International Writer Consultant, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

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, empowerment.

UNICEF started operation in Cambodia in 1952 and opened first country office in 1973 in Phnom Penh. More information on what we do in Cambodia is available at https://www.unicef.org/cambodia/.

How can you make a difference? 

UNICEF works in Cambodia to promote children’s healthy development, defend their rights, and assist them in reaching their full potential, from early childhood to adolescence.

UNICEF Cambodia is looking for a long-term writer consultant to support the evolving needs of the Communications Team in realising agreed communication plan and its public advocacy and communication mission in relation to various communications products in English language.

This advertisement’s purpose is two-fold: to select a writer to join the Communication Section for a period of 248 working days, from 22 April 2024 – 21 April 2025 and to establish a roster of a selected small pool of professional writers, who can then be called upon as needs arise.

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

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree in English, Journalism, Communication, or relevant field, etc.
• Three years of progressive experience in communication and writing for an external audience.
• Experience in drafting advocacy documents from researches or studies is desirable.
• Experience in conducting interviews for collecting information/case studies is desirable.
• Experience working with UNICEF or other development organisations is a plus.

Knowledge and Skills

• Outstanding writing skills in the English language with demonstrated ability for logical and analytical writing as well as ‘de-jargoning’ technical language for a wider audience
• Well organised and structured, good attention to detail
• Strong communicator with excellent interpersonal skills
• Knowledge and understanding of Cambodia and its development context
• Knowledge of child rights issues is desirable
• Be available and willing to travel for the assignments
• Have the ability to work under pressure, be open to input/scrutiny, respect cultural contexts and deliver on tight deadlines
• Experience working with UN agencies and International Organizations would be desirable

Competencies

• Works collaboratively with others
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Initiative, passion and commitment to UNICEF’s mission
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment

Languages 

• Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of Khmer is desirable.
• NOTE: “Fluency equals a rating of “fluent” in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of “confident” in two of the four areas.

Please find the terms of reference and financial offer template for this consultancy in this attachment:

 TOR – Full-Time Writer 2024 TMS.pdf

 Financial offer template.docx

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

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

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.