National Communication Consultant for Child Protection

Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
Location: Tashkent (Uzbekistan)
Grade: Consultant - Contractors Agreement - Consultancy
Occupational Groups:
- Children's rights (health and protection)
- Communication and Public Information
- Protection Officer (Refugee)
Closing Date: 2021-12-09

The communication consultant is expected to support the Child Protection section with the development of communication and visibility materials for all programmatic activities, including for the implementation of the communication and visibility plans for the EU-funded projects “Protecting children affected by migration in Southeast, South and Central Asia” and “UN Support to Member States in Central Asia for Third Country Nationals returned from Syria and Iraq’, as well as the “Enhancing child protection in emergency preparedness in Uzbekistan” project funded by the Government of Japan. 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.

Background

Child Protection section in Uzbekistan is implementing a wide range of programme activities including de-institutionalization, social service workforce development, justice for children aimed at protecting the most vulnerable children. There are a number of initiatives that are also realized through project activities with financial support from donors, briefly described below.

UNICEF Uzbekistan is implementing the EU-funded project ‘Protecting Children Affected by Migration in Southeast, South and Central Asia’ which is contributing to protecting the rights of vulnerable children affected by migration, including those left behind. The project will end in June 2022 and will require development of communication and advocacy materials for final reporting.

In addition, the EU has provided funding for the project “UN Support to Member States in Central Asia for Third Country Nationals returned from Syria and Iraq” with the overall objective that countries in Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) are provided child and human rights-based, age and gender-sensitive technical assistance to support the returnees from Syria and Iraq. The specific objective of the project is to respond to the protection, repatriation, humanitarian, and reintegration needs of women and children, their families and other victims who have been repatriated or have returned on their own. The project will end in November 2022.

Furthermore, in response to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan that has deteriorated dramatically, with significant consequences for women and children who are the most vulnerable, an emergency grant has been received from the Government of Japan. The project ‘Enhancing child protection in emergency preparedness in Uzbekistan’ will enable UNICEF in collaboration with its implementing partners to strengthen child protection systems, and child protection in emergency preparedness, in those communities most likely to be affected by an influx of Afghan refugees, as well as those currently accommodating Afghan families stranded in Uzbekistan.

Based on the Child Protection programmatic activities and specific projects mentioned above, communication and visibility materials including human interest stories, should be further developed, in line with relevant guidelines on communication and visibility.

Purpose

Specific Objectives

More specifically, the consultant will be responsible for providing visibility to activities and results of UNICEF projects in a timely and efficient manner, as per the agreement with the donors. The communications consultant will further develop and implement activities to raise awareness about the projects, their activities and the key results.

The consultant will also be responsible to develop communication materials to support visibility needs and other requirements of the communication and visibility plans. The consultant will develop stories for dissemination, including human interest stories and other materials for sharing with partners. The consultant will support engagement of media professionals to ensure visibility of activities and project results.

Timeline & Deliverables

The consultancy will start on January 10, 2022 and will be completed on December 25, 2022. It is expected that the consultant will perform the following tasks and provide the following deliverables addressing the visibility aspects of programmatic priorities of the Child Protection section, including all donor-funded projects within the given timeframe:

All tasks should be executed under close supervision and guidance by Child Protection and Communication Sections

1. Support C&V elements related to the Japan-supported project “Enhancing Child Protection in Emergencies Preparedness”:

- Ensure C&V support for key events, including drafting of press releases, inviting media, adequate visibility throughout events, sharing media coverage list with the donor.

- Documenting of project activities, including in the field, i.e. through photos, human interest stories.

- Creating visibility/recognition articles/photos/videos for social media. - Attaching donor logo on all supplies and equipment procured for partners.

- Store all C&V materials on a specific folder in the UNICEF shared drive and support donor reporting as relevant to C&V.

2. Support C&V elements related to the EU-supported project “Protecting children affected by migration in Southeast, South and Central Asia”:

- Develop advocacy and communication materials and products.

- Support language editing, design and printing of C&V materials. - Support planning and organizing of special events and high-level field visits by donor.

- Support planning and organization of photo shoots and video products, jointly with UNICEF-hired photo/videographers.

- Store all C&V materials on a specific folder in the UNICEF shared drive and support donor reporting as relevant to C&V.

3. Support C&V elements related to the EU-supported project “UN Support to Member States in Central Asia for Third Country Nationals returned from Syria and Iraq”:

- Support the development of quality C&V materials (leaflets, human interest stories, radio/TV show, etc.).

- Support language editing, design and printing of C&V materials. - Develop an M&E plan based on C&V plan, and review the progress of activities, number of deliverables, update both plans on a regular basis.

- Support planning and organization of photo shoots and video products, jointly with UNICEF-hired photo/videographers.

- Store all C&V materials on a specific folder in the UNICEF shared drive and support donor reporting as relevant to C&V. - Support planning and organizing of special events and high-level field visits by donor. For key events, ensure media engagement.

- Upload/store all finalized C&V products (including photos, human interest stories, web stories, press releases, fact sheets, posters, etc.), videos, media reports, links to other publications/reposts, on the UNICEF shared drive (local and regional).

4. Provide overall support to the Child Protection section for communication and visibility activities:

- Draft field visit briefs/briefing notes/press release/press notes/ presentations with key advocacy messages based on available information and reports.

- Participate in the meetings when required and develop minutes of the meetings.

- Support language editing, design and printing of C&V materials. - Support planning and organization of events, including drafting of press releases, inviting media

- Undertake field trips to cover relevant events and ensure adequate C&V, including photos, human interest stories.

- Draft field visit briefs/briefing notes/press release/press notes/ presentations with key advocacy messages based on available information and reports.

Deliverables (satisfactory and timely submission of quality deliverables)

Quality C&V support provided in line with relevant C&V guidelines, including press releases, social media coverage, human interest stories, photos, donor reporting etc.

Methodology/Activities

The consultant will ensure that all communication and visibility products and activities are developed in accordance with UNICEF branding guidelines and those of donors, including EU communication and branding guidelines, Japanese Government and other donors as required. Consultant will work with Child Protection section’s colleagues to identify gaps in information required for visibility and ensure those gaps are adequately filled; work with Communication section’s colleagues to follow UNICEF communication and branding guidelines. The consultant should undergo all required trainings per UNICEF rules and procedures, follow all ethical guidelines, enhance own knowledge and skills through on-line webinars related to UNICEF, EU, Japanese Government communication, visibility and branding requirements.

Management

Under the supervision of the Child Protection Specialist/Officer, the consultant will work in Tashkent, with field visits to project sites. The consultancy is office-based. The Communication consultant will be accountable for implementation of the communication and visibility plan of the EU funded projects, Japanese Government and provision of support to the Child Protection and Communication sections for the activities within UNICEF programme specified outcome and output.

Resource requirements and payment

The consultant will be paid on a monthly basis, upon submission of a monthly report. The consultancy and travel fee will be paid from different sources, distributed evenly by quarters: January- March (SM 210797 Japanese Grant), April-June (EU grant SC170756), July-September (EU grant SC 210346), and October-December (RR funds). Travel expenses will be paid based on travel purpose (EU grant SC 210346 or SM 210797 Japanese Grant).

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

Education:

University degree in communication, journalism, mass-media, advertisement, public relations, or related field.

Experience:

At least 2 years of progressively responsible experience in communication, journalism, advertisement, creative writing or external relations.
Experienced with communicating using social media platforms, to be assessed by CV review.
Experienced with planning and executing work-plans, to be assessed during interview and background check.
Strong writing and analytical skills in English, Russian and Uzbek, to be assessed by review of work.

Language:

Fluency in English language (both writing skills and spoken skills) is very important for this assignment. Excellent knowledge of Russian is also mandatory. Uzbek and Japanese languages are an asset.

Previous experience in working with UN and/or EU and/or international development organizations in a similar role is an asset.

Procedures and Working Conditions

The time required from the consultant will be as mentioned the section under Management above. The consultancy is office-based. The consultant must be present and work in UNICEF premises and will be provided with work place and computer. The consultant will submit monthly reports with all quality as specified in the TOR. This will be done in consultation with Communication and Child protection sections. Once all deliverables developed and submitted along with report and invoice, payment will be made.

While consultant will be based in Tashkent, the incumbent is expected to travel to the field, where the project will be implemented. These visits will be planned with communication and child protection colleagues.

Travel will be undertaken as per UNICEF’s travel policy. Travel expenses will be covered according to the UNICEF’s procedures. Consultant is responsible to pay to relevant government authority taxes or duties deductible from the earnings from this assignment. UNICEF undertakes no liability for taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant on payments made under this contract. While contract would be in USD, however, all invoices and payments would be in local currency via bank transfer.

Reservations

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if deliverable(s) incomplete, not finalized or for failure to meet deadlines. UNICEF will reserve copyright of all developed materials and own primary data collected through this assignment. The materials cannot be published or disseminated without prior written permission of UNICEF. UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. The contractor must respect the confidentiality of the information handled during the assignment. Documents and information provided must be used only for the tasks related to these terms of reference.

UNICEF undertakes no liability for taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant on payments made under this contract.

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:

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.

APPLY HERE