International Consultancy: Communications Specialist, Contracting Centre – Supply Division Copenhagen Denmark – 6 months (Home based)

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, safe.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

During the last 8 years, procurement of construction activities in UNICEF has constantly increased. In 2020, the cumulative value of POs issued for construction activities was around $175.2 million supporting key areas including WASH, education, health, UNICEF premises, etc.

Besides the regular simple construction projects represented by classrooms, health centres, latrines, etc., UNICEF COs started to engage in high profile sophisticated projects like vaccine central warehouses, office premises, water desalination plants that require high degree of project management and technical expertise. Recently, UNICEF COs are looking forward to adopting new approaches and initiatives to ensure sustainability, greening and solar services are taken into account within their construction activities.

The Construction Unit in SD is planning to develop a Construction Communication Plan – CCP that aims to document the construction projects supported by UNICEF during the last three years that can be broadly communicated with the organization and donors.

Under the supervision of the Contracts Specialist-Construction in CC, the hired Consultant will develop and implement the CCP.  Using storytelling techniques, the Consultant will focus on the key high-profile successful projects that merit communication and share best practices and potential reach-outs on sustainable construction, solarization, inclusion of digital learning and connectivity initiatives.

Adopting the modular approach for education and health infrastructures during emergencies which goes beyond tents’ distribution, is one of the main areas to be covered by the CCP with highlights on relevant guidelines developed by SD for this purpose.

The Consultant will provide his/her consultancy services from home – teleworking for 6 months.

Scope of Work:

The consultant is expected to execute the following activities:

1. Analyse the key communications objectives, scoping of project and background research.
2. Draw up communications plan, discuss, present and get approval.
3. Prepare and seek approval for an implementation plan with clear deliverables and deadlines that will culminate in a development of material ready for design and publication showcasing construction achievements, an exhibition of construction achievements (or an agreed equivalent project).
4. Collect data from the CU on UNICEF COs engaged in construction and identify the ones with high construction portfolios.
5. Collect data from the CU on 15 key high-profile projects and initiatives on sustainable construction, solarization, inclusion of digital learning and connectivity in school projects.
6. Develop tools/templates required for collecting information and details from COs on their construction projects, initiatives and best practices.
7. Review UNICEF guidance/guidelines on Construction developed by SD to explore the possibility of linkage to and integration with projects implemented by COs. 
8. Contact focal points at COs to collect detailed information and knowledge with few professional photos, stories, lessons learned, tips to manage construction challenges and links to guidance.
9. Compile, edit and organize the collected information in a form of compendium documenting what has been done in construction by UNICEF during the last 3 years.
10. Prepare and develop stories on 15 of the key strategic projects and initiatives in construction supported by UNICEF that are featured in the compendium in consultation with the Communications Unit.
11. Create text for the micro-site that can be uploaded to the front page of Construction webpage in Intranet, in conjunction with the Communications Unit web team.
12. From the compendium, identify the key strategic projects, best practices, initiatives – sample of Programme achievements – that can be presented in a form of small-scale exhibition.
13. Develop a concept note and Terms of Reference for the design, micro-site’s creation and material’s production for an exhibition that could take place at SD and also in Regional Office (ESAR, MENAR and WCAR) and maybe 10 Country Offices. The concept note should contain costings and an implementation plan with timelines.
14. Liaise and follow up with the designer the design, creation of the micro-site and production of the exhibition material and consult with the CU and the Communication Unit (SD) on the quality and appearance of final presentation.
15. In conjunction with the Communications Unit, write a web article, media release and social media posts to mark the milestone for UNICEF construction.

Task 1/Milestone:

• Analyse the key communications objectives and scoping of project.
• Draw up communications plan.
• Prepare an implementation plan with clear deliverables and deadlines.
• Collect data from the CU on COs engaged in construction and identify the ones with high construction portfolios.

Deliverables/Outputs:

• Communications plan with its implementation discussed and approved.
• Data collected and high construction portfolios identified.

Timeline: 1^st month

Task 2/Milestone:

• Collect data from the CU on 15 key high-profile projects and initiatives.
• Develop tools required for collecting information and details from COs.
• Review UNICEF guidance/guidelines on UNICEF construction

Deliverables/Outputs:

• Data collected.
• Tools developed.
• Guidelines reviewed with focus on areas to highlight.

Timeline: 2^nd month

Task 3/Milestone:

• Contact focal points at COs to collect detailed information and knowledge.
• Compile, edit and organize the collected information in a form of compendium.

Deliverables/Outputs:

• Detailed information collected with professional photos.
• Compendium material edited and organized.

Timeline: 3^rd month

Task 4/Milestone:

• Prepare and develop stories on 15 of the key strategic projects and initiatives in construction supported by UNICEF.

Deliverables/Outputs:

• 15 stories developed

Timeline: 4^th month

Task 5/Milestone:

• Create text for the micro-site.
• Identify the key strategic projects, best practices, initiatives that can be presented in a form of small-scale exhibition.
• Develop a concept note and Terms of Reference for the design, micro-site’s creation and exhibition material’s production.

Deliverables/Outputs:

• Text for micro-site created
• Key strategic projects, best practices, initiatives identified.
• Concept note and Terms of Reference developed.

Timeline: 5^th month

Task 6/Milestone:

• Liaise and follow up with the designer the design, creation of the micro-site and production of the exhibition material.
• Write a web article, media release and social media posts to mark the milestone for UNICEF construction.

Deliverables/Outputs:

• Micro-site created.
• Exhibition material produced.
• Web articles prepared.

Timeline: 6^th month

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

• Master’s degree in communications, journalism, social science or any related field.

*A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

• At least 5 years professional experience in communications or publishing preferably in an international environment managing large publications.
• Excellent command of English including the ability to write lengthy texts, proofread and edit. Experience and competence in generating web content and creating social media posts. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

EVALUATION PROCESS:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/application
2. Financial quote including a daily rate in US Dollars
3. At least 3 reference contacts from previous supervisors
4. P.11 form (which can be downloaded from our website).
5. List of similar services provided with description of each

Applications must be submitted through the UNICEF electronic application system by 2 December 2021. 

Applications submitted without a daily rate will not be considered.

Criteria of Selection

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (max. 75 points)
Overall Response (25 points)
Understanding of tasks, objectives and completeness and coherence of response
Overall match between the TOR requirements and proposal
Technical Capacity (50 points)
Relevance of consultant’s experience with similar projects and as per required qualifications
References

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL (max. 25 points)
Daily rate
Total: 100 points

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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.