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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.

Consultancy: Programme Communications, Advocacy and Policy Consultancy

Duty Station: Global Programme Division (GPD), Gender Equality   

Duration: 15 December 2025 – 31 December 2026  

Home/ Office Based: Remote

 

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

In 2025, UNICEF adopted a new Gender Equality Action Plan (UGEAP) 2026-2029. The UGEAP covers a range of programmatic and institutional priorities for the organisation, to promote gender equality and women and girls’ empowerment. A core focus is on girls’ leadership and wellbeing.

The Programme communications, advocacy and policy Consultant is accountable to develop, support, network, implement and monitor an advocacy and programme communication strategy and associated products and activities, with the objective of raising awareness about the UGEAP within UNICEF and externally. The consultant will also support engagement with new and existing partners for gender equality and girls’ and women’s empowerment, with a special focus on adolescent girls.

Key tasks include designing and promoting various programme and advocacy assets on social media and other platforms; support for programme partnerships such as engagement briefs, pitch decks and resource mobilisation tools; and engaging with staff and partners to co-create easily understandably, child-friendly resources translating the theoretical principles of various policy frameworks for gender equality into practical assets. A significant focus of the consultant’s work will include actions to advance adolescent girls’ voices and rights across UNICEF and with partners in the public, private and philanthropic spheres as well as with young people themselves. in relation to the Adolescent Girls Programme Strategy implementation, and adolescent girls targeted priorities in the UGEAP 2026-2029 as well the Power4Girls and Skills4Girls portfolios

Scope of Work:

1. Advocacy and programme communication strategy and workplan: The Gender Equality team has a clear and dynamic advocacy and programme communications strategy and associated work plan to advocate for gender equality as a key driver for children’s and women’s rights. The strategy targets audiences internally and externally to enhance the organization’s credibility and brand including various public domains to strengthen awareness, political will, and partnerships in support of UNICEF's mission and objectives. The workplan outlines key communication products, platforms and special events to achieve strategy objectives. Key assets from the strategy include blogs, external media articles and case studies.
2. Networking and partnerships: Bespoke communications for key partners. The Gender Equality team nurtures a strong relationship with several partners that require regular contact, including through newsletters, informal contact and meeting fora. Maintenance of an updated contact list, select partner briefs and preparation for engagements (e.g. high-level bilateral engagements and meetings) and the dissemination of communications materials (such as newsletters) will be required.  
3. Influencing global priorities and campaigns: Crafting a key vision for an annual global moment for girls, including campaigns and events. The Gender Equality team has an effective process in place for influencing, integrating and taking action on UNICEF’s global communications priorities, campaigns and partnerships. The consultant will coordinate across UNICEF’s communications and advocacy platforms to issue at least 1 global moment in 2026 linked to gender equality, such as the #GirlGoals campaign. This includes careful engagement with country offices and tracking key milestones.
4. Policy communications and review: The Gender Equality team issues several major reports and policy papers related to UNICEF’s work on gender equality and girls’ and women’s empowerment. The consultant will help to review these 
5. positions and reports from an expert communications perspective to convey key child rights and gender equality concepts.
6. Capacity building and support: The Gender Equality team and broader UNICEF teams (e.g., communication specialists in regional offices, other business units, etc.) are provided with professional expertise and advice on all aspects of advocacy and communication as related to the strategy and workplan as required.
7. Support engagement and coordination with programme communications and advocacy vendors: The Gender Equality team will be hiring communications vendors to produce a range of communication assets and products.
8. Adolescent Girls agenda, adolescent girls targeted priorities and the Skills4Girls (S4G) portfolio: Dedicated communication support is provided on the adolescent girls agenda, including in relation to the Adolescent Girls Programme Strategy implementation and adolescent girls targeted priorities in the UGEAP 2026-2029, with particular focus on the Skills4Girls portfolio, girls’ empowerment and leadership. Relevant communication assets are to be developed, and key advocacy events as well as partnership and fundraising efforts are supported.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

1.  Advocacy and programme communication strategy and workplan

-  2026 strategy and workplan with key priorities, product pipeline, specific existing partner and monitoring/ evaluation metrics are developed

31 December 2026

2. Networking and partnerships

- Networking and partnership database updated

At least 2 partnership engagement assets finalised (e.g. newsletter; preparations for partnership meeting including pitch deck and note, Executive Board Annual Report review, partnership report on adolescent girls, etc)

31 December 2026

3.  Influencing global priorities and campaigns

- At least 3 assets developed for global moments on gender equality and girls’ and women’s empowerment (including key messages for Commission on the Status of Women, Women Deliver and Global Girls campaign)

- At least 7 events supported with programme vision, content, communication and advocacy related to key flagship annual events and other advocacy moments

31 December 2026

4. Capacity building and support

-  At least 3 UNICEF Gender Equality training modules are updated and a package of support for the UNICEF Gender Network is regularly updated (at least 12 updates) with refreshed assets

31 December 2026

5.  Programme communication and advocacy products

- At least 11-15 communication products/assets (i.e. quarterly newsletter, blogs, ICON stories, video assets, slide decks) are drafted and produced through engagement and coordination with relevant stakeholders.

- At least 25 communication assets (i.e. reports, speeches, articles, blog posts, etc.) reviewed for quality assurance and written inputs integrated to strengthen gender equality messaging.

- At least 50 social media posts, including Yammer, Twitter and LinkedIn are developed and posted.

31 December 2026

6.  Programme communications and advocacy support to the adolescent girls’ agenda, including adolescent girls’ empowerment and the S4G portfolio 

- A set of key strategic messages related to the adolescent girls’ agenda is developed for incorporation into the comms strategy and other comms assets.

Adolescent girls including S4G specific comms assets developed: 

•At least 3 slide decks are developed

•At least 2 ICON stories

•At least 2 external stories for UNICEF blog

•At least 2 video assets

•At least 24-36 social media posts (internal and external), including Yammer, Twitter and LinkedIn

•Communications and advocacy products for at least 3 key global events (IWD, IDG, Youth Skills Day), such as concept notes, talking points, social media

packs, invitations

•Develop at least 10 case studies and/or human-interest stories (HIS) on adolescent girls and S4G in collaboration with COs

•Develop at least 10 partner specific communication products to support partners, PFP, PPD and COs related to the S4G portfolio

•Develop S4G-focused communication assets (at least 2 blogs/articles, updating web content, at least 3 HIS published)

•At least 40 web-page content updates and maintenance to the S4G website (external) and communication site (internal)

•Updated resource library of approximately 200 products with abstracts and metadata

Qualifications

Education: 

An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, related other.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

Academic credentials in gender are a strong asset.

• At least 8 years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in communication, advocacy, print, broadcast, and/or new media.
• International work experience, experience with public and private sector, expertise in international development and humanitarian response, and/or the gender equality ecosystem are strong assets.
• Past experience with UNICEF in children’s rights, women and girls’ empowerment, gender rights is an advantage.
• Demonstrate excellent writing skills with specific experience writing on gender related issues and knowledge products.
• Be able to work independently as well as with a team in an international, multicultural, and interdisciplinary environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization.
• Experience in work environment of an international agency, UN, or international institutions is desirable; prior experience in UNICEF is an asset.
• Experience in developing country contexts and an understanding of development challenges from the field perspective is desirable.
• Excellent computer skills (MS Windows, MS Office applications, Sharepoint and Teamsite management).
• Knowledge of UNICEF/UN systems is an asset.
• Ability to communicate sensitively to different audiences.
• Ability to work within tight deadlines.
• Fluency in English (written and verbal) is required.  Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset

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.