Current vacancies

Consultancy Title: Community Health Communications and Advocacy Consultant

Division/Duty Station: Programme Group – Health Section, Child and community Health Unit, New York  

Duration: 1 July 2025- 30 June 2026

Home/ Office Based: Remote

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines fordeveloping countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

To seek professional, consultancy services to support with coordination, communication and advocacy efforts for community health and the Community Health Delivery Partnership (CHDP). The target audience includes governments, key private and public sector audiences, implementing partners and donors, and UNICEF regional and country offices. This workstream is closely linked with the broader goals and objectives of the CHDP and contributes to UNICEF’s renewed vision for community health and corporate priority on community action for better health and nutrition outcomes for vulnerable populations especially women and children.

This work is essential to advancing community health and nutrition related priorities by effectively documenting and communicating impact, advocating for countries’ priority needs in advancing and scaling community health and nutrition and showcasing UNICEF’s efforts to support countries in these efforts and protecting children’s right to health. As such, the consultant will produce communication and advocacy materials, enhance the visibility of countries’ and regional priorities for resource mobilization by developing fact sheets and keeping existing resources and materials up-to-date, and coordinate advocacy and communication work. She/he will also work in coordination with other teams/units in the MNCAH section to ensure complementary of efforts and linkages across workstreams and liaise with regional and country offices as well as external partners to ensure there is robust visibility around UNICEF’s work and that of the CHDP related to community health and nutrition.

Scope of Work:

Objectives

1. To support the Community Health Unit and the CHDP Secretariat with advocacy, communication, coordination, and stakeholder engagement in line with its expanded vision including proactive partner communication, website maintenance and content refresh, and development of communication products (meeting reports, partner updates);
2. To organize and assist with global coordination and advocacy efforts for high-level events (i.e. CHDP High Level Partners Meeting, Country Consultation Workshops, UNGA community health focused side event) and liaise with global partners, stakeholders and donors on communication and advocacy matters related to community health and nutrition and the CHDP;
3. To coordinate and advance the work of the CHDP Technical Working Group on Communication and Advocacy

 Deliverables

• Develop and refine key messages, communication and advocacy assets and tools, and digital content including for social media for different audiences and platforms for community health and nutrition. Ensure these materials remain up-to-date and relevant.
• Support communications and advocacy efforts for key moments and events related to community health and nutrition and other engagements supported by the CHDP.
• Contribute to the development and finalization of high-quality briefing materials, speeches/high-level remarks, media/videos, presentations, human interest stories, and leadership updates related community health and nutrition and the CHDP.
• In coordination with the Planning Specialist, MNCAH Unit, contribute to finalizing monthly updates to UNICEF’s leadership including the monthly update for the Executive Director
• Assist with communication, advocacy, visibility and reporting requirements for existing and new awards and programs (ie. develop presentations, contribute to program reports, prepare visual materials/graphics for strategic documents, draft emails/communication).
• Coordinate and contribute to the work of the CHDP Communications and Advocacy Technical Working Group including implementation of an advocacy and communications strategy for the CHDP; provide other communication and advocacy support to the CHDP as requested.
• Organize and maintain a shared folder with all community health and nutrition related resources and maintain up-to-date mailing lists for community health and nutrition key partners/audiences as well as the CHDP mailing lists.
• Routinely update communications platforms including frequent updates to the CHDP website with new content and visuals.
• Coordinate and produce the quarterly CHDP newsletter and contribute content to internal newsletter 
• Develop and maintain a calendar of events for community health and nutrition events and key moments; contribute the development of the annual workplan and other community health and nutrition related planning and strategy efforts

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

1. Develop key messages, communication and advocacy assets and tools, and digital content created including for social media for different audiences and platforms for community health and nutrition

-  Key messages document developed and refreshed for CHDP and community health and nutrition

30 July 2025

-  10 advocacy resources/tools developed to support countries in prioritizing and elevating targeted advocacy for community health and nutrition

15 April 2026

-  Content created twice-monthly (24 content frames) and disseminated for social media and other digital platforms (Yammer, newsletters) to reinforce and elevate the visibility of the CHDP and UNICEF’s work in community health and nutrition

31 March 2026 

- At least 4 regional webinars organized and materials prepared for the webinars targeting community health and nutrition focal points with the aim to share updates on community health and nutrition with the aim of sustaining momentum for the CHDP and accelerating progress on the 7% set-aside funds

30 January 2026

2. Support communications and advocacy efforts for key moments and events related to community health and nutrition and other engagements supported by the CHDP

-  12 communication and advocacy materials (i.e. agenda, concept note, briefing materials, key messages, partner and leadership updates, CHDP website announcements) produced in readiness for key events and partner/country convenings (i.e. World Health Assembly; CHDP Technical Partners Review meeting; UNGA; World Health Summit)

28 February 2026 

3. Contribute to the  development and finalization of high-quality briefing materials, speeches/high-level remarks, media/videos, presentations, human interest stories, and leadership updates related community health and nutrition and the CHDP 

-  Developed and contributed to finalizing 12 briefing materials,  speeches, human interest stories, and other multi-media needs in response to OED, PG-Health and Community Health Unit

31 December 2025

4.  In coordination with the Planning Specialist, MNCAH Unit, contribute to finalizing monthly updates to UNICEF’s leadership including the monthly update for the DED and ED

-  12 community health and nutrition and CHDP monthly updates prepared

30 June 2026

5. Assist with communication, advocacy, visibility and reporting requirements for existing and new awards (ie. develop presentations, contribute to program reports, prepare visual materials/graphics for strategic documents, draft emails/communication)

-  24 meeting minutes documented, presentations/slide decks and program templates prepared; emails drafted and materials prepared for meetings to ensure strong organizational, communication and administrative support 

31 May 2026

-  Five regional profiles developed summarizing results from joint UNICEF- Africa CDC Community Health Landscape Survey

30 August 2025 

6.  Coordinate and contribute to the work of the CHDP and its Technical Working Groups including Communications and Advocacy TWG including implementation of an advocacy and communications strategy for the CHDP 

-  Prepared monthly CHDP technical partners meetings slide decks (12) and documented and circulated meeting minutes; 3 high level meeting reports finalized; and 1 year-end report finalized

30 November 2025

-  Convened monthly and ad hoc Communications and Advocacy Technical Working Group for the CHDP; meeting minutes circulated and action points completed

30 May 2026

- Updated advocacy and communications toolkit/strategy by keeping content current and relevant to reflect expansion and evolution of priorities for community health and nutrition and the CHDP

31 October 2025

7.  Organize and maintain a shared folder with all  community health and nutrition related resources and maintain up-to-date mailing lists for community health and nutrition key partners/audiences as well as the CHDP mailing lists

-  Updated CHDP mailing list, internal and external platforms to date with current partnership documents and assets 

30 July 2025

8. Routinely update communications platforms including frequent updates to the CHDP website with new content and visuals

-  CHDP website quarterly updated and as requested with new content and visual

30 March 2026

9. Coordinate and produce the quarterly CHDP newsletter and contribute content to internal newsletter

-  5 CHDP newsletters developed and circulated; content submitted for 3 internal UNICEF newsletters

30 March 2026

10.  Develop and maintain a calendar of events for community health and nutrition events and key moments; liaise with partners to ensure content is accurate and current

-  Calendar of events routinely updated for CHDP and for the internal calendar of events; new calendars developed for the 2026 calendar year

30 August 2025

Qualifications

Education: Advanced University Degree in Public Health, Communication, Journalism,  International Affairs/Global Development, Political Science, Economics, Business Management

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• Exceptional written and oral communication in English; superior listening skills and ability to synthesize and summarize information for high-level and technical communication
• Prior experience organizing and leading on communication for high level events with executive leadership and top government officials 
• Demonstrated ability to work with partners and stakeholders including Ministries of Health
• Strongly familiarly with subject matter and institutions represented
• Prefer field experience working in global community health and primary health care and/or public health communications
• A positive, proactive, self-starter, and someone with strong diplomacy skills who can work well in teams as well as independently
• 6+ years of experience

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

- Upload copy of academic credentials

- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability

- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

- 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 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.

U.S. Visa information:

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.  

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

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 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. Consultants 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.