Consultant; Senior Writer (HIV and Children) Req. # 563366

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, LOVE 

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Senior Writer (HIV and Children) Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Health HIV/AIDS Section – Programme Group /NYHQ

Duration: 10 July 2023 to 1 December 2023 – Remote/Home based.

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. Over 75 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

A short-term writing consultancy to support the development of a UNICEF World AIDS Day report on Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents living with and at risk for HIV, with a focus on ESA.

Scope of Work:

Writing content for UNICEF HIV section public report on pregnant adolescents, following UNICEF Brand guidelines and Style Book, using source materials and data provided by the requesting Section. Initial drafts will be subject to revision based on feedback from technical review.

In collaboration with HIV team, the consultant will:

1. Conduct a desk review, for which a partial list of reports and documents will be provided by UNICEF counterparts
2. Draft report outline, including key data elements for the report
3. The draft report will include:

• Narrative of situation
• Inclusion of key data
• Programming solutions and strategies to address challenges
• 1-3 short stories capturing the voices of pregnant and parenting adolescents

Together with the UNICEF core team, identify key partners to consult to ensure key issues are highlighted.

UNICEF will be responsible for technical review, copy, editing and layout. The UNICEF core team will include headquarters staff from the HIV, Health, Gender and data teams as well as ESA regional colleagues.

Expectations of this consultancy:

1. Writing clarity

The report should be written in a clear and compelling style and showcase situation of pregnant and parenting adolescents, those living with HIV and those HIV-free. The report should also highlight potential programming and advocacy strategies to mitigate this vulnerability and present them in a way that links challenges with programme solutions.

2. Technical excellence

It is expected that the desk review and analysis of the source materials will be technically sound and that incorporation of that information into the report will be done in a way that is technically accurate.

Before finalizing the edited report will be send to the UNICEF core team leads with changes and comments using the track changes feature in Microsoft Word for initial review, feedback and subsequent revision and finalization.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables/Deadlines

Expected Outcome

A complete and substantive report to a standard consistent with UNICEF’s professional publications.

Following considerations must be made during the writing assignment:

Protecting the rights of the child must be given priority above all considerations when collecting and writing stories and other materials.

Ensuring evidence generation adherence to UNICEF Procedure for Ethical Standards in Research, Evaluation and Data Collection and Analysis.

Ensuring clarity, readability, logic, appropriateness as well as engaging writing in all products

Ensuring language accuracy. The final product must not require significant further editing/copy editing.

Ensuring factual accuracy including accurate representation of the issues and programmes.

Deliverables

• Writing of 1st Draft for review – By 1 September
• Writing, incorporating comments and editing – 2nd Draft for review – By 1 November
• Copy editing, finalizing – Final draft     – By 15 November

Qualifications

(1) Education

Masters level. Inter Disciplines; Advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Social Science, Public Health; or equivalent professional work experience in the communication area, combined with and advanced university degree in a related discipline

(2) Work experience

• Minimum 10 years progressive experience in communication and writing reports or thematic advocacy documents for an external audience
• 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
• Experience in drafting advocacy documents from researchers or studies is desirable
• Experience working with UNICEF or other development organizations is a plus.

(3) Competencies

• Exceptional writer with strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently withing deadlines and under pressure
• Well organized and structured, good attention for detail
• Strong drive for results, taking pride in delivering as per expectation in terms of quality and timeliness
• Knowledge of joint UN programme on HIV and potential partners to drive recommendations and action
• Initiative, passion and commitment to UNICEF’s mission
• Ability to synthesize complex documents into key messages and clear summary documents is desirable

Requirements:

• Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11)
• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include:

• All-inclusive (lump sum) fees for the deliverables noted above.
• Travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR
• Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
• Indicate your availability

• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• 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.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

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:  

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.