ECARO Roster of Consultant Experts in Emergency Communication – Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO)

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, a champion

How can you make a difference? 

BACKGROUND

UNICEF works with and for disadvantaged children and adolescents across 22 countries and territories in Europe and Central Asia where we have country programmes. We also have programmes to respond to the needs of refugee and migrant women and children in the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Slovakia, as well as engagement with institutions across many more countries to uphold the rights of children.

UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO), Country Offices and Programmes in the region regularly requires emergency communication professionals to provide communication, media and advocacy support to countries and territories affected by a sudden-onset emergency, and when necessary, be deployed to provide this support.

To meet the need for emergency communication professionals, UNICEF is updating its roster of emergency communication specialists, and invites qualified candidates to express their interest to be included in the roster.

The roster will serve as a human resources repository from which ECARO, Country Offices and Programmes in Europe and Central Asia can quickly draw pre-vetted, qualified specialists for assignments.

SCOPE OF WORK AND DUTIES

UNICEF ECARO invites qualified professionals to express their interest to be included in the roster of emergency communication specialists. These specialists will be required to provide communication support and be deployed to countries and territories affected by a sudden-onset emergency in Europe and Central Asia. The communication support required includes producing or coordinating the production of high-quality content packages; drafting press releases, statements and media Q&As, briefing spokespeople, writing and editing human interest stories, fact sheets and reports, supporting with the development of communication and advocacy strategies and producing content for social media accounts and managing platforms, and liaising with the media.

The selected specialists will work closely with UNICEF ECARO’s Communication Team, as well as UNICEF Communication Officers in Country Offices, Programmes and National Committees in the region to ensure that the services provided are in line with UNICEF’s branding standards and guidelines, and child safeguarding principles.

The selected Experts may be required to travel to countries affected by an emergency in Europe and Central Asia for which they are expected to make their own arrangements for travel and lodging. Official travel will be specified in the TOR for each assignment, as requested by ECARO and/or COs.

The selected Experts are required to use their own computer equipment and software.

Key responsibilities of the Experts include:

• Provide strategic guidance and support in the development, implementation and monitoring of strategic communication plans aligned with UNICEF’s objectives and priorities.
• Collaborate closely with UNICEF Country Offices impacted by an emergency, ECARO, EMOPS and DGCA to gather timely information, data, and stories for communication materials production and dissemination.
• Support with research to ensure rapid creation and dissemination of communication materials, including press releases, statements, web stories, Q&As, social media posts, videos and photos.
• Collaborate with media contacts to secure accurate and timely coverage of UNICEF’s emergency response efforts.

SKILLS REQUIRED

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

Requirements applicable to all experts

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, international relations, social sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum seven (7) years of experience in developing and executing advocacy, media and communication strategies, including in emergency settings (sudden-onset and protracted).
• Exceptional written communication skills, with the ability to distil complex information into clear and persuasive messages, assessed through a written assignment and interview.
• Strong understanding of issues related to children’s rights, health, education, and protection in humanitarian settings.
• Experience in engaging with governments, international organizations, and civil society entities in advocacy efforts.
• Strong media management skills.
• Familiarity with UNICEF’s mandate, programs, and humanitarian operations is advantageous.
• Fluency in English is required. Proficiency in Russian is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants are invited to:

1. Duly complete the online UNICEF application
2. Duly complete & attach P-11 History From (can be downloaded here: https://www.unicef.org/careers/documents/p11-form)
3. Curriculum vitae (CV) and Cover Letter
4. Comprehensive visual portfolio with at least five (5) samples of relevant work.
5. Financial proposal with daily rate in USD (applications submitted without a daily rate will not be considered)
6. Evaluation of work by UN if applicable (e.g. PER).
7. Names and contacts of three (3) referees (applications without referees will not be considered).

Please apply to the Regional Roster by the indicated online deadline of 31 January 2024.

Please note that only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted. Once pre-qualified, consultants will be eligible for direct recruitment by UNICEF offices in the region for a three-year period. In the selection of its staff and consultants, UNICEF is committed to gender balance, inclusion and diversity without distinction as to race, sex or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities. Well qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

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 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.