Consultancy: Consultant, Comic Illustrator, Adolescent Health - Health Section, PD, NYHQ/Home based - Req # 538576

The Comic Illustrator will illustrate the 5 part WHO-UNICEF Helping Adolescent Thrive comic series for dissemination and use as a Global Good. The primary audience for this document is very young adolescents (age 10-14), for use by UNICEF and partners who support and implement interventions on adolescent mental health and well-being.

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: Comic Illustrator – Adolescent Health

Section/Division/Duty Station:  Health Section, Programme Division, NYHQ 

Duration: 50 working days from 29 March 2021 to 01 November 2021

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

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 fulfil their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, UNICEF works for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have jointly developed the Helping Adolescents Thrive (HAT) Intervention Package, which is a universal and multicomponent package of interventions aimed at promoting adolescents’ mental health, preventing mental health conditions, and reducing risk behaviors and self-harm. The intervention package is built upon evidence-based guideline recommendations and a consultation process among practitioners, program implementers, and adolescents. In order to begin piloting of HAT we are tasked with developing a school-based curriculum to inform the nine social emotional learning modules that will build 4 core skills among adolescents universally 1) Emotional regulation and stress management 2) Problem-solving 3) Interpersonal skills and 4) Alcohol and drug use prevention. The main component of the curriculum includes a comic strip series, which requires detailed development based on adolescent graphic novels and UN diversity and inclusion principles.

Purpose:

The Comic Illustrator will illustrate the 5 part WHO-UNICEF Helping Adolescent Thrive comic series for dissemination and use as a Global Good. The primary audience for this document is very young adolescents (age 10-14), for use by UNICEF and partners who support and implement interventions on adolescent mental health and well-being.   

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

Expected Results: The consultant will work closely with the Adolescent Health team, UNICEF HQ, in undertaking the following tasks: 

• Development of comic series (for 5 modules) 
• Development of graphics for classroom activity guide and social media use (for 5 modules) 

Deliverables: The contractor is expected to deliver the following: 

• 5-part Comic Series 
• Classroom activity illustrations/graphics 
• Social media graphic assets 

The Health Specialist (Adolescent Health) will oversee and provide technical inputs to the consultant’s work. 

Qualifications

• Demonstrated portfolio of comic illustrations developed for 10-14-year old and social media assets including GIFs 
• Strong familiarity with adobe illustrator package and graphic design software 
• Prior work experience with a multi-lateral or international health and development agency is strongly preferred  
• Prior experience with graphic illustration on social emotional learning or positive social messaging  
• A native command of the English language is required 
• Strong ability to multi-task and a drive for on-time delivery required 

Application must include: 

• Submission of design portfolio. 
• A detailed financial proposal quoted in United States Dollars (USD) which must outline fees for thirty-five (50) working days. 

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 
  • 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. Payment will be made on a monthly basis, against the report on the monthly work plan, in line with the deliverables noted above. Payment will be made on a monthly basis, against the report on the monthly work plan, in line with the deliverables noted above.

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.