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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, an Advocacy Strategist

This consultancy is being established to support the development of new global advocacy strategies and associated initiatives, linked to child rights, and in particular, the rights of groups who are experiencing significant ‘backlash’ and pushback against their status as independent rights holders.

Four main deliverable areas have been identified:

1. Strategy Development

2. Scoping of Political Influencing Opportunities

3. Consultation with allies, partners and networks

4. Producing advocacy tools and resources

How can you make a difference? 

Ultimately, the purpose of this consultant is to support the Chief of Advocacy to develop actionable strategies and workplans associated with the global advocacy approach to countering the global pushback on child rights. UNICEF is concerned by efforts to undermine the status of children as independent holders of the full spectrum of rights, and in some countries we see legal protections weakening, political will to prioritize child rights diminishing, and attitudes that undermine the universality of rights for children, gaining traction. Certain groups are disproportionately affected. For example, in some countries, girls now face increased barriers to education and participation, limited access to health services and increased marginalization; some children from ethnic and religious minority communities face scapegoating and are subjected to hate speech, while children peacefully exercising their right to free speech and assembly, are in some places facing detention or the use of force against them.

Advocacy is a critical change strategy to address this challenge. By working in alliance with defenders of child rights, mobilizing public opinion, influencing policymakers, and holding governments accountable, advocacy can contribute to counteracting this rollback. Advocacy is essential for amplifying the voices of marginalized groups, and those defending their rights.

Expected results: (measurable results)

Working under the supervision of the Chief of Advocacy, the Advocacy Strategy (consultant) will be responsible for:

1. Undertake further scoping & development to refine the strategy for child rights advocacy
2. Translate high level strategy into actionable initiatives and workplans
3. Scoping of Political Influencing Opportunities producing recommendations for prioritsation
4. Support consultation with allies, partners and networks of child rights defenders and produce analysis and recommendations
5. Support the production of advocacy tools and resources for use by country offices in their advocacy

This assignment may include travel to one or more UNICEF regional office to undertake face to face consultation(s), capacity building workshops or to meet partners.

Description of the assignment

1. Strategy Development:

Objective: build on the high-level advocacy strategy to refine and strengthen it, incorporating inputs from consultations with UNICEF leadership, frontline colleagues, child right defenders, and other external stakeholders. Translate the high level strategy into actionable initiatives and workplans.

Approach & Activities:

• • Framework Creation: Develop strategic frameworks to define outcomes, objectives and key performance indicators.
  • Theories of Influence and Change: Formulate theories of change for specific discrete initiatives, that clearly articulate the desired impact of advocacy efforts and the pathways to achieve those impacts.
  • Alignment with Existing Initiatives: Ensure that the strategy is aligned with existing global and regional initiatives, such as our existing global flagship advocacy priorities and regional advocacy priorities as appropriate.
  • Consultation: Engage with key stakeholders, including child rights organizations, independent human rights bodies, and affected communities, to ensure that the strategy is inclusive and grounded in the realities faced by children.

2. Scoping of Political Influencing Opportunities:

• Objective: To identify and prioritize key political moments, platforms, and actors that can be leveraged to advance child rights advocacy.
• Approach & Activities:
  • Opportunity Identification: Identify upcoming political and media events, and decision-making processes where advocacy efforts can have impact.
  • Stakeholder Mapping: Create a detailed map of allies, opponents, and neutral parties in the political arena, assessing their influence.
  • Engagement Strategy: Develop tailored engagement strategies for key political moments, including targeted outreach with advocacy briefs and potential public moments for the use of ‘executive voice’.
  • Risk Assessment: Evaluate potential risks associated with political engagement, including backlash from opponents, and develop mitigation strategies.

3. Consultation with Allies, Partners, and Networks:

• Objective: To develop a better ‘allyship’ offer, by understanding what child rights defenders need and want from UNICEF advocacy.
• Approach & Activities:
  • Consultation Sessions: Working closely with relevant teams and colleagues, organize consultation sessions with key stakeholders, including NGOs, civil society organizations, child rights experts, and children and young people.
  • Collaboration Platforms: Recommend platforms for ongoing communication and collaboration, such as working groups, online forums or outreach newsletters.

4. Producing Advocacy Tools and Resources:

• Objective: Support relevant colleagues with the development and drafting of a suite of practical advocacy tools and resources that support the effective implementation of the global strategy.

• Approach & Activities:
  • Resource Development: Develop a range of advocacy tools, for example advocacy briefs or other ‘narrative’ documents.
  • Capacity Building Modules: Support the work of relevant teams to develop training modules and workshops for advocates, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively promote child rights in challenging environments.

Duty Station :  NYHQ / Hybrid

This assignment can be performed remotely or in New York, with some meetings with staff face to face expected, and contact time during new york office hours will be needed.

Travel: Yes

Timeframe

Start date: 15 Oct 2024

End date: 15 February 2025        

 Detailed deliverables

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

Education:

• First level university degree (Bachelor) in Politics, Public Policy, Public Adinistration, International Development, Human Rights, or a related field is required.
• An advanced level (Masters) degree in a relevant discipline is desitable.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant professional work experience in global advocacy strategy, including in politically complex environments is essential.
• Prior experience in developing global and multi-country advocacy strategies is essential.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of human rights instruments and mechanisms is essential.
• Experience in developing training and capacity building materials is desirable.
• Experience in the United Nations common system is desirable.  

Language:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of an additional UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) 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. 

Application Guidance 

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

1. Fully completed FINANCIAL PROPOSAL FORM   Financial Proposal Form - Updated 10 April 2023.xlsx

2. Fully completed TECHNICAL PROPOSAL FORM   Technical Proposal Form - Updated 10 April 2023.xlsx  

3. Fully completed applicant online applicant profile

4. Cover letter

5. Resume

 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 75% for the technical proposals and 25% 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 a consultancy 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.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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.