Consultancy: Consultant, Knowledge, Communications and Partnerships Manager - HIV/AIDS Section, PD, NYHQ/Home based - Req # 540941

Under the supervision of the Diagnostics Advisor/Project Manager in New York, and in collaboration with the HIV/AIDS Specialist (Diagnostics and Treatment), the incumbent will coordinate and facilitate the knowledge management, communications, and partnerships work related to the Diagnostics portfolio, including HIV point-of-care diagnostics and COVID-19 diagnostics.

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: Knowledge, Communications and Partnerships Manager

Section/Division/Duty Station: HIV/AIDS/PD – New York

Duration: 7 June 2021 to 27 May 2022

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

Under the supervision of the Diagnostics Advisor/Project Manager in New York, and in collaboration with the HIV/AIDS Specialist (Diagnostics and Treatment), the incumbent will coordinate and facilitate the knowledge management, communications, and partnerships work related to the Diagnostics portfolio, including HIV point-of-care diagnostics and COVID-19 diagnostics. More specifically, the contractor will support organizational collaboration with internal and external partners, develop and maintain various knowledge management platforms using SharePoint, coordinate development of communication assets (e.g., technical briefs, videos), and facilitate reporting of activities associated with existing grants. The contractor will also contribute to internal and external partnerships, knowledge management and communications related to cross-cutting work on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

Scope of Work

1. Technical Work on Knowledge Management and Communications

• Support the collection, analysis and dissemination of information on HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 Diagnostics and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) through surveys, consultations, webinars, social networks and other relevant mechanisms. Identify gaps and opportunities aligned with UNICEF’s comparative advantages across the organization, and support coordination of cross-cutting activities across divisions and sections, as needed.
• Coordinate/manage the production and distribution of advocacy materials, programming and technical guidance, publications and working papers on diagnostics and AMR. This may include knowledge products; advocacy and communication materials (including human interest stories and videos); liaising with designers, copy-editors, web developers, and video production companies, as needed; ensuring strong coordination and good communication amongst core partners; and reporting on distribution/dissemination effectiveness.
• Keep updated lists of recipients and social media channels which are key to disseminate curated information, explore new and creative strategies to reach bigger audiences (e.g., U-Report), and analyze data to inform better programming and advocacy campaigns.

• Work with UNICEF’s Translation Unit to ensure all documents are translated into other languages when relevant.

• Develop, maintain and update online SharePoint platforms on Diagnostics (HIV/AIDS and COVID-19) and AMR.

2. Support to the ACT-A Diagnostics Country Preparedness Working Group (CPWG)

• Provide support, as needed, to weekly and monthly calls of the ACT-A Diagnostics pillar and CPWG, internal ACT-A coordination meetings, and ACT-A allocation committee meetings.
• Maintain the CPWG Collaboration and Communication SharePoint sites and develop other mechanisms to increase visibility and transparency of COVID-19 diagnostic activities implemented by CPWG partners worldwide as well as facilitate information sharing, coordination and collaboration among CPWG partners.
• Curate and analyze information in the Activity Monitoring tool to identify needs and opportunities that can inform implementation of activities and partner engagement with governments to scale up access to COVID-19 diagnostics.

3. Support to HIV/AIDS Section, Regional and Country Office and other partners

• Provide targeted support to regions (West and Central Africa, East and Southern Africa) and countries and partners scaling up point-of-care (POC) diagnostics to identify opportunities to showcase progress and disseminate lessons learned.
• Support shared learning to build awareness and knowledge about POC diagnostic technologies.
• Coordinate the exchange of information among regions and build mechanisms/tools to facilitate these processes including through webinars and regular calls
• Maintain the HIV POC Diagnostics Collaboration SharePoint site and other mechanisms to share information and enable inter-country and regional exchange of knowledge.
• Identify gaps and opportunities that focal points in COs and ROs can use to engage with potential donors, implementing partners and governments to scale up POC diagnostics.
• Support the HIV/AIDS Section on internal and external reporting related to HIV POC Diagnostics.
• Support planning and participation in conferences and sessions creating presentations/slides, scripts, as needed.

4. Strengthen strategic partnerships and resource mobilization for Diagnostics and AMR

• Support strategic partnerships with global stakeholders engaged in Diagnostics and AMR as well as partners engaging civil society and community organizations working on HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 and/or AMR.
• Support planning and facilitation of meetings, and follow-up on agreed actions with partners.
• Support preparation of timely inputs to donor reports in line with grant commitments.
• Contribute to the development of funding proposals and other materials to support resource mobilization efforts.
• Contribute to strategies for engagement and development of communications products to enhance UNICEF’s visibility and influence with existing and prospective partners and key stakeholders.
• Support coordination of cross-cutting activities across UNICEF divisions and sections, as needed.

Terms of Reference/Deliverables

Work Assignment Overview:

Tasks/Milestone:

1. Develop an annual plan for the multiple types of calls/sessions and production of materials on Diagnostics (HIV and COVID-19).

2. Support ACT-A Diagnostics Country Preparedness Working Group.

3. Provide knowledge management, communications, and partnerships support to showcase progress and lessons learned through implementation of Diagnostics and AMR projects.

4. Provide support for data collection (e.g, surveys) and dissemination of advocacy, communication, and technical materials and capacity building of regional and country offices (e.g., webinars).

5. Provide support on proposal development to raise funds for both Diagnostics and AMR-related activities.

6. Explore opportunities to integrate AMR messages into existing annual UNICEF campaigns (e.g., immunization, WASH) in collaboration with external partners and relevant UNICEF stakeholders to raise awareness of AMR and promote the rational use of antimicrobials.

7. Provide additional support to Diagnostics Advisor/Project Manager, as needed.

8. Coordinate consultations with ROs and development of a concept note to expand ViiV Healthcare support for POC diagnostics

9. Collaborate with CPWG partners to develop a communication asset (e.g., technical brief, video) to highlight key results from COVID-19 diagnostics pilots.

10. Collaborate with regional advisors to gather information from COs that highlight the impact of UNICEF pilots on scale up of COVID-19 Diagnostics.

11. Coordinate inputs for updated narrative report to ViiV Healthcare in collaboration with COs and WCARO.

12. Coordinate development of social media campaigns in collaboration with external partners and relevant UNICEF stakeholders to raise awareness of AMR and promote the rational use of antimicrobials.

13. Coordinate development of knowledge/advocacy products summarizing key information to accelerate access to COVID-19 Diagnostics.

14. Coordinate inputs for final narrative report to ViiV Healthcare in collaboration with COs and WCARO.

15. Contribute to annual Unitaid grant report in collaboration with CHAI, WCARO, and country offices.

16. (a) Explore ways to create and use U-Report to expand engagement and information gathering from countries on COVID-19 Diagnostics and AMR.

16. (b) Coordinate development of social media messages for WIW in collaboration with external partners and relevant UNICEF stakeholders to raise awareness of the impact of immunization on preventing AMR.

17. Coordinate development and dissemination of knowledge products summarizing key learnings from COVID-19 Diagnostic pilots and operational research done in collaboration with CPWG partners.

18. Contribute to end of ViiV Healthcare grant closure activities in collaboration with regional and country offices.

Qualification

2/ Education

• Master’s Degree with an advanced university degree in one or more of the following disciplines: public health, public policy, health communications, social sciences, or a field relevant to international development assistance.
• Expertise in communication, customer orientation, and preferable excellent understanding of performance management systems, training materials, and competency framework.
• The individual should be highly proficient in a range of PC/web applications, including but not limited to: MS SharePoint, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Outlook, and Lotus Notes.

2) Work experience

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible work experience at the international level in public health, knowledge management and communications, partnerships and strategic planning.
• Documented project management, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Knowledge/experience in HIV/AIDS, diagnostics and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required; Knowledge of French is an asset.
• It is preferable that the individual has experience with, or in, multilateral institutions. Knowledge of UNICEF context essential.  Knowledge of UN common practices in HR an added advantage.

Requirements:

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that includes:
  • 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 (immediate availability will be prioritized)
• 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.