Consultancy (9 months): Digital Communication Consultant (Capacity Building), Polio Eradication Programme (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, Health

The UNICEF Polio SBC team seeks to recruit a consultant Digital Communication Specialist (Capacity Building) to support UNICEF’s mandate under Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) which aims to eradicate polio worldwide. Since its inception in 1988, GPEI has made significant progress, reducing the global incidence of polio cases by over 99%. As a core partner in GPEI, UNICEF plays a crucial role in providing vaccines, mobilizing communities, and implementing innovative communication strategies to reach every child with life-saving vaccines.

As of 2023, nearly 65% of the world’s population has access to the internet. The proliferation of digital communication has created both opportunities and challenges for polio eradication efforts. While digital platforms have the potential to amplify UNICEF’s messaging and engagement with communities, they can also become conduits for misinformation and disinformation, undermining trust in polio vaccination efforts. A UNICEF Polio SBC survey in January 2023 echoed this sentiment, where over 40% of the respondents identified digital communication and misinformation management as key capacity gaps.

How can you make a difference? 

The selected candidate will be responsible for addressing these gaps by strengthening the digital communication capacity of Polio SBC teams around the world. The consultant will also manage UNICEF Polio Team’s global Talkwalker account which provides critical online social listening capability to SBC teams around the world. The consultancy will play a vital role in enhancing the skillset of UNICEF personnel and equip on-ground partners to effectively communicate and engage with communities to promote awareness, trust, and participation in polio vaccination campaigns. By developing and providing tailored training modules and workshops, the consultant will contribute to the overall goal of eradicating polio and ensuring a polio-free world.

Key functions and accountabilities include the following: 

The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Conduct a comprehensive Training Needs Assessment to identify gaps and opportunities in digital communication capacity within the Polio SBC team and its partners.
• Develop a Digital Communication Training Module tailored to the needs identified in the assessment, focusing on skills and techniques to enhance the effectiveness of digital communication campaigns.
• Update and refine the existing Misinformation Management Workshop Modules to address the evolving nature of misinformation and disinformation around polio eradication efforts.
• Deliver Digital Communication Training sessions to UNICEF SBC teams and partners in endemic countries, WCAR, ESAR, and MENA.
• Facilitate Misinformation Management Workshops in endemic countries, WCAR, ESAR, and MENA, to build capacity in identifying, countering, and preventing the spread of polio related misinformation.
• Manage UNICEF’s global Talkwalker Polio Project and support countries through Boolean query updates, dashboard development, and technical support.
• Deliver monthly Talkwalker reports, providing insights into polio related social listening trends, performance data, and community engagement overview.
• Provide ongoing support and guidance to UNICEF and its partners in their digital communication and misinformation management efforts.
• Prepare and submit a Final Consultancy and Training Assessment Report detailing the outcomes, learnings, and recommendations for future digital communication and misinformation management training initiatives.
• Ensure regular communication and coordination with the Polio SBC team and relevant stakeholders throughout the consultancy period.

Please see work deliverables as follows:

1. A comprehensive report analyzing the digital communication skill gaps and areas for improvement within the team, based on data collected through a survey and consultation process.
2. Manage UNICEF’s Polio Talkwalker Account and support COs with query updates, and online social listening dashboard development.
3. Develop a tailored training module focused on enhancing digital communication skills for Social and Behavior Change (SBC) teams, covering content creation, channel management, and audience engagement.
4. A specialized training module designed to equip social media influencers with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively support and promote UNICEF’s polio eradication efforts online.
5. A custom training module targeting Frontline Workers (FLWs) to strengthen their digital communication capabilities, enabling them to better disseminate crucial polio-related information and engage communities. Design, development and two time delivery is included.
6. Deliver the Digital Communication Training for Pakistan SBC Team in a Training of Trainers format, enabling trainees to cascade the learnings to other team members in the country.
7. Deliver the Digital Communication Training for Afghanistan SBC Team in a Training of Trainers format, enabling trainees to cascade the learnings to other team members in the country.
8. Deliver the Digital Communication Training for Outbreaks SBC Teams in a Training of Trainers format, enabling trainees to cascade the learnings to other team members in the country.
9. Conduct online Social Media Influencer Trainings for Pakistan social media influencers, enabling them to amplify children’s health and vaccination content.
10. Conduct online Social Media Influencer Trainings for Afghanistan social media influencers, enabling them to amplify children’s health and vaccination content.
11. Conduct an online Social Media Influencer Training for Outbreaks social media influencers, enabling them to amplify children’s health and vaccination content.

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

• University degree in marketing, communication, digital marketing, or any related technical area.
• The consultant should have a minimum of five (5) years of experience in digital communication.
• Experience with designing and implementing in-person and remote trainings.
• Knowledge of digital communication trends, tools, and technologies: The consultant should have a deep understanding of the digital landscape, including social media platforms, mobile technologies, and emerging digital trends.
• Strategic communication skills: The consultant should be able to develop a comprehensive digital communication strategy that aligns with UNICEF’s goals and objectives.
• Project management skills: The consultant should be able to manage complex digital communication projects, including budgets, timelines, and resources.
• Writing skills: The consultant should have strong writing skills, including the ability to write clear and concise messaging that engages the target audience.
• Design skills: The consultant should have an understanding of design principles, including graphic design and user experience design, and be able to create visually appealing digital content.
• Technical skills: The consultant should have a good understanding of DRUPAL, WordPress, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Google Ads, Meta Business Suite, website development, digital analytics, and other technical skills relevant to digital communication.
• Knowledge of public health: The consultant should have a solid understanding of polio eradication and be able to develop effective digital communication campaigns to support eradication initiatives.
• Stakeholder engagement skills: The consultant should be able to engage effectively with stakeholders, including government agencies, community organizations, and health professionals, to ensure that the digital communication initiatives are aligned with the needs of the target audience.
• Cultural sensitivity: The consultant should understand cultural differences and be able to develop digital communication initiatives that are culturally appropriate and relevant to the target audience.
• Fluency in English required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and your CV / Personal History Form (P11)

• A copy of your highest University Degree
• Your earliest availability
• Financial proposal reflecting:
• Your all-inclusive (lump sum) fees against the deliverables listed in the terms of references (TOR) including all associated administrative and travel costs. The office selects the individual based on best value for money.  
• 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.

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.