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Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Inclusive Storytelling Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Division of Global Communication and Advocacy (DGCA), New York HQ

Duration: December 30, 2025 to July 2027

Home/ Office Based: Remote 

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: 

This assignment aims to further develop UNICEF’s Inclusive Storytelling (IS) framework and support its mainstreaming across communication, advocacy and fundraising communities and external stakeholders. 

Scope of Work:

UNICEF’s Global Content Strategy Section (GCS) creates impactful public communications and works with other divisions to rally support and resources for children worldwide. UNICEF is developing an iterative Inclusive Storytelling framework. This framework centers the Convention on the Rights of the Child’s (CRC), notably—the rights to be heard and participate as well as the principles of non-discrimination and the best interests of the child.   It invites a telling of UNICEF’s story that centers the points of view of the people we work with, and therefore their right to participate and be heard in the telling of their own stories, alongside UNICEF’s point of view, while conscious of stereotypes and historical tropes to ensure the rights holders' right to non-discrimination is upheld.   The framework will be applied to UNICEF’s storytelling in an iterative manner and will be essential in challenging harmful stereotypes and perceptions in a growing dehumanizing and polarized world.

DGCA seeks an Inclusive Storytelling specialist to expand the iterative framework.

HOW CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

The role will develop a new co-creation model that enables UNICEF to collaborate with programme participants and implementing partners to tell authentic, inclusive stories tailored to diverse contexts and UNICEF’s unique needs.

This includes developing a stakeholder-informed methodology, practical examples, and learning tools for internal and external use. The role will also create guidance for storytelling in humanitarian contexts, addressing their unique challenges and sensitivities

The consultant will develop a strategy to update UNICEF’s WeShare archive through an Inclusive Storytelling lens, design an Agora course with supporting tools, and provide ongoing support through presentations, webinars, and workshops.

EXPECTED RESULTS

1. Advance strategic public communications aligned with advocacy goals.
2. Enhance understanding and use of the Inclusive Storytelling framework across UNICEF and partners.
3. Develop new tools and addendums to support implementation.

DELIVERABLES

Deliverable 1) Design and develop new iterations to the Inclusive Storytelling (IS) framework, guidance notes, other materials, and support stakeholder sensitization`

1.1. Develop clear discovery process and project plan to develop the framework iterations: co-creation for programme participants+ partners, emergencies, and UNICEF’s archive WeShare .

1.2. Design an Inclusive Storytelling co-creation methodology for UNICEF to work with programme participants and partners. This addition to the framework will enable UNICEF storytellers to engage in a meaningful and context-appropriate co-creation modality. In addition to appropriate research methods and techniques, the consultant may include an in-country assignment (est. 10 days) to produce materials to be repurposed into a package of learning tools (est. 2 videos/photo essay package, and guidance note/addendum to framework (est. 3-4 pages)).

1.3. Develop Agora course based on the overall Inclusive Storytelling framework

1.4. Develop Humanitarian guidance for IS (est. 2-pages)

1.5. Develop a strategy and framework for a global approach to update the organization’s archive WeShare to ensure content on file meets the organization’s IS guidance.

1.6. Review up to 5 current guidance notes e.g. UNICEF’s ethical imagery guidance, partnerships communications guidance, etc and provide specific recommendations to include an IS framework.

Deliverable 2) Advisory and skill sharing support for offices and external stakeholders

2.1. Roll out \up to 12 regular sessions for teams and offices in UNICEF to support the application of the Inclusive Storytelling framework to their storytelling in communication, advocacy and fundraising materials and engagements.

2.2 Design and support presentation - 6 technical sessions for external stakeholders (est.1hr + Q&A).

2.3. Support design of presentations (est.1hr + Q&A) of est. 6 (interagency Inclusive Storytelling group sessions, including the provision of agendas, key points 

2.4. Support agenda drafting, presentations, (est.1hr + Q&A) of est. 6 Inclusive Storytelling Advisory Group (AG) meetings and follow ups with community of practice groups.

2.5 Respond to queries (est. 30 per quarter)

Deliverable 3) Create learning material packages, internal communications assets, and related guidance sessions to support country, regional and HQ offices

3.1 Repurpose/ create up to 10 packages of multimedia (MM) and other content (e.g text stories) content, to showcase the Inclusive Storytelling process. This can include 5 videos (1-2min) and 5 photo stories/ carousels for internal/external audiences and as learning materials.

3.2. Support 12-15 follow-up sessions (est. 1hr each) with Country Offices/Regional Offices/Headquarters for the application of the IS framework as needed.   

3.3 Support quarterly updating of internal IS SharePoint site and resources (est 6 updates)

3.4 Support creation of quarterly (est 6) newsletters (est. 500 words) for global community.

Deliverable 4) Documenting and analyzing usage of framework

-Compile quarterly (2 pages) reports (est. 6) of usage/learnings

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

5. Report outcomes of webinars and capacity building activities, update framework and regular sessions   

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

Deliverable 1.1) Plan

28 Feb-26

Deliverable 2.2) 1 session

30 Mar-26

Deliverables

2.3)1 session

2.4) 1 session

2.5) 30 queries

30 Mar-26

Deliverables   

3.1) 2 MM packs+ other content

3.3) Internal content update  

3.4) 1 Newsletter

30 Mar-26

Deliverable 4)

1 Report

30 Mar-26             

Deliverable 1.2)

Co-creation methodology       

 

Deliverable 2.2)

1 session

30 June 2026

Deliverables:

2.3)1 session

2.4)1 session

2.5) 30 queries

30 June 2026

Deliverables:   

3.1) 2 MM packs+other content

3.3) Internal content update

3.4) 1 Newsletter

30 June 2026

Deliverable 4)1 Report

30 June 2026 

Deliverable 1.3) Agora course 

31 Sept 2026

Deliverable 1.4) Humanitarian guidance

31 Sept 2026

Deliverable 2.2) 1 session

30 Sept 2026

Deliverable 2)

2.3)1session

2.4)1 session

2.5) 30 queries

30 Sept 2026

Deliverable 3)

3.1) 2 MM packs+other content 

3.3) Internal content update

3.4) 1 Newsletter

30 Sept 2026

Deliverable 4)1 Report

31 Sept 2026

Deliverable 1.5) Strategy - update WeShare

31 Dec 2026

Deliverables

2.2) 1 session

2.3) 1  session

2.4) 1 session

2.5) 30 queries

31 Dec 2026

Deliverables:

3.1) 2 MM packs+other content

3.3) Internal Content update

3.4) 1 Newsletter

31 Dec 2026

Deliverable 4)1 Report  

31 Dec 2026      

Deliverable 1.6) Review guidance, give recommendations

31 Mar-27

Deliverable 2.2) 1 session

31 Mar-27

Deliverable 2)

2.3) 1 session

2.4.) 1 session

2.5) 30 queries

31 Mar-27

Deliverable 3)

3.1) 2 MM packs +other content

3.3) Internal content update

3.4) 1 Newsletter

31 Mar-27

Deliverable 4)1 Report

31 Mar-27      

Deliverable 2.2) 1 session

30 Jun-27

Deliverables   

2.3) 1 session

2.4) 1 session

2.5)

30 Jun-27

Deliverable 3)

3.1) 2 multimedia packs +other content

3.3) Internal content update

3.4) 1 Newsletter

30 Jun-27

Deliverable 4)1 Report

30 Jun-27

Deliverable 2.1)Est.12 sessions

30 Jun-27

Deliverable 3.2) Est. 12-15 sessions

30 Jun-27 

Qualifications

(1) Education

Advanced university degree in one of the fields: Marketing, Communications, the humanities, journalism, broadcast, or another relevant field is required

• Alternatively, first level University Degree in relevant field combined with (2) additional years of qualifying professional experience may be accepted in lieu of advanced university degree.

(2) Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• minimum eight years professional experience is required in communications, content production, media development and/or child rights programming or development
• Experience in Inclusive Storytelling, narrative building at the intersection of child rights and humanitarian work is required.
• Experience working with content creators / participants using collaborative and participatory approaches is an asset.
• Experience in project management is an asset.
• Experience in editing, filming, writing is an asset.
• Experience in NGO sector and/or UN is an asset
• Experience working with women and children in communities affected by humanitarian responses and/or development contexts is required.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local 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.

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 Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values 

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UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

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Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, are encourage to apply are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (if applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.