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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, HOPE!

Consultancy Title: Knowledge Management and Advocacy Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Child Protection Team - Programme Division, NYHQ

Duration: July 15, 2025, to July 15, 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 over 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 for developing 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:

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Stronger positioning of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme FGM as a knowledge broker for children is a priority for both institutions - and has been addressed as a challenge of the Joint Programme in its external evaluation. The consultancy is necessary to maintain this work and to ensure UNICEFs role as a strong partner and implementer in the Joint Programme specifically with regards to communication, advocacy and knowledge management.

Scope of Work:

The overall scope of work is to support the implementation of the UNFPA-UNICEF FGM Joint Programme to Eliminate FGM with specific focus on knowledge management, advocacy and communication initiatives linked to the Joint Programme on the Elimination of FGM. The consultant will work within the Prevention of Harmful Practices (PHP) Team in Child Protection HQ under the guidance of the FGM Manager and collaborate closely with the PHP team and other sectors including Health, Communications, Innocenti, Human Rights, and Education, ADAP as well as UNFPA.

The consultant is expected to perform following functions in line with the PHP Annual Work Plan and UNICEF Child Protection Strategy:

Task 1: Support planning and implementation of Joint programme on FGM related communications and advocacy initiatives

•     Develop social media handles for the Joint Programme and post specified content through various channels including UNICEF specific monthly FGM Social media plan & messages for UNICEF specific channels

•     Support in organizing high-level side events and activities during key international events such as the Commission of the Status of Women, UN General Assembly, 16 Days of Activism, International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, International Day of the Girl, etc.

•     Support HQ teams and country offices in organizing steering committee field visits, donor group annual meetings, Joint Programme annual consultation, and any other related tasks

•     Develop youth-based initiatives for engagement on harmful practices.

Task 2: Support knowledge dissemination and management for the Joint Programme on ending FGM

•     Compile the latest research and studies on child marriage and FGM and produce a monthly research newsletter to ensure that reports/products are broadly disseminated.

•     Support the development of FGM cross learning series/webinars and knowledge platforms for UNICEF teams and partners

•     Disseminate and amplify stories of change and human-interest stories from various Country Offices

•     Contribute to capture internal knowledge through documentation of practices and lessons learned, in collaboration with other sections

Task 3: Support uptake of evidence and advance policy outcomes and partner engagement for the elimination of FGM

•     Support the development and conceptualization of summaries, synthesis, fact sheets, annual and donor reports, and briefs, in collaboration with the respective programme sections, regional and country teams, for use by a broad range of stakeholders.

•     Collate existing evidence on FGM - quantitative data, as well as qualitative research

•     Support UNICEFs Secretariat function for the FGM Donor Working Group and Sub-Groups including DWG Newsletter, meeting organisation and coordination and updating DWG membership

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Task 1: Support planning and implementation of communications and advocacy initiatives

Support development of social media handles for the Joint Programme.

• 4 posts per month/48 posts annually

Develop monthly social media plan for UNICEF specific handles on FGM- (Child protects, CP director and DGCA/ED handles)

• 1 plan per month/12 handles/plans annually

Support in organizing high-level side events and activities during key international events

• Support in planning and developing side events, social media and advocacy packages, outreach activities delivered for 6 events:

-   UNGA

-   International Day of the Girl

-   16 Days of Activism

-   International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM

-   CSW

-   Day of the African Child

Support the organisation of key events throughout the year        

• Organisation of 6 key meetings:

-   1 steering committee field visit

• Donor Working Group Annual Meetings (one in person and one online)
• 1 Joint Programme Annual Consultation
• 2 online Steering Committee technical meetings

Support development of deliverables for youth-based initiatives engagement on harmful practices.

• Support to youth-driven initiatives delivered:
• Launch 1 digital platform on youth and family on preventing harmful practices by July 2026
• Coordinate 1 training
• Organize 1 online webinar

Task 2: Support knowledge dissemination and management for the Joint Programme on ending FGM

Compile and disseminate latest research and studies on child marriage and FGM through newsletters.

• Quarterly Joint Programme newsletters (4 per year)
• Bi-annual donor working group newsletter (2 per year)

Support development of knowledge sharing and cross-learning webinars and knowledge sharing platforms

• Support minimum 4 virtual webinars delivered including maintaining of key resources related to the Joint Programme on the SharePoint for cross-knowledge and preserving institutional memory

Develop and disseminate human interest stories

• Development and dissemination of minimum 10 key human-interest stories, showcasing the work and progress at the country levels through different UNICEF channels delivered

Task 3: Support uptake of evidence and advance policy outcomes and partner engagement for the elimination of FGM

Develop regional and country teams, summaries, synthesis, fact sheets, and briefs, based on completed reports for use by a broad range of stakeholders.

Support including editing and designing on 3 reports delivered:

-      Nexus Reports

-      Lessons learned brief

-      KM brief 

Collate existing evidence on FGM - quantitative data, as well as qualitative research

• Bi-monthly research digests ( 6 per year)

Support in drafting key programmatic reports

      Support in conceptualizing, drafting, editing and designing of 4 deliverables:

-     Joint Programme Annual Report (1)

-     FGM US Donor report (1)

-     Contribute to the narrative of the monthly CP bulletin (12 per year)

-     Develop quarterly FGM research digest (4 per year)

Support UNICEFs Secretariat function for the FGM Donor Working Group and Sub-Groups including DWG Newsletter and meeting organisation          

• Organize 12 donor sub-working groups
• Produce and dissemminate quarterly DWG newsletter

Qualifications

Education:

A university degree (Master’s or higher) in international development, public health, social work, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, communications, social science field and/or related field is required  

Language Proficiency:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset

Work experience:

Experience: A minimum of two years of professional experience in knowledge management, advocacy, and communications related work. Experience working with focus on harmful practices and child protection is a requirement. Relevant experience in particular in FGM programming as well as programme/project development in a UN agency or organization is a strong asset.

Ability to work flexibly, independently and meeting short deadlines is required.

•      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 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.