Consultancy: Technical writing for inclusive education global public goods and development of website copy - Req.# 560475

A senior technical education writer is needed for the following: 1. To review, edit and finalize a global public good that has been developed and is currently in draft form. The publication documents promising practices in education programming from different regions and contexts, that have focused on getting the most marginalized children back on track with learning – covering pre-primary to secondary education – in emergency contexts. 2. To develop new copy for webpages on girls’ education ( https://www.unicef.org/education/girls-education) and inclusive education (https://www.unicef.org/education/inclusive-education) based on recent briefs and relevant documentation. 3. To carry out a mapping and analysis of existing tools, resources, and humanitarian actors’ capacity gaps and needs in disability-inclusive education in emergencies programming and use findings to develop an outline for an inclusive education in emergencies toolkit comprising of resources and guidance for frontline actors on developing, implementing, and monitoring inclusive education interventions and programming in emergency contexts.

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: Technical writing for inclusive education global public goods and development of website copy

Section/Division/Duty Station: Education/ ADAP Section, Programme Division – New York HQ

Duration: 3 April – 23 June 2023(44 days over 3 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. 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

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: 

Development of global public goods on inclusive education and updated content on 2 UNICEF webpages. A senior technical education writer is needed for the following:

1. To review, edit and finalize a global public good that has been developed and is currently in draft form. The publication documents promising practices in education programming from different regions and contexts, that have focused on getting the most marginalized children back on track with learning – covering pre-primary to secondary education – in emergency contexts.
2. To develop new copy for webpages on girls’ education ( https://www.unicef.org/education/girls-education) and inclusive education (https://www.unicef.org/education/inclusive-education) based on recent briefs and relevant documentation.
3. To carry out a mapping and analysis of existing tools, resources, and humanitarian actors’ capacity gaps and needs in disability-inclusive education in emergencies programming and use findings to develop an outline for an inclusive education in emergencies toolkit comprising of resources and guidance for frontline actors on developing, implementing, and monitoring inclusive education interventions and programming in emergency contexts.

Scope of Work

Activity 1 (20 days)

• Edit and rewrite (as needed and agreed upon with supervisor) the draft publication (approx. 23,000 words) to strengthen clarity, cohesion, utility of tools included, and analysis.
• Review source documents for each promising practice (19 in total) to validate and sharpen findings.
• Revise promising practices to strengthen analysis and quality of writing for cohesion and clarity.
• Identify an additional promising practice focusing on school feeding for inclusion in the publication.

Activity 2 (2 days)

• Develop copy for two webpages under unicef.org/education based on existing documents and in consultation with the Gender, Equity & Inclusion team, with updated programming, data, and information.

Activity 3 (22 days)

• With guidance from the working group, map existing tools, resources, and actors on disability-inclusive education in emergencies.
• Consult with relevant stakeholders to understand the scope of inclusive education in emergencies programming and identify good practices, challenges and gaps in knowledge, capacity, and technical guidance.
• Develop an outline for a toolkit on inclusive education in emergencies based on the mapping and stakeholder consultations, and in line with the framework on inclusive education systems.
• Prepare a final report on the above, including a project plan for development of the toolkit, appropriate partners, and a rollout and dissemination strategy.

 Terms of Reference / Deliverables 

• Revised, edited, and finalized Solutions Book II

Final draft of Solutions Book II

(20 days)            

May 22, 2023

• New copy for 2 webpages          

Updated copy for both webpages

(2 days)

June 9, 2023

• Inclusive education in emergencies mapping, stakeholder consultations, toolkit outline, project plan.   

Final report on mapping, toolkit outline, and project plan

(22 days)            

June 23, 2023

Qualifications 

(1) Education

• Master’s Degree in Social Sciences or related field

2) Work experience

• Minimum 8 years professional experience in the field of equity and inclusion in education.
• Experience working with UN agencies preferred.
• Knowledge of global developments and strategies in the area of education.
• Strong background in technical writing in education and equity, particularly with a focus on marginalized groups.

3) Competencies

• Fluency in English required. Knowledge of French or Arabic considered an asset.
• Excellent writing skills in English and ability to synthesize complex information and issues.
• Ability to organize and plan complex work following the established timeframes.

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.

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 values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

 To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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:  

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. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.