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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

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Writer Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: HEPR - Health Section, Programme Group, NYHQ

Duration: 2 January 2025 to 31 December 2025

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ / 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 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:

This consultancy will focus on supporting the HEPR section in the writing of key technical documents and briefings, and will facilitate internal discussion, to elaborate a body of knowledge on UNICEF’s role and experience in health emergencies preparedness and response. The audience of such documentation is both internal (i.e., leadership briefings, coordination, technical assistance) and external (i.e., coordination with partners, fund-raising, technical advocacy).

The consultant will collaborate with technical experts across sections and divisions to compile technical briefings and provide feedback for review.

Scope of Work:

More specifically, the consultant will support the development of the following products:

• Compile, edit and prepare a series of briefings and documents for publication for the HEPR Section and PHE team, including:
• What are public health emergencies? What is UNICEF’s role in them?
• Ways of working in preparedness and response to public health emergencies.
• Main achievements of the PHE team/programme;activities/results/reports.
• Donor proposals, and other briefing materials, for external partners
• Advocacy materials for a multisectoral approach to prevention, preparedness for and response to public health emergencies.
• Case studies for countries where UNICEF is the implementing entity for Pandemic Fund proposals and on PHE preparedness and response more broadly.

Support the development of the HEPR Section workplan, strategic plan, and related processes as part of the UNCEF Strategic Plan discussions 2022-2026:

• Compile and edit 2024 reports for the HEPR Section
• Additional briefings
• Academic papers, op-eds and social media support

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

• Institutional Reports by 31 May 2025.
  • Three global Annual Results Reports (3), 1 Mid-term Review, 1 Annual workplan
• Documentation related to Global Health Security and PHE by 30 June 2025.
  • 3 Papers, 3 Talking Points/interventions, 2 Case study, 1 lesson learned related to PHE-PR, 2 reports for the Board and evaluation reports
• Documentation related to Global Health Security and PHE by 31 December 2025.
  • 3 Papers, 3 Talking Points/interventions, 2 Case study, 1 lesson learned related to PHE-PR, 2 reports for the Board and evaluation reports
• Briefings 1 by 30 March 2025.
  • 5 briefing notes, 2 PPTs, 3 external facing communications (e.g. Op-Ed, social media posts, etc.) related to HEPR.
• Briefings 2 by 30 September 2025.
  • 5 briefing notes, 2 PPTs, 3 external facing communications (e.g. Op-Ed, social media posts, etc.) related to HEPR.
• Briefings 3 by 31 December 2025.
  • 5 briefing notes, 2 PPTs, 3 external facing communications (e.g. Op-Ed, social media posts, etc.) related to HEPR.

Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s Degree
• Discipline: Advanced degree in relevant field (Public Health, Social Sciences, Humanitarian Affairs, Journalism, etc.)

Work experience:

• 8-10 years of progressively responsible professional work experience at national and international levels in programming, writing, editing, development planning.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex international development concepts for multiple audiences (UNICEF, UN, donors).  
• Demonstrated experience in writing for a variety of audiences including the UN and donors it’s desirable (both private and public sector).
• Experience working with UNICEF in the capacity of a writer is an asset and will be strongly considered.
• Basic knowledge of public health emergencies as well as institutional knowledge of UNICEF programmes in emergencies its desirable.
• The individual should be highly proficient in a range of PC/web applications, including but not limited to: MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Outlook, and Lotus Notes. 
• Strong organizational, planning, and analytical skills.
• Fluency in English 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 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.