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 voice.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

The Czech Republic hosts the highest number of refugees from Ukraine per capita in the European Union (EU). Since the onset of the refugee crisis, the Czech Republic welcomed over half a million Ukrainian refugees. Based on the re-registration over 370,000 refugees remain in the country, out of which 26 per cent are children and 43 per cent women. The registration data show that on average 8,000 new Ukrainian refugees enter Czech Republic every month, including around 30 – 50 minors entering the country unaccompanied or separated.

UNICEF partners with the Government and other stakeholders to address the needs of refugee children and families in a comprehensive manner, while also supporting the needs of vulnerable groups from the host population and fostering social cohesion. At the national level, UNICEF established workplans with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of the Interior. Through a wide range of partnerships with the Civil Society Organisations, UNICEF also supports the expansion of outreach and provision of basic services to the most vulnerable refugee children and their families.

To amplify our impact, UNICEF seeks to enhance communication strategies and advocacy efforts, ensuring more effective support for beneficiaries and partners. This consultancy aims to strengthen the communication and advocacy efforts of the UNICEF Refugee Response Office by organizing key events, producing multimedia content, and supporting a range of communication initiatives.

Scope of Work

Under the direct supervision of the Head of UNICEF Refugee Response Office, the consultant will support the following activities:

Launch of the EU Technical Support Instrument (TSI) cooperation on child protection with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA)

• Develop and execute a communication strategy, including an event press release, visibility items, media engagement and providing in-person support on the day of the event in line with the EU, MOLSA and UNICEF visibility requirements.
• Coordinate activities and communication on the World Children’s Day with the National Committee, including three social media posts and a press release.

Support Mental Health/Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Prevention of Sexual Exploration and Abuse (PSEA) online campaign

• Support digital campaign led by UNICEF in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and CSOs, including preparing 10 social media posts, and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), GBV and PSEA related messaging and ensuring their distribution through appropriate channels through MoI and CSO partners social media networks and websites.

Support communication of education results and the Education Stocktaking Meeting in November

• Prepare communication related materials, such as human-interest stories and social media posts in line with the donor communication strategies for education.
• Support communication related activities and media engagement for the education stocktaking meeting in November. This includes drafting a press release with the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports PR department, UNICEF visibility for materials and venue, and providing in-person support for the event’s day.

Support outreach and communication results for Cesty Programme

• Develop three (3) articles focused on partners engagement in CESTY and two Human Interest Stories.
• Finalize production of CESTY promotional video, in line with UNICEF and donor visibility requirements.

Human Interest Stories and event organization support

• Produce three (3) compelling human-interest stories and engage in organization and promotion of 3 events through communication and advocacy efforts, as needed.

The consultancy is anticipated to span approximately 36 days, starting from 1 November 2024 and continuing over a two-month period with additional tasks done as needed. The consultant will work remotely but will attend events and meetings as necessary. The consultant should also be available for additional tasks based on evolving needs. Detailed tasks and deliverables are in the respective table below.

Work Assignment Overview

Estimated Duration of the Contract

36 working days between November and December 2024.

Consultant’s Work Place and Official Travel

The Consultant will be remote/home-based.

As part of this assignment, some local travels are foreseen. The consultant will arrange her/his travel as and when they take place, and related costs will be reimbursed per UNICEF travel policy.

Travel Clause

• All UNICEF rules and regulations related to travel of Consultants apply.
• All travels shall be undertaken only upon the prior written approval by UNICEF.
• The consultant must be fit to travel, be in a possession of the valid UN BSAFE certificate, obligatory inoculation(s) and have a valid own travel/medical insurance and an immunization/vaccination card.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

Payment will be made on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

Please submit a professional fee (in USD) based on 36 working days to undertake this assignment, without travel fees as these will be reimbursed as and when they take place.

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

Required:

• Master’s degree in communications, social science or related fields.
• At least five (5) years of experience in communications and media engagement
• Experience in creating media friendly content, social media content, video, and design production
• Experience with coordination of media, partners, and information management
• Excellent communication and presentation skills across multiple audiences
• Fluency in English
• Fluency in Czech

Desirable:

• UNICEF experience will be considered an advantage
• Experience in emergency contexts would be an asset
• Ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment, and maintain respectful working relations with sensitivity and respect for diversity

Skills:

• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• High motivation, and dedication to deliver results within strict timeframes

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.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most marginalized children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family 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:

Please include a full CV, a Cover Letter with indication of availability, and previous samples of communication materials that you have developed (attachments or links) in your application. Additionally, indicate your professional fee (in USD) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a professional fee will not be considered. 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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants 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.