Current vacancies

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 

The UNICEF Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) produces communication, advocacy, donor relations and fundraising materials that document key children’s issues and ongoing responses to children’s needs, including in emergencies and humanitarian situations. PFP develops communication materials to support UNICEF’s communication, advocacy and visibility efforts to engage with private sector donors, partners and the public. The materials include reports, toolkits and guidance documents, investment cases, proposals, human interest stories, website content and other materials that require the skills of an experienced editor. To meet PFP’s written communication needs, UNICEF would like to engage the services of several editors who will be available as needed for three years, from January 2025 through December 2027.

PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT

Selected editors will be experts in creating texts that engage private sector audiences, from business and foundation executives to children and the wider public. Editors will be called upon when needed. The jobs will vary, depending on the requesting teams and their needs. The requesting team will give the details of the services required, and the editor will have a chance to discuss the job before accepting the assignment.

OBJECTIVE

The objective is to have a list on hand of editors who have been vetted and tested so they can be chosen quickly to facilitate and expedite the selection process.

How can you make a difference? 

Successful respondents must provide well-edited content for reports, fundraising materials, marketing communication, the website, human interest stories and other documents. The objective is to not only inform audiences, but also engage them deeply to ensure they respond by acting on behalf of children, for example by donating to or partnering with UNICEF.

Tasks can include:

• Proofreading reports and other documents for grammar, spelling and punctuation and ensuring the texts follow the UNICEF Style Book.

• Copy editing reports and other documents additionally for syntax, consistency and clarity.

• Editing texts for accuracy, flow and effective structure, ensuring the texts are clear and compelling.

• Rewriting drafts and poorly written documents to be engaging for the intended audience.

• Editing investment cases to ensure they clearly state the opportunity, the challenges and UNICEF’s sustainable response.

• Editing and finalizing clear and concise texts that include a call for action.

• Editing articles and crafting newsletter blurbs that entice the reader to continue to the article.

• Editing human interest stories and photo essays that are emotive and engaging.

• Proofreading layout files, comparing them with the Word version and checking captions, pull quotes and any new text.

Responsibilities of the Consultant:

• The consultant will use their own equipment, including their laptop and the necessary software.

• The consultant will not give the content/material, or any part thereof, to a third party without the written permission of UNICEF. All components will be the property of UNICEF and the consultant will not share them with anyone.

• The consultant will not put their name or logo/emblem on the content/final product. The only branding will be for UNICEF and any other required organization, such as a partner.

• The consultant will maintain regular contact with the manager and content owners and any related units.

Responsibilities of UNICEF:

• UNICEF will provide all details pertaining to the activity and the requirements.

• UNICEF will orient the consultant on UNICEF’s branding and UNICEF style guidelines.

• UNICEF will share the documents and specifications with the consultant as they become available and will coordinate the timely delivery of work.  

DELIVERABLES

The deliverables will be specified by the requesting team, but in general, they will entail producing materials that are well written and consistent with UNICEF style and that meet the standards of being clear, concise and consistent as well as compelling. All texts must be free of jargon and ‘institutional’ language, which might be understood in UNICEF but not by an external audience. Some examples of deliverables are:

Travel:

The work contracted is home-based and can be done remotely with no travel foreseen.

Duration of LTA:

Three years, tentative starting date 1 January 2025.

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

Qualifications:

Editors must be able to make texts succinct as well as persuasive and must have high standards for effective written communication. They must demonstrate their skills by submitting two one-page editing samples (with edits shown) and provide three references who can confirm their abilities. All shortlisted candidates will be tested, and only those who pass will be considered.

Education:

• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree or higher) in English, journalism or a related field is required.

Experience:

• A minimum of five years of editing experience in English is required, along with having a keen eye for detail.
• Must demonstrate the ability to produce high-quality and creative written materials.
• Experience working on issues related to children’s rights is desirable.
• Prior knowledge of the UNICEF Style Book is a plus.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required, with an excellent command of written English. 

11. FINANCIAL PROPOSAL
 Financial Bid - Editor on LTA.docx

The application must be submitted through the online portal and should include four attachments:

• A cover letter explaining the motivation for applying and the qualifications and skillset of the candidate
  (to be uploaded online)
• Curriculum vitae (CV) (to be uploaded online)
• Two one-page editing samples with edits shown, the editing samples should show all edits in tracked changes. (to be uploaded online)
• A financial proposal indicating professional fees as per the above template. Please specify your name in the file when saving (to be uploaded online under the ‘Financial Proposal’ tab)

Important note: Do not indicate financials anywhere else in the online application form. Please mark ‘n/a’
or ‘00’ under the fee-related questions in the online application form.

The application will be invalid and will not be considered if any documents are missing.
Any attempt to unduly influence UNICEF’s selection process will lead to automatic disqualification of the
applicant.

• Joint applications of two or more individuals are not accepted.
• UNICEF does not charge any fee during any stage of the process.
• UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply.

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. 

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.