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, hope

UNICEF’s Office for Relations with the EU Institutions in Brussels is looking for a highly motivated and experienced health & nutrition advocacy expert to join our team for a period of 18 months (full-time). The consultant is expected to lead the development and implementation of advocacy actions and activities on the prioritization of maternal and child health and nutrition in EU external action. The candidate will contribute to other key areas of work of the UNICEF Office for Relations with the EU Institutions in Brussels, namely engagement on the next MFF (2028-34) and engagement during the EU Council Presidency Trio with a health and nutrition focus. The ideal candidate has advocacy expertise in global health and nutrition, knowledge of EU development policy and financing and experience in engaging with EU institutions.

How can you make a difference?

Responsibilities and key activities

Building on existing UNICEF engagement and advocacy strategies, the consultant will be responsible for delivering on key areas to advance child health & nutrition at EU level through high-level engagement and targeted advocacy to influence EU policy and funding priorities. These activities include:

• Coordinate the development of a position paper and issue briefs on the importance of maternal and child health and nutrition for EU Global Health Strategy implementation.
• Organize events, roundtables and high-level briefings to increase the awareness of EU officials and decisionmakers and mobilize political and financial support for maternal and child health and nutrition, where relevant in collaboration with other partners such as WHO, Gavi and civil society organizations, and where necessary support leadership in preparation for high-level meetings
• Liaise with relevant organizational units within UNICEF and with UNICEF National Committees in EU Member States to align relevant advocacy efforts at global, Brussels and capital levels.
• Lead EU-focused implementation of UNICEF global health and nutrition advocacy campaigns and activities.
• Coordinate with other UN agencies and global health civil society organizations in Brussels on increasing visibility of the role of the EU in human development through undertaking joint advocacy in this area, and in safeguarding human development in the EU Global Gateway and next MFF.
• Engagement and advocacy in the context of the Danish EU Presidency at both the EU and Member State level to increase visibility and prioritization of child health and nutrition, while broadening the scope to work with other Member States.

Key Deliverables

The consultant is expected to produce the following deliverables:

1. Detailed health and nutrition advocacy strategy for the EU together with a timeline of key engagements, high-level meetings and other activities and moments for UNICEF.
2. High quality position paper and briefs issued on health and nutrition which outline key arguments and important actions for the EU to invest in health and nutrition of children.
3. High-level specific health and nutrition events and visibility actions at EU level undertaken as part of a broader engagement with the Danish Presidency, with the EU and Member States, developed in coordination with the Policy and Advocacy team.
4. Provision of intelligence briefs and detailed inputs into UNICEF’s future MFF planning and engagement on health and nutrition at EU level, as well as the development of social media packages to increase UNICEF visibility on health and nutrition on social media channels and other media platforms and outlets.
5. Provision of high-quality key messages, talking points, speeches etc, to support UNICEF leadership in high-level engagements with EU counterparts at key advocacy moments.

Reporting and supervision

This consultancy aligns with UNICEF’s broader advocacy efforts to prioritize children in EU external action and, as such, the consultant will report to the Senior Policy and Advocacy Advisor. Strategic and technical steer will be provided by the Partnerships Manager (health) and Senior Advisor (nutrition financing) who will supervise the consultancy and approve key deliverables. Collaboration will be required with relevant UNICEF organizational units and external partners.

Duty station: Brussels

The consultancy is based in the UNICEF Office for Relations with the EU Institutions in Brussels. This is a full-time consultancy of 18 months only with no expected extension.

Timeframe

This is a full-time 18-month consultant contract in Brussels from February 2025 to June 2026.

Fees

Applicants are requested to indicate a daily fee in US Dollars. Expenses related to travel will be covered by UNICEF separately.

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

• An advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in public health, international development, social sciences or other relevant discipline.
• Alternatively, a first-level University Degree in a relevant field combined with (2) additional years of qualifying professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in managing advocacy programmes in the area of global health and/or nutrition.
• Knowledge of the EU institutions, EU decision-making processes and EU development policy as well as experience in Brussels engaging with the EU institutions.
• A good understanding of the global health architecture and the EU’s role in global health.
• Previous work experience with one of the UN health agencies, international global health NGOs or one of the global health initiatives is desirable.
• Previous experience in/with UNICEF, including knowledge of UNICEF programmes and operations, policies and procedures is an asset.
• Excellent writing, communication and presentation skills in English. Knowledge of French is an asset.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills and an aptitude for problem solving.

Requirements 

• Completed online application (no email applications accepted).
• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that includes:
  • All-inclusive (lump sum) fees for the deliverables noted above.
  • Indicate your availability.
  • 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 the 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.

Applicants are requested to send their CV, a motivation letter, and their proposed fees via the online application form.

Deadline: Sun Jan 19 2025 23:55:00 GMT+0100 (Central European Standard Time)

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