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 future

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The Junior Communications Consultant will sit within UNICEF’s exciting and dynamic Product Innovation Centre (PIC). This team drives research and development (R&D) and scale of new innovative products to improve the lives of children across the world. The Product Innovation Centre (PIC) requires a consultant with a proven flair for communicating, and a good knowledge of design, data visualization, video editing tools and knowledge management platforms. The consultancy will support the design, development and roll out of the centre’s communication, knowledge management and advocacy strategies. aiming at increasing awareness, demands and funds for innovative products that foster the unmet needs of children.

Organizational context:

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. The mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias, or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

UNICEF’s Product Innovation Centre:

The Product Innovation Centre within UNICEF’s Supply Division (SD) works closely with internal and external partners to drive R&D and scale of new innovative products to improve the lives of children. This is done by identifying needs not appropriately met by products currently available and then scanning the market to see if there are products that can meet this need. If yes, we procure and scale the products, if no, we drive R&D utilizing develops product profiles to specify the performance a product has to deliver and incentivize R&D, using our procurement and implementation power. In instances where there are no products in a procurable form on the market, a Product Innovation Project (PIP) is initiated with the ultimate goal of enabling procurement of fit-for-purpose and value-for-money supplies across all UNICEF program areas. In addition, PIC is mandated to push the envelope of the organization in terms of coming up with new innovative concepts to influence R&D of products beyond UNICEF’s procurement, evolve the global thinking around product innovation for development/humanitarian contexts as well as to develop new ways of driving scale of products. Key to these ambitions is an aim to ensure most impact for disadvantages children for the resources available, always pushing for value for money of products.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of this deliverable based consultancy is to support the PIC with the development and roll out of the centre’s communication and advocacy activities. Working under the guidance and supervision of the Strategy, Partnerships and Comms Lead, the Consultant will be responsible for the following:

• Communication assets and plans development
• Website and intranet sites management, maintenance, and development
• Graphic design and technical production
• Social Media
• Management of the Product Innovation Lab, the Supply Division “Showroom” and events.

The consultant will be responsible for ensuring the following deliverables are achieved:

1. Communication assets and plans development (20%):

• Develop and update standard communication assets (as per checklist) for each PIP.
• Develop topline comms plan for one key topic every month.
• Develop story, carrousel or other assets on each monthly key topic.

2. Website and intranet sites management, maintenance and development (10%):

• Maintain external web pages on the Drupal platform for Product Innovation at unicef.org/innovation.
• Web needs supported for other PIC pages hosted by Supply Division. In particular:
  – Assure language and brand consistency, all pages are clean with correct linkages to other relevant pages across UNICEF Innovation and UNICEF Supply Division websites.
  – Update pages as needed when new stories or videos are produced, new resources are available, or when other editorial changes are necessary.
• Align and ensure consistency of the UNICEF’s internal SharePoint site with the external site. In particular:
  – Develop content for external sites and leverage in SharePoint and viceversa by systematically working with the KM consultant to share and adapt.
• Maximize internal platforms (Viva engage, UNICEF Connect, Supply newsletters). In particular:
  – Share and adapt new content for internal channels systematically.

3. Graphic design and technical production (20%):

• Develop internal and external communications and knowledge products to promote product innovation for children (posters, brochures, presentations, one-pagers, infographics) as per standard list of assets and per strategy.
• Create visualizations and graphics to communicate complex data which can be easily interpreted by external audiences and used for social media.
• Create and produce short informational videos on innovation projects, in PowerPoint and/or Adobe Premiere, for internal and external use.
• Produce professional videos (script, brainstorming on content and sequences, assisting with video editing, supporting the delivery and quality control of all video content, providing production support as needed).

4. Social media (20%):

• Develop social media packages for monthly key topics and on ad hoc efforts.
• Amplify communication efforts systematically.

5. Management of the Product Innovation Lab, the Supply Division “Showroom” and events (20%): 

• Design and produce posters, graphics, and other communication pieces for the Product Innovation lab (a physical space that showcases the product innovation projects)
• Manage the implementation of the Innovation Lab and of the Product Innovation Showroom (a physical space that showcases the products at Supply Division).
• Develop and display comms assets to support PIC strategic participation in key events.
• Support events logistics as needed.
• Maintain PIC events calendar and comms prioritization matrix.

6. Internal Comms (10%):

• Update and maintain standard PIC PowerPoint Deck with IRB data.
• Develop presentations and communications materials.
• Assure lease between SD Comms and Product Innovation Centre, when required by the innovation specialist.

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

• University degree in Communications, Marketing, Design, Innovation, Social Science or related field.
• A minimum of three years of relevant professional experience.
• Consideration will be given to any experience relevant to communications, web-design, marketing, graphic design, innovation, and/or development, including internships and student job.
• Experience working across both private sector and in UNICEF and/or another UN agency highly desirable.
• Proven flair for communicating, a good knowledge of design, data visualization, video editing tools and knowledge management platforms.
• Ability to quickly understand instructions, to proactively seek clarification when needed.
• Ability to take initiative and propose ideas and solutions.
• Proactive team player that’s able to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships.
• Language: Proficiency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

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 committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements