Consultant: Comic Book Developer (National Social and Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) Plan Lebanon)

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, a Story

 

How can you make a difference?

In 2019 UNICEF supported the development of a Social Behavioural Change and Communication Plan (Qudwa) which aims at preventing child marriage, child labour and violence against girls, boys and women, in Lebanon. In order to achieve this, the Plan’s success is defined by “behaviors that promote the wellbeing, dignity and equality of women, girls and boys are practiced and become the norm in Lebanon”.
The plan is the result of an evidence-based participatory process which took place from October 2018 to June 2019. The plan contributes to the MoSA Strategic Plan on Child Protection and Gender-Based Violence: 2019-2026 and is the heart of the prevention component. The plan includes a number of communication activities which range from community theatre and puppet shows to partnerships with small business to larger mediatic productions such as soap operas, documentaries with religious leaders, etc.
Qudwa speaks to adolescents as one of its primary target audiences. Adolescents are at a point of forming their sense of self and so are particularly internalizing norms and stereotypes based on their gender while also envisioning what their life may be in the next 5-10 years. Therefore, the plan emphasized the necessity to develop strong, distinct messaging targeted at adolescents. Therefore, UNICEF Lebanon aims to reach adolescents with these messages through the development of 2 comic books including online versions to adapt to the context of COVID-19.
UNICEF Lebanon is looking to develop 2 Arabic comic books (to be printed and e-versions) to reach adolescents from the age of 12 to 16 to promote positive behaviors in line with the national Social and Behavioural Change Communication Plan, Qudwa. The books aim to promote positive behaviors and avoidance of negative coping strategies that are usually liked gender inequity as well as harmful notions of masculinity.
The contractor will be required to:
Create characters / heroes of these comic books.
Develop the story lines based on UNICEF guidance and finalize creative storyboards and visuals of 2 comic books that answer the programmatic priorities of the Qudwa SBCC plan with a focus on child labor and child marriage through by approaching these behaviors through gender lens. The contractor will also be required to pre-test materials with adolescents girls and boys of different population cohorts.

The contractor needs to be able to develop storylines and illustrations of comic books and will be coordinating directly with the Child Protection and Communication for Development team. Fluency in Arabic amongst the team overall is a must.

Tasks Milestones 1:
Inception Report and Timeline

Deliverable 1:
Inception report and timeline inclusive of:
Meeting with UNICEF C4D, Communication and CP sections to emphasize programmatic priorities and brainstorm on possible storylines and ideas.

Development of an inception report and clear timeline.
Timeline: 2 days

Tasks Milestones 2:
Concept Creation

Deliverable 2:
Concept creation of book 1 inclusive of:
1. Development of the storyline
2. Development of characters
3. Development of illustrations

Timeline 2: 4 days

Tasks Milestones 3:
Pretest of Book 1

Deliverable 3:
Pretest of book 1 inclusive of:
Pre-test characters, storyline, and illustrations with a representative sample of adolescents to be done also for a digital version for online platforms. This would need to include at least 9 FGDs inclusive of varied nationalities and gender considerations.

Timeline 3: 3 days

Tasks Milestones 4:
Delivery of Book 1

Deliverable 4:
Delivery of Book 1 inclusive off:
Finalization of content and illustrations including a digital version for online platforms. Final draft to be sent before final approval.

Timeline 4: 5 days

Tasks Milestones 5:
Concept creation and Pretest of book 2

Deliverable 5:
Concept creation and pretest of book 2 inclusive of:
1. Development of the storyline
2. Development of illustrations
Pre-test characters, storyline, and illustrations with a representative sample of adolescents to be done also for a digital version for online platforms. This would need to include at least 9 FGDs inclusive of varied nationalities and gender considerations

Timeline 5: 4 days

Tasks Milestones 6:
Delivery of book 2

Deliverable 6:
Delivery of Book 2 inclusive off:
Finalization of content and illustrations including a digital version for online platforms. Final draft to be sent before final approval.

Timeline 6: 5 days

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

1 year of relevant work experience 

Experience:
• Proven experience in development of comic-style storylines and illustrations. Sample of the book cover/illustration attached.
• Previous experience in child right promotion
• Previous experience with UNICEF or child right based organizations
• Proven experience with youth and adolescents

Technical knowledge:
• Able to develop comic books that speaks to reality and youth of different backgrounds.
• Able to mainstream and present child right messages in an attractive way
• Knowledge of child rights, youth and adolescent related issue, and the Lebanese context

Languages:
Mastering Arabic, writing and speaking.
Information technology:
Provision of editable and printable open files of all illustrations and content

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 functional competencies required for this post are…

 

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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:

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.