Consultancy: Youth Engagement Team Coordinator – Climate/WCD - 11.5 months - DOC, NYHQ - Requisition# 535111

Consultant to support the development and project management of strategy planning and implementation, ensuring effective coordination and communication, supporting advocacy, as well as capacity building efforts.

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, [A Clean Planet]

BACKGROUND & RATIONALE
Today there are 1.8 billion young people worldwide who make up a quarter of the world’s population, and up to a third in many sub-Saharan African and South Asian countries. Young people are a massive cohort, with an immense potential to benefit their societies socially, politically and economically. We have a responsibility to recognize the rights of young people and work with them as partners and agents of change for today and tomorrow.

Within UNICEF’s Division of Communication (DOC) the Youth Engagement Team works to strengthen the organization’s capacity to engage young people as advocates and campaigners for children’s rights, through our flagship campaigns and initiatives; and ensure that the perspectives and voices of young people are an integral part of our communications and advocacy.

How can you make a difference?

PURPOSE
To ensure effective engagement with UNICEF offices and internal stakeholders for World Children’s Day and youth engagement in the area of climate change, the Youth Engagement Team seeks a consultant to support the development and project management of strategy planning and implementation, ensuring effective coordination and communication, supporting advocacy, as well as capacity building efforts.

EXPECTED RESULTS:
The expected result is enhanced capacity in the Youth Engagement Team to meet the demands of a growing interest in youth engagement on climate change; strengthened project management, knowledge management and capacity building efforts; increased and more effective advocacy with young people.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSIGNMENT
Under the supervision of the Project Manager for World Children’s Day, the consultant will support the Section in its development, promotion and production of World Children’s Day (WCD) and engagement of young people on the issue of climate change. The consultant will work collaboratively with the colleagues in the Youth Engagement Section, DOC, PPD, PFP, PD and other internal and external partners.

Primarily, the consultant will implement the advocacy and communication strategy, with a strong focus on World Children’s Day, UNICEF’s largest Communications moment of the year, and climate change. The consultant will be responsible to:

• Coordinate UNICEF’s climate change advocacy, communications and youth engagement in collaboration with key internal stakeholders, including organizing meetings and keeping colleagues informed of progress
• Support the development of an advocacy, communications and youth engagement strategy for UNICEF work on climate change
• Lead on the production of toolkits and other materials that support COs and NatComs to execute key campaign moments for WCD and climate change youth engagement
• Knowledge management of resources including information gathering of Country Office and National Committee campaign plans for WCD and climate change youth engagement
• Support on Country Office communications and focal point for Country Office WCD and climate communications and advocacy plans, implementing the campaign and localizing materials
• Project support for all WCD activities including team updates, meetings, files and presentations
• Support the management of UNICEF’s Youth Advocate initiative, including maintaining database and liaising with CO and young people
• Support on liaison with youth group and civil society in the areas of climate change and youth civic engagement
• Support on internal communication and management of staff activities around WCD and climate change
• Support priority advocacy initiatives and campaigns related to youth engagement. Lead on the production of toolkits and other materials that support Country Offices and National Committees in executing key campaign moments for WCD
• Assist with event-management for WCD
• Other tasks as assigned including support for Youth Engagement Team activities.

Below is a list of possible deliverables and an estimated number of units that may be needed during the course of the assignment. Adjustments to these deliverables (type and quantity) may be necessary during the assignment.

Time frame:

Estimated start date: January 2021

Estimated end date: December 2021 

Duty Station: UNICEF NYHQ

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS (IF APPLICABLE)
Standard UNICEF Performance Evaluations will be conducted every 6 months and at end of contract. The performance indicators for evaluation of results will be the quality and timeliness of outputs delivered by consultant.
DUTY STATION
NYHQ

TRAVEL (IF APPLICABLE)
No travel is expected. 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.

TIMEFRAME

Full-time from January 2021 to December 2021 for 11.5 months, with flexibility to start earlier. Please note that consultants are not paid for UN holidays.

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

• University degree (Bachelor’s) in Journalism, Communications, Marketing, International Relations, International Development, or another related field.
• 3 years relevant experience in advocacy, communications, project management, knowledge management, capacity building, partnership management and event management, working with remote teams across time zones and cultures.
• Strong skills in communication, including effective writing skills, and strategic planning
• Fluency in English (both written and verbal) is required. Knowledge of an additional UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) is considered an asset.
• Experience in the field of youth engagement is considered an asset.
• Experience in the field of climate change advocacy is considered an asset.
• Ability to juggle competing priorities, whilst maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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.

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:

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
Please indicate your all-inclusive fees for the services to be provided, in USD per day.

You are advised to take into consideration as part of your bid for the assignment the cost of health insurance.

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.

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.