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

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

 

Consultancy Title: Child poverty and social protection advocacy consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Programme Strategy and Coordination Hub/ Social and Behavior Change,  Programme Division, NYHQ

Duration: 14  October 2024 to 30 October  2025

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ / Remote

 About UNICEF – DO NOT EDIT

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 purpose of the consultancy is to support the unit in developing outreach as well as advocacy approaches on child poverty and social protection, through a variety of policy advocacy and knowledge management initiatives. This includes supporting  dialogue, learning and advocacy on shock responsive as well as inclusive & gender responsive social protection, as well as support to managing an active Global Coalition to End Child Poverty, conducting outreach to member organizations, finding synergies between the individual work of the different organizations and providing more visibility to the work of the Coalition

Scope of Work:

UNICEF´s Child Poverty and Social Protection unit is seeking a consultant to support the unit with the following key advocacy related activities:

1. Support to advocacy activities related to shock responsive social protection:

Support to coordination of the SPIAC-B working group on linking humanitarian (cash) assistance and social protection 

• Support to advocacy activities related to shock responsive social protection
• Manage knowledge management function for the working group through gathering evidence, developing knowledge products and their dissemination through webinars/podcasts, technical notes, case studies, blogs, newsletter, workshop etc.
• Maintain the webpage, mailing list and the virtual library/folder for the working group.

Knowledge management and global advocacy on shock responsive social protection

• Undertake activities to support the Social Policy and Social Protection team in strengthening UNICEF’s positioning and engagement with G20 under the Brazil Presidency, COP29, and any other upcoming opportunities.
• Support in organising a learning event/stocktake exercise on SRSP for UNICEF colleagues in ROs/COs.

 Support technical assistance on shock-responsive social protection 

• Reviewing policy briefs and learning material to distill relevant information and sharing with thematic leads on the subject and to the social policy network in UNICEF.

2. Support to the Global Coalition to End Child Poverty activities:

Facilitation

• Proactive engagement with all the member organizations on range of issues – to maintain an active Coalition
• Support Coalition meeting, including annual meeting
• Draft annual workplan and active follow-up with members on activities

Advocacy and knowledge management

• Facilitate Coalition advocacy efforts
• Plan and execute Coalition webinars

Technical support:

• Support various strands of research and policy analysis work of the Coalition, based on key priorities identified by the Coalition, including identifying a flagship Coalition publication for 2025, and leading on the analysis and drafting
• Support annual high-level Coalition child poverty side event, including for International Day for Eradication of Poverty

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview Deliverables/ Outputs Delivery deadline

Organising learning event/stocktake exercise on SRSP

• A workshop planned and delivered  - By November 25 2024

Organising consultations and finalizing tipsheets for the common principles G20 November sprints supported

• Tipsheets final document – By December 28 2025

Coalition annual work planning supported Coalition meeting supported

• Coalition workplan finalized Coalition meeting and  annual meeting held  - By January 30 2025

SPIAC-B working group workplan and advocacy strategy developed, and working group supported

• Final workplan submitted and advocacy strategy developed Travel to New York to support strategy development Working group meeting convened – By Februrary 25 2025

Coalition outreach supported

• Two high level Coalition webinars carried out Coalition flagship publication decided, and resources gathered By March 15 2025

G20 Policy tools expanded, refined

• Two G20 policy tools – By April 15 2025

Coordination of SPIAC-B working group, including  organising a webinar

• 2 newsletters produced and 1 webinars organized
• At least 7 updates to the webpage and mailing list are implemented

Travel Required

 Qualifications

Education:

 A Master’s degree in development economics, public policy, international relations or closely related field.

  Work experience:

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

 A minimum of four years of progressively responsible experience in policy advocacy (desirable: in the areas of child poverty and social protection)

• Knowledge and experience in coordinating inter-agency groups
• Knowledge and experience with web based knowledge management platforms desirable
• Knowledge of areas of work desirable (child poverty and social protection
• Strong organizational, planning, and analytical skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English.

• Proven ability to work under tight deadlines and drive for results

• Fluency in English, & another UN language preferred

 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.