Consultancy: Consultant, , Advocacy and Communications Specialist (Migrant and Displaced Children) - Migration, PD, NYHQ - Req # 537461

The Advocacy Section within the Division of Communication (DOC) and the Children on the Move team within the Division of Programmes (PD) require consultancy services to help meet a growing demand for strategic planning and internal coordination related to migrant and displaced children advocacy and communications at a global, regional and national level. The consultant will work under the supervision of the Humanitarian Advocacy Lead in DOC and in close coordination with Children on the Move team in PD.

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, hope.

Consultancy Title: Consultancy, Advocacy and Communications Specialist (Migrant and Displaced Children)

Section/Division/Duty Station: PD Migration, Programme Division

Duration: 11 months

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in advocacy, in programmes, and in operations. UNICEF delivers change through the collective efforts of headquarters, regional and country offices by advocating for high-quality programmes at scale, harnessing innovation and collecting evidence, in partnership with governments, other United Nations partners, civil society, the private sector, communities and children. It uses these strategies to leverage wider change nationally and globally through advocacy, communications and campaigning. UNICEF also wins the support of decision makers and the public around the world to drive change, volunteer, advocate and mobilize resources for the cause of children, and works with partners to achieve an even greater impact.

Migration is an expanding global reality that has increased in scale and complexity over the past few years. Millions of children are on the move. 1 in 2 refugees in the world is a child. 1 in 3 international migrants is under 30; 1 in 3 identified trafficking victims is a child; and around 3 million children are stateless. Some of them are driven from their homes by conflict, poverty or climate change; others leave in the hope of finding a better life. When the right policies are in place, migration is a positive experience for millions of children and young people, allowing them to unlock their talent and enrich the societies they leave and join. However, far too many encounter danger, detention, deprivation and discrimination on their journeys, at destination or upon return. The COVID-19 pandemic is posing a new set of challenges for children on the move, who are being largely left out of response and recovery efforts and are even less likely to access essential services than before the crisis.

UNICEF works around the world to include, protect and empower migrant and displaced children. We provide lifesaving humanitarian supplies in refugee camps. We support national and local governments to put in place laws, policies, systems and services that are inclusive and address the specific needs of migrant and displaced children, helping them thrive. We help keep families together. We work to end child immigration detention by helping governments put in place community- and family-based alternatives. We help children reintegrate in their communities after return. We work with governments, the private sector and civil society. We empower children and youth on the move with cutting-edge solutions, partnering with them and making their voices heard. We collect, analyze and disseminate data and evidence about the situation and individual experiences of children and young people on the move.

UNICEF is strongly committed to the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) and is supporting governments around the world to put in practice the commitments in both Compacts. To that effect, UNICEF is engaged in transformative partnerships with UNHCR (Blueprint) and other UN and government actors (Prospects) to realize the vision of the GCR in key priority countries. UNICEF is also a member of the Executive Committee of the UN Migration Network.

The Advocacy Section within the Division of Communication (DOC) and the Children on the Move team within the Division of Programmes (PD) require consultancy services to help meet a growing demand for strategic planning and internal coordination related to migrant and displaced children advocacy and communications at a global, regional and national level. The consultant will work under the supervision of the Humanitarian Advocacy Lead in DOC and in close coordination with Children on the Move team in PD. 

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

1. Support the development and implementation of a global advocacy strategy on migrant and displaced children

• Coordinate with key divisions to collectively craft the advocacy strategy, including development of strategic policy advocacy goals, targets, tactics and messages.
• Identify and seize opportunities to ensure children on the move form a core part of other key UNICEF advocacy priorities to include and visibilize children on the move within relevant UNICEF advocacy priorities.
• Lead and project manage the development of advocacy and communications resources, assets and content (e.g. briefs, inputs for press releases, copy for social media assets).
• Working in collaboration with relevant teams, produce and oversee content in the external global website dedicated to migrant and displaced children.
• Support high-profile advocacy and communications moments or activations.
• Ensure delivery against the work plan.
• Convene DOC – PD weekly coordination meetings.

2. Support the implementation of the Prospects Partnership advocacy and communication strategy 

• Provide ongoing support to the Children on the Move team on advocacy and communications issues related to the Prospects Partnership, liaising with DOC and seeking synergies with existing advocacy and communications initiatives and products to visibilize results related to children.
• Represent UNICEF vis-à-vis Prospects donor and partners on advocacy, communication and visibility issues.
• Develop advocacy and communications content, including for social media and for external and internal websites (including human interest stories and a ‘diary from the field’).
• Provide support to COs and ROs on advocacy and communications issues.

3. Support joint advocacy with UNHCR as part of the UNHCR-UNICEF Blueprint
   • Participate in weekly UNICEF-UNHCR calls focusing on joint advocacy and ensure follow up on agreed actions.
   • Lead on implementation of agreed joint advocacy priorities and strategies at the global, regional and country levels, liaising with relevant UNICEF Regional Offices and with UNICEF Country Offices in Blueprint focus countries.
   • Work with the Advocacy Capacity Building Initiative team in DOC to identify gaps and build capacity within UNHCR and UNICEF as needed, securing necessary cross-office buy-in to implement agreed joint advocacy priorities and strategies.
   • Develop advocacy and communications content to support the partnership as needed.
4. Ensure proper information flow and coordination with internal and external stakeholders
   • Ensure an open and constant flow of communication and close coordination between relevant DOC teams and the Children on the Move team in PD.
   • Build and foster relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including UNHCR, IOM, the Secretariat of the UN Migration Network, the Dutch government and the Initiative for Child Rights in the Global Compacts, to help implement the advocacy strategy at global, regional and national levels.
   • Prepare key materials for internal and external stakeholders (e.g. toolkits and guidance, presentations at key events, proposals to be presented to potential donors and allies).
   • Liaise with senior management as needed and ensure that all requested materials are submitted on a timely basis for meetings and regular oversight.
   • Manage internal communication tools related to the advocacy priority area.
5. Advocacy strategy monitoring and evaluation

• Keep track of the activities implemented as part of the advocacy strategy at global, regional and national levels, including if necessary the creation of specific mechanisms or tools for that purpose.
• Submit the agreed KPI to the Global Advocacy Priority senior team and facilitate them to other teams for discussion and learning.

6. Manage specific bodies of work within the advocacy strategy
   • The consultant can be tasked to manage specific projects or activities within the strategy workplan. This could include development of assets with other internal or external stakeholders and liaising with UNICEF National Committees and Country Offices on strategy implementation.

Qualifications

Education

• University degree (B.A) in social sciences, international relations, public policy, international development, public relations, communication or a related field.     

 Work experience

• At least five years’ experience in advocacy and campaign strategy development and execution, preferably on both a global and national level on issues related to migrant and displaced children.
• Previous knowledge of international migration dynamics and policy.
• Experience in developing clear theories of change, with specific, measurable and timebound objectives and performance indicators.
• Experience in strategic public engagement activity, based on an understanding of the target audience.
• Strong track record in writing engaging campaign narratives and delivering creative campaign tactics.
• Demonstrated experience in design and management of projects, including monitoring of results.
• Experience in operating independently at a senior level and in providing expert advice and support on advocacy and campaigns.
• Experience working for an advocacy or campaigning organization e.g. international or national NGO, UN or other multilateral organization and knowledge of the United Nations system or other international organisations are an asset.
• Experience working in a developing and emergency environment is an asset.
• Knowledge of international development, humanitarian issues and children’s rights

Competencies

• Demonstrated strong communication, presentation and writing skills are essential – a clear, concise, compelling writing style which is adaptable for difference audiences, including mainstream public.
• Strategic thinking and critical analysis.
• Commitment and drive, with a clear focus on results.
• Positive, proactive, ‘can-do’ approach.
• Solutions-focused.
• Ability to juggle competing priorities under pressure, whilst maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines.
• Creative and innovative

Languages

• Fluency in English (both written and verbal) is required. Other (UN) languages are considered an asset.

Requirements

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include:
• Your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference (can be downloaded here: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_consultancy_assignments.html 
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

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.  

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, race, sexual orientation, nationality, culture, appearance, socio-economic status, ability, age, religious and ethnic backgrounds 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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles