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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, Education

Background on the Education Outcomes Fund

There are few greater challenges faced by the global community than the twin crises of learning poverty and youth unemployment. In response, the Education Commission (chaired by Gordon Brown, former UK Prime Minister and UN Special Envoy for Global Education) and the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (chaired by Sir Ronald Cohen) came together with our founding CEO (Her Excellency Dr.) Amel Karboul to create EOF. We aim to improve the education and employment outcomes of 10 million children and youth, by supporting governments to utilize a range of innovative finance instruments at scale, including outcomes funds and other results-based financing (RBF) instruments.

EOF is backed by a range of world leaders who support us to shape our approach and achieve our ambitious aims, as well as leaders in education and impact investing.

EOF supports improvements in the quality of education and skills programmes, with a special focus on girls and underserved populations, including those in the hardest to reach rural areas. It measures (and pays for) what matters – both core skills like literacy and numeracy, but also critical 21st Century skills such as socio-emotional skills, ICT skills, and other broader fundamentals of a quality education. It helps close the persistent gap between the skills needed by employers and those attained by today's youth.

For all the above, EOF pays primarily on the basis of the results achieved, ensuring that taxpayer-funded domestic resources, aid, and philanthropic funds are only used to pay for what works. This is a game-changing way to finance results in education, focusing attention and realigning systems on the most challenging but most important measure of a programme's performance: whether it is improving lives.

Together with our supporters, we believe this is the early stages of a much larger movement, with huge potential to increase learning outcomes for children and youth around the world, through improved aid effectiveness and government spending.

Since our inception in 2018, EOF has:

• Partnered with governments in Ghana and Sierra Leone to establish the two largest outcomes funds to date in developing countries, mobilising ~$50M for these programmes.
• Established itself as a leading global player in RBF, and the only dedicated center of expertise for RBF in education and skills.
• Become the first outcomes fund hosted by the United Nations within UNICEF, as a scalable platform to partner with governments around the world.
• Established a major partnership with the LEGO Foundation, to develop a scale portfolio of RBF programmes in early childhood across a diverse range of countries, as well as to amplify the movement and ecosystem of partners around this approach.
• Had our innovative approach featured in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, FT, Economist, Brookings, and more.
• Built our institutional capacity to contract and implement large-scale outcomes funds more efficiently and effectively than historic impact bonds.
• Established a strong culture of performance and an active focus on ongoing professional development for all our team. 

Purpose of the assignment

Consultants will support EOF’s Chief of Operations and Director to develop and implement EOF’s communications strategy for the organization and its programs.

Workstream 1: Communications Strategic Expertise

Under Workstream 1, we are looking for consultants who can provide strategic advice and expertise on EOF’s communications.

Activities may include the following:

• Global Advocacy Campaigns: Design and execute campaigns that communicate EOF's mission, programs, and impact on the global stage.
• Strategic Communications: Develop and implement a communication strategy that clearly articulates EOF's impact on global education.
• High-Profile Event Planning: Strategically select, secure participation in, and manage EOF's presence at major global events such as the UN General Assembly, WEF, and G7.
• Media Relations: Cultivate strong relationships with international media to amplify EOF’s initiatives and achievements.
• Brand Management: Oversee EOF’s brand to ensure it is compelling, communicated effectively, and reflective of our mission.
• Content Development: Produce and manage content that effectively distils EOF’s work, from thought leadership articles and podcasts to social media posts.
• Crisis Communication: Develop proactive strategies to maintain EOF's reputation during challenging situations.

Qualification Requirements

Required

• An advanced degree is required (Master’s or above) in political science, economics, finance, business, education, international development, or a related field, is required. A Bachelor’s degree will be considered with an additional 2 years’ relevant experience.
• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in a relevant area is required. This includes communications, marketing, public relations or a related field.
• A proven background in developing and executing communication strategies within complex, politically nuanced environments.
• Experience leading international advocacy campaigns; utilising both traditional and digital media.
• Exceptional writing abilities, able to distil intricate concepts into clear, compelling content tailored to diverse audiences.
• Fluency in English is required.

Desirable

• Experience with innovative finance, particularly the design and implementation of outcomes funds, is preferred.
• Experience with education, early childhood care and education (ECCE) or skills-for-employment is preferred.
• Experience working in Africa or the Middle East is preferred.
• Fluency in French, Arabic or Spanish is preferred.

Workstream 2: Communications Management Expertise

Under Workstream 2, we are looking for consultants who can provide technical advice and recommendations on the management of EOF’s external communications.

Activities may include the following:

1. Provide strategic and technical guidance to EOF’s team on the implementation of EOF's communications strategy for the central organisation and each of our programs.
2. Thought leadership development: Write, and support others in writing, content across a variety of formats and platforms, across digital and traditional media; this will include blog posts, articles, newsletters, op-eds and reports
3. Plan and deliver events: at the side-lines high-level international conferences, such as the UN General Assembly or at G7 summits, or through virtual/hybrid engagements, such as EOF's High-Level Steering Group meetings or webinars with global education leaders
4. Provide expert advice on EOF’s brand: work across formats and media to improve our brand, including active quality control for all externally published content
5. Technical guidance to EOF’s team on social media: draft relevant and engaging content for Twitter and LinkedIn, which responds to our operating environment
6. Technical and strategic guidance to EOF’s team on the EOF website: proactively improve the structure, content and navigation of our website, to ensure it effectively communicates EOF and our work
7. Secure speaking opportunities: identify valuable opportunities for external engagement which will raise EOF's profile and support our programmatic and partnership goals
8. Deliver training sessions to the EOF team to improve the communication skills: develop standard messaging, draft talking points and train the team on effective communication

Qualification Requirements

Required

• An advanced degree is required (Master’s or above) in political science, economics, finance, business, education, international development, or a related field, is required. A Bachelor’s degree will be considered with an additional 2 years’ relevant experience.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in a relevant area is required. This includes communications, marketing, public relations or a related field.
• Experience leading international communication activities (such as a program launch), which include traditional and digital media.
• Excellent written skills. Able to convey complex ideas clearly and engagingly and can adjust your style to reach a variety of different audiences.
• Fluency in English is required.

Desirable

• Experience with innovative finance, particularly the design and implementation of outcomes funds, is preferred.
• Experience with education, early childhood care and education (ECCE) or skills-for-employment is preferred.
• Experience working in Africa or the Middle East is preferred.
• Fluency in French, Arabic or Spanish is preferred.

Workstream 3: Communications Support

Under Workstream 3, we are looking for consultants who can support with EOF’s external communications.

Activities may include the following:

• Provide technical guidance to EOF’s team for in-person and virtual EOF events and convenings.
• Provide editorial support through proofreading external communications assets produced across EOF teams.
• Develop external communications material, including articles, website content, and social media content, showcasing EOF, and driving reach and engagement.
• Write proposals and prepare pitch materials to promote EOF to potential partners and fundraising prospects. This could include, for example, narrative on the broader innovative finance eco-system and where EOF fits in.
• Assist in the development and execution of communications strategies to promote EOF's impact and advocacy goals e.g. programme launches or promotion of evaluation reports.
• Support the communications team to build relationships with peer organizations and potential partners through, for example, participating in calls and webinars and managing key communications with external parties.
• Prepare supporting materials to be presented at quarterly governance meetings with our board and our Communications and Advocacy sub-committee.
• Assist in the planning, coordination and development of strategic communications projects including a brand-review and website-build.

Qualification Requirements

Required

• A university degree in political science, economics, finance, business, education, international development, or a related field, is required.
• A minimum of 1 year of professional experience in a relevant area is required. This includes communications, education, international development, public policy, think-tanks, charity, or management consulting.
• Excellent writing skills, able to tailor writing for different audiences.
• Fluency in English is required.

Desirable

• Experience with innovative finance, particularly the design and implementation of outcomes funds, is preferred.
• Experience with education, early childhood care and education (ECCE) or skills-for-employment is preferred.
• Experience working in Africa or the Middle East is preferred.
• Fluency in French, Arabic or Spanish is preferred.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICANTS

We welcome applications from candidates globally. You can apply through UNICEF’s career page. Alongside your application, please submit a technical proposal which includes:

• Workstream(s) for which you wish to be considered.
• Relevant expertise, skills, and experience in the selected workstream(s).
• A sample piece of partnerships/fundraising work (maximum 5 pages) that you have produced previously. This could be:
• A communications strategy or communications plan.
• An events brief.
• A blog post / report / piece of written content.
• A crisis communications plan.

Please ensure you include a financial proposal (daily consultancy rate) in USD, otherwise we will be unable to consider your application.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

This call aims to solicit applications from individuals who are interested in providing consultancy services in one or more of the workstreams described above. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. At the end of the selection process, a consultant roster with multiple workstreams will be created.

Once a consultant roster is created, when the need for a particular expertise arises, EOF will approach one or more consultant candidates in the pertinent workstream(s) of the roster with a specific Terms of Reference to discuss availability and interest, as well as further assess expertise and experience vis-à-vis the specific terms of reference.

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 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:  

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.