Advocacy and Communication Strategy for Liberia Country Programme 2020-2024 and Implementation plan for 2021-2022

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, protection, health, education and hygiene!

How can you make a difference?

Introduction:

The role of communication and public advocacy is critical to UNICEF Libera’s programming – to endure that child rights, in particularly the situation of the most vulnerable,  are in the public agenda, particularly in the context of COVID.  The communication and public advocacy strategy also need to be aligned with UNICEF strategic plan 2022-2025, and the UNICEF Global and WCAR Regional communication and advocacy strategies. Additionally, the strategy will be aligned with UNICEF Liberia County Programme Document – CPD 2020-2024 and the Country Office Emergency Response during the pandemic.

Objectives, Purpose & Expected Results:

In close coordination with the Representative, Deputy Representative (Programme), section Chiefs, the Communication Specialist, and Partnership Specialist, the consultant will conduct an advocacy strategy planning workshop to develop a communication and advocacy strategy for the Liberia country programme 2021 to 2024,  as well as an implementation plan focusing on 2021 and 2022.  The specific objectives of the assignment are:

1. To define the overarching advocacy and communication priorities and clear objectives for the CO for the remainder of the Liberia Country Programme covering the period 2021-2024, taking into account the implications of COVID on progressive realization of child rights in Liberia.
2. To develop the advocacy and communication strategy – inclusive identification of key audiences, core messages, key alliances, major advocacy and communication actions with timeline, challenges, and opportunities, as well as a monitoring and evaluation plan.
3. Capacity building, by imporiving the awareness and skills of UNICEF LCO staff, and relevant partners in advocacy and communication.

The advocacy and communication strategy will include  the overarching communication objectives, specific goals, key messages,          target audiences, programme visibility tools, stakeholders’ communication platforms, media engagement initiatives and digital communication tactics as needed, in alignment with UNICEF Liberia country programme and the key results for children.

This assignment is designed to put a roadmap for the communication with stakeholders, beneficiaries and actors, ensures the visibility of UNICEF among the relevant audience and put a detailed implementation plan for the communication, engagement of the media (traditional and social) and production and dissemination of communication materials.

The Consultant will consult existing programme sections within UNICEF country office and consider complementarities with other initiatives and cohesion with the overall communication scheme.

The Consultant will also review the relevant communication materials and media coverage within UNICEF previous communication activities to identify and suggest where communication interventions are needed.

Methodology and Approach:

1. Document Review:  The consultant will review relevant documents relating to the Liberia context, as well as the Regional and Global documents.  A preliminary list of documents are included in the TOR as links.  This can be done virtually (3 days);
2. Discussions with UNICEF senior management and key staff for strategic guidance and needs assessment This can be done virtually (2 days); 
3. Plan and conduct a 2 to 3 day workshop with relevant UNICEF staff and key stkeholders to includine (This should be done in country.  (6-10 days):
   1. Providing an orientation and introctory training on advocacy and communication concepts, approaches and methodologies;
   2. Mapping of advocacy and communication needs and identify key advocacy priorities;
4. Post workshop validation meeting with UNICEF senior management and key staff, and develop a strategy concept paper with key elements of the strategy timelines and milestones – for endorsement.   This can be done with virtually or in person (4 days);
5. Develop the adovacy and communication strategy with on-going feedback.  This can be done virtually (6 weeks). 

General tasks that will form Project Deliverables:

Key Tasks	Expected Outputs	Duration	Payment
Conduct the Stakeholders Mapping	Conduct a stakeholders’ analysis, including but not limited to: Government entities Civil society entities	01 Oct 2021	30 %
	Other donors and development projects interventions Training and entrepreneurship initiatives Media
Formulating implementation plan and deliverables plan with milestone reviews.	Consult with the project steering committee and project team, ensuring alignment of the project activities and design with the communication and time plans.	01 Nov 2021	30 %
Formulating and developing strategy	The Communication Strategy is timely developed, including but not limited to: Communication objectives Main messages of the project Target audiences Media engagement, tools and platforms Communication                plan       including                 tools,     printed material, digital content and social media	30 Nov 2021	40 %
Final report and presentation	A final report and presentation is submitted upon completing the required deliverables.

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

Education:  An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Sociology, Communication studies, Journalism, English language, social sciences or a similar fieldProfessional qualifications in Media/Communication. 

Experience:  A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in developing, producing strategies and work plans, and ability to effectively grasp and incorporate inputs/feedback from multiple contributors, demonstrated knowledge and understanding of international development, including child rights with Solid understanding of UNICEF’s mandate and programmes.  Experience with issues regarding human/child rights issues.  Previous working experience with UNICEF is highly desirable.

Language:  Fluency in English (spoken and written) is required.

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

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.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

1. Builds and maintains partnerships
2. Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
3. Drive to achieve results for impact
4. Innovates and embraces change
5. Manages ambiguity and complexity
6. Thanks and acts strategically
7. Nurtures, leads and manages people
8. Works collaboratively with others

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.  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.