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The Research Consultant will fact-check external-facing content related to UNICEF’s Global Advocacy Priorities, UNGA, The State of the World’s Children Report along with web articles and content, video scripts, photo essays, press releases, and advocacy and campaigns materials. The consultant will also provide background research for content produced by GCA and in collaboration with other divisions.

The consultant will be hired on an as-needed basis for deliverable-based individual projects throughout the year.

Expected results: (measurable results)

The overall objective is to set up a Long-Term Agreement to facilitate and expedite the process by which the Editorial Team will hire researchers as required for specific projects to fact-check and provide background research for publications and other materials.

Description of the assignment

The Research Consultant will fact-check external-facing content related to the UNICEF Global Advocacy Priorities, UNGA, The State of the World’s Children Report and material related to the Global Advocacy Priorities, and along with other web articles, content and video scripts, photo essays, press releases, and advocacy and campaigns materials. The consultant will also provide background research for content produced by GCA and in collaboration with other divisions.

Duty Station

Remote  

Travel (If Applicable) – NO

Timeframe

36 months

Detailed deliverables

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS).

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

• A minimum of five years of research and fact-checking experience, including internet-based research and facility with quantitative and qualitative data.
• Knowledge of current key development issues and trends relevant to children and women.
• Strong knowledge of UNICEF’s programmes, humanitarian activities and policies a distinct advantage.
• Excellent research/fact-checking skills.
• Knowledge of the work of the UN system preferred.

Education

• University degree (BA) in international development or social science related areas.

Language

• Fluency in oral and written English is required.
• Knowledge of another UN language a plus.

Child data role NO

More information is available in the Child Safeguarding SharePoint and Child Safeguarding FAQs and Updates

Application Guidance
All applications must contain the following (incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration)

1. Fully completed FINANCIAL PROPOSAL FORM – DAILY FEE (to be uploaded under other supporting documents)  Copy of Financial Proposal Form – Updated 10 April 2023.xlsx

2. Fully completed applicant online applicant profile (to be uploaded online) + Fully completed TECHNICAL PROPOSAL FORM (to be uploaded under other supporting documents)  Copy of Technical Proposal Form – Updated 10 April 2023.xlsx

3. Cover letter (to be uploaded online)

4. Resume (to be uploaded online)

EVALUATION AND SELECTION PROCESS

Technical Assessment Criteria (applications will be evaluated based on the following technical criteria): 

Each Proposal will be evaluated against a weight allocation of 70% for the technical proposals and 30% for the financial proposal.  The total maximum obtainable is 100 points.  The minimum acceptable technical score is 49.

Candidates are requested to submit their Financial Proposal form and it will be evaluated based on the overall financial offer.

FEE

Requests for services under an individual contract requires that the consultant indicates their all-inclusive fees (including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable) for the services to be provided.

When submitting their bid, the consultant is also advised to take into consideration as part of their bid for the assignment the cost of health insurance and/or photographic, video-graphic equipment if such equipment is needed to complete the deliverables of the assignment.

Health Insurance

The Consultant is fully responsible for arranging, at their own expense, such life, health, and other forms of insurance covering the term of the Contract as he or she considers appropriate. The Consultant is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

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.    

IMPORTANT – G4 Visa is only valid if the consultant will reside within the tri-state area during the duration of the assignment. It is illegal to apply and obtain a visa for consultants who do not intend to reside within the tri-state area during the duration of the consultancy assignment.

IMPORTANT NOTE

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or LTA 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.