC) as well as members of the Executive Committee of the Gen U.

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

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. Over the decades, UNICEF has worked to protect the rights of children of all ages — from earliest childhood through adolescence – and will continue to deliver for all children and adolescents under the five goal areas of the Strategic Plan. In recent years, our work to support the unique needs of adolescents has gained momentum, as the challenges facing them have come more sharply into view. The second decade of life is a time of tremendous opportunity – and for far too many adolescents, great risk and increasing challenges.

Building on work across the UN with and for young people, and in line with the UN Youth Strategy, UNICEF is developing a new global partnership dedicated to expanding opportunity for young people, ages 10-24.  Generation Unlimited is centered on finding new ways to ensure that every young person is in school, learning, training or employment by 2030 — with a focus on those in the greatest danger of being left behind, including girls, the poorest, those with disabilities, young people on the move and those affected by conflict and natural disasters.  

This partnership brings together leaders from governments, UN agencies, the private sector, academia, international and civil society organizations, and young people. The partnership identifies, co-create, resource and scale-up innovative solutions to expand opportunity for young people. Good programmes will be matched with adequate financing and technical support; investors will find viable solutions to invest in and strong accountability mechanisms that provide adequate assurance of results and financial management; and young people will participate meaningfully in the co-creation of solutions, informing, advising and helping implement at every step of the way.

Job organizational context: The Partnership Communication Specialist position will be located in the Division of Communication with direct support to the Interim Secretariat of Generation Unlimited. The Partnership Communication Specialist reports to the Head of Youth Engagement in direct support of the Principal Adviser, Gen U, who is the Director of the Interim Secretariat.

Purpose for the job: The Partnership Communication Specialist supports the articulation with partners and provides operational support for communications, advocacy and outreach. It is responsible for the communication with partners and the preparation and implementation of Gen U’s communications and advocacy strategy in close coordination with the different sections of the Department of Communications (DoC) as well as members of the Executive Committee of the Gen U. He/she is expected to work with DoC colleagues and internal and external partners and stakeholders to ensure that communication is consistent with the goals, targets and priorities set in the programme of activities approved by the Global Board of Gen U and is consistent with the accepted norms for due diligence and ethics.

Expected results: (measurable results)

• Description of the assignment
• Support partnership communication for Generation Unlimited.
• Support the development and implementation of the communication and advocacy strategy, plans and events.
• Co-lead the communication and advocacy’s workstream of Generation Unlimited.
• Support communication of solutions at scale, grand challenge, new ideas and young people engagement.

1.Support partnership communication for Generation Unlimited.

• ensure a regular flow of information to grow the partnership, using communications materials to encourage commitments, dialogue and engagement.
• draft and elaborate informative e-mails, newsletters, partnership tool kits, presentations, and other necessary engagement materials.
• ensure or enhance the quality, consistency and appropriateness of communication materials and messages shared with partners.
• work proactively with partners across genu to identify opportunities for communication, advocacy, youth engagement and sharing information about major progress and results.
• keep track and relations regarding the communication with leaders, champions, global board members, and partnership forum engagement.
• assist in the identification of opportunities for cooperation and potential contributions of generation unlimited partners and potential partners.
• coordinate closely with the staff working within other technical areas of the secretariat synergies for collaboration.
• monitor evaluate and share results and findings with partners of communication and advocacy strategy.

 2. Support the development and implementation of the communication and    advocacy strategy, plans and events.

• Develop, maintain and update the communication and advocacy strategy and associated work plan for Generation Unlimited. Strategy and work plan include: an stakeholder assessment; objectives; target audiences; messages and media mix; resources; specific actions, activities and products; monitoring and evaluation of impact; success and opportunity for improvement; ongoing refinement of the strategy.
• Ensure effective monitoring mechanisms are in place to track effectiveness advocacy and communication taking corrective action when necessary.
• Identify opportunities to promote the partnership at high visibility events, UN moments, multi-stakeholder platforms such as WEF, leading industry / B2B events, civil society conferences, etc.
• Coordinate outreach to media, working closely with the communication and advocacy units of partners and optimize their contributions.

3. Co-lead the communication and advocacy’s workstream of Generation Unlimited

• Develop, implement and monitor plan of action for the communication and advocacy’s workstream.
• Coordinate and manage the workstream, update members and send regular communications.
• Mobilize, broker and leverage members of workstream to amplify the communication efforts.

 4. Support communication of solutions at scale, grand challenge, new ideas and young people engagement.

• Support the communication aspects of regionalization and localization of Generation Unlimited.
• Oversee brand management on GenU and advise on local implementation.
• Support communication aspects for dissemination of identified solutions at scale, grand challenge and new ideas.
• Collaborate and coordinate advocacy communication plans and activities with partners working on young people’s participation to optimize their voice and contributions to the Gen U Brand and resource mobilization efforts.
• Support young people participation in governance, co-creation of solutions and influencing.  
• Implement communication plan for global Youth Challenge and support local implementation.
• Develop, implement and monitor massive engagement of young people for Generation Unlimited.

Impact of Results

The strategic and effective advocacy, planning and formulation of the communication for GenU and the achievement of concrete and sustainable results from this partnership contribute to the achievement of UNICEF goals to promote the full development and active participation of adolescents in determining their essential needs, promoting their rights to a safe environment and protecting their rights to survival, development and well-being in society. This in turn contributes to maintaining/enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to provide programme services for mothers and children that promotes greater social equality and inclusion in the country. The success of the resource mobilization strategy and plan will be instrumental to brand of the partnership and serious shortfalls in mobilization will pose significant risk.

Reporting requirements (If applicable)

Examples of potential types of reports are:

- Inception Report

- Progress Reports and Minutes of Meetings

- Mission Reports

- Technical Reports

- Draft and Final Report

- Training material

- Presentation material

- Workshop/training evaluation report)

Duty Station

NYHQ

Travel (If Applicable)

As required, based on supervisor’s approval.

Timeframe

Start date:  04 May 2020                     End date: 31 Dec 2020 

Deliverables (Specific service / outputs to be delivered at a specific time as per stated objectives and performance / quality requirements.)	Duration (Estimated # of Days)	Deadline
Support partnership communication for Generation Unlimited, including the development of materials, identification of opportunities, and tracking and monitoring.	8 months	DEC 2020
Support the development and implementation of the communication and advocacy strategy, plans and events.	8 months	DEC 2020
Co-lead the communication and advocacy’s workstream of Generation Unlimited.	8 months	DEC 2020
Support communication of solutions at scale, grand challenge, new ideas and young people engagement.	8 months	DEC 2020
total	8 months	DEC 2020

Key competences, technical background, and experience required Deadline

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: communication, international development, journalism, social sciences, business administration, management, marketing or fundraising.
• Seven years of progressively responsible of professional experience in social development planning and management.
• Experience in a partnership communication or strategic partnerships role; mix of corporate and non-profit experience preferred
• Proven experience in communications is required. Engagements and partnership experience with the media sector are a strong asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Ability to build relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds and styles, and experience working with contacts at all levels of companies, UN organizations, including presenting to senior-level decision makers and influencers across business units and functions, including foundation contacts, as well as marketing/PR contacts
• Ability to lead internal and external meetings.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and prioritize while working under multiple deadlines.
• Excellent problem solving and negotiation skills; ability to effectively collect, analyse, organize, distil and present information.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially PowerPoint.
• Understanding and experience with the stages of partnership development, from qualifying, exploratory conversations, strategic proposal development, negotiations and contracting.

Health Insurance

Consultants and individual contractors are required to certify that they are covered by medical/health insurance. Consultants and individual contractors who are required to travel beyond commuting distance to duty station(s) with hardship ratings other than “H” and “A” shall also certify that their medical/health insurance covers medical evacuations.

UNICEF does not provide or arrange life or health insurance coverage for consultants and individual contractors, and consultants and individual contractors are not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to United Nations staff members. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for assuming all costs related to required inoculations, vaccinations and medical examinations and reflect it as part of their bid for the assignment.

ONLY, in case of unforeseen official business travel, actual cost, including the visa fee, vaccination will be reimbursed in accordance with UNICEF Policy/procedure on official travel.

At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage and the consultant must provide proof of health insurance.

Consultants and individual contractors are fully responsible for arranging, at their own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the period of their services as they consider appropriate.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

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.    

FEE

Requests for services under an individual contract shall normally require the consultant / individual contractor to indicate their all-inclusive fees (including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable) for the services to be provided. 

When submitting their bid, the consultant is also advised to take into consideration as part of their bid for the assignment the cost of health insurance and/or photographic, video-graphic equipment if such equipment is needed to complete the deliverables of the assignment.

UNICEF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.