Consultancy: Consultant, Advocacy and Communications Specialist – Nutrition, PD, NYHQ/Home based – Req # 540238

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: Advocacy and Communications Specialist

Section/Division/Duty Station: Nutrition/ Early Childhood Nutrition/Remote

Duration:  120 working days over 12 months (1^st June 2021 -31^st 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 vaccine provider 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

Led by UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Global Breastfeeding Collective (the Collective) is a partnership of prominent international agencies and non-governmental organizations committed to increasing investment in breastfeeding worldwide. There are currently 26 Collective partners. The Collective’s vision is a world in which all mothers have the technical, financial, emotional, and public support they need to start breastfeeding within an hour of a child’s birth, to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months, and to continue breastfeeding – with complementary foods – for two years or beyond. The Collective’s mission is to rally political, legal, financial, and public support so that rates of breastfeeding increase, which will benefit mothers, children, and society.  The Collective calls on implementers and donors from governments, philanthropies, international organizations, and civil society to advance the 7 Policy Actions: Increase funding to raise the rate of breastfeeding from birth to 2 years; Adopt and monitor the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and relevant WHA resolutions; Enact paid family leave and workplace breastfeeding policies; Implement the ‘Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding in maternity facilities; Improve access to skilled breastfeeding counselling in health facilities; Strengthen links between health facilities and communities to support breastfeeding; Monitor the progress of policies, programs and funding for breastfeeding.

Terms of Reference

This consultancy will help coordinate the day-to-day management of the Collective, including the planning of monthly calls and annual meeting and managing and engaging in collaborative advocacy and communication activities to advance policy actions.  The consultancy will also support advocacy opportunities such as World Breastfeeding Week, Nutrition for Growth Summit, and keeping partners abreast with the collective activities. The consultant will also liaise with colleagues of ICT and communications to manage the Collective website, the Yammer Group and update the Collective’s Advocacy toolkit. The consultancy will facilitate participation and collaboration among global partners and associates, and country offices to advance breastfeeding advocacy efforts, specifically around the Collective advocacy priorities (skilled breastfeeding support and Code Advocacy). Additionally, the consultancy will manage and maintain regular contact with Collective partners and the Collective Coordination Committee through monthly calls and regular communication and support organization of annual Collective partners meeting and Coordination Committee meeting.

Deliverables

• Liaise with the Early Childhood Nutrition (ECN) Unit and Collective partners to develop monthly partner call agendas; share background materials, secure speakers; produce notes for the record.
• Facilitate monthly strategic Collective Coordination Committee calls and conduct necessary follow up.
• Assist with the development and production of advocacy briefs and other advocacy products and assets.
• Respond to inquiries and maintain regular communication with Collective partners.
• Coordinate with Collective partners to maintain and expand the Breastfeeding Advocacy Toolkit.
• Maintaining the Collective’s website and Yammer Group and ensure that relevant advocacy and communications materials are regularly reviewed and uploaded on the site.
• Support the annual Collective partner meeting and the annual Coordination Committee meeting, including developing the plan, background materials, contacting speakers, and writing the meeting report.

Qualifications

(1) Education

• Master’s degree in Communications, Advocacy or any relevant field

2) Work experience

• At least five years of previous professional experience in communications and advocacy, preferably in areas of health and or nutrition
• Have proven experience and record in copyediting reports, publications, or documents, preferably in health and or nutrition
• Previous experience with UNICEF on a similar assignment is an asset

3) Competencies

• Excellent command of written English
• Proven excellent time management and ability to produce outputs as per agreed deadlines
• Excellent Information and Communication Technology skills

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 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.