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.

Consultancy Title: Communications Consultant – Gender Equality

Section/Division/Duty Station: Gender Equality Section, Programme Division, NYHQ

Duration: 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026

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:

The Communications Consultant is accountable to develop, support, network, implement and monitor an advocacy and communication strategy and associated products and activities, with the objective of promoting brand awareness, understanding, and support for gender equality as a key driver for children’s and women’s rights as supported by UNICEF's mission, priorities and programmes in the country/regional offices and at a global level.

Half of the Communication Consultant’s time will be focused on communication (externally and internally) on the adolescent girls agenda, including in relation to the Adolescent Girls Programme Strategy implementation, adolescent girls targeted priorities in UNICEF’s Gender Action Plan (GAP) 2022-2025 and 2026-2029 and the Skills4Girls portfolio.

Scope of Work:

1. Communication strategy and workplan: Programme Group (PG) Gender Equality has a clear and dynamic communication 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.
2. Networking and partnerships: PG Gender Equality has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of internal and external individuals, groups, and for whose support is essential to/can assist in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives (including media relations and influencers). Effective working relationships with UNICEF, broader UN, and other key external communication counterparts (especially within the gender equality ecosystem) are developed, maintained and enhanced.
3. Influencing global priorities and campaigns: PG Gender Equality has an effective process in place for influencing, integrating and taking action on UNICEF’s global communications priorities, campaigns and partnerships.
4. Partnership and resource mobilization support: New and existing partnership management with both public and private sector are supported by effective and creative advocacy and communication strategy and activities.
5. Monitoring and evaluation: Robust baselines are established against which the achievement of objectives of the communication strategy are regularly analysed to continuously improve and adapt real-time effectiveness of the communication strategy and workplan activities.
6. Capacity building and support: PG Gender Equality 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 communications vendors: PG Gender Equality 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 (externally and internally) on the adolescent girls agenda, including in relation to the Adolescent Girls Programme Strategy implementation and adolescent girls targeted priorities in the GAP (2022-2025 and 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 Assignments - Overview         

Deliverables/Outputs  Delivery  deadline

• 2025 Communication strategy and workplan

2025 communication strategy and workplan with key priorities, product pipeline, specific existing partner comms activity and evaluation metrics are developed.    

31 March 2026

• Networking and partnerships 

Networking and partnership contact list is compiled.

A targeted outreach plan to connect with internal stakeholders and external organizations, networks, and influencers to outline key areas of collaboration and to amplify the visibility of gender equality efforts is developed.  

31 March 2026

• Influencing global priorities and campaigns   At least 40 content updates on the UNICEF Gender Equality webpage.

At least 40 UNICEF’s Gender Equality webpage new content updates.

At least 30 meetings and coordination calls including key GCA 2024 planning meetings are attended and supported with inputs to the key deliverables.

12 progress reports detailing the comms strategy, work plan and outreach plan implementation including impact of visibility efforts, challenges faced, and proposed adjustments.

At least 7 events are supported with content and communication plan related to key flagship annual events and other advocacy moments.  

31 March 2026

• Capacity building and support

A comprehensive documentation system for all visibility activities, including media coverage and internal communications undertaken in 2025 for use in preparation of the UNSWAP report in Jan 2026 is established    

31 March 2026

• Communication 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 36 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 March 2026

• Communication 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 asset.

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, COs and ROs 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

31 March 2026

Qualifications

Education:

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

Work experience:

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.

• Must 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.

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:  

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.