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: Writing for SG Report on Girls, Consultant

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

Duration: December 15, 2024, to August 31, 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:

The UN General Assembly adopted Resolution A/78/476 on The Girl Child at its seventy-eighth session (a resolution on the girl child is adopted every two years). The resolutions requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its eightieth session on the implementation of the resolution, including a status analysis on the current and potential impact of digital and emerging technologies on the girl child, using information provided by Member States, the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations, with a view to assessing the impact of the resolution on the well-being of the girl child. UNICEF is the lead agency tasked with drafting and compiling the report, in consultation with other UN agencies, departments, funds and programmes.

The purpose of this consultancy is to assist UNICEF in drafting, revising, and finalizing the Report of the Secretary-General on the Girl Child, under the overall supervision of the Senior Gender Advisor (Institutional Accountability), incorporating inputs received from Member States, UN agencies (including from different sections and regional offices within UNICEF), and NGOs.

Scope of Work:

The consultant will be responsible for the production of the 2025 SG Report on the Girl Child and related secondary products, which will include the following:

• • Collated inputs received from Member States, UN agencies, and NGOs in response to written invitation/request from UNICEF.
  • Supplementary desk research on current actions within and beyond the UN system for implementation of the 2023 resolution 
  • Draft SG report on the girl child based on inputs received and supplementary research.  
  • Revised and finalized draft based on a multistage external and internal review and clearance process.
  • Key messages from the report for circulation.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Deliverable: Draft an outline for the report based on precedent, and in consultation with PG Gender (external inputs due 15 Feb 2025). Outline of the report and Plan of Work, and draft email for soliciting inputs.

Deadline: 15 January 2025      

Deliverable: Rapid literature search to assemble key secondary data and evidence sources for report. Summary of secondary research and synthesis/analysis of information on girls’ empowerment in rural areas.          

Deadline: 15 February 2025

Deliverable: Assemble secondary research and inputs received from externals into a first draft. Consolidated inputs from external partners & UNICEF.    

Delivery deadline: 1 March 2025

Deliverable: Combine secondary research and consolidated inputs into first draft for circulation   UN Agencies for comments. First draft of report ready and circulated with UN entities.  

Delivery deadline: 15 March 2025

Deliverable: Revise first draft based on comments from externals and internals (comments received 30 March 2025). Second draft of report ready for internal clearance.   

Delivery deadline: 10 April 2025

Deliverable: Revise second draft based on comments received during clearance process (comments received progressively until 10 May 2025). Third draft of report ready for copyeditor and Office of the Secretariat of the Executive Board.       

Delivery deadline: 15 May 2025

Deliverable: Review copyedited draft and prepare for submission to UN. Final draft.       

Delivery deadline: 15 June 2025

Deliverable: Extract highlights and key messages from report for dissemination. Key messages.  

Delivery deadline: 31 August 2025

Qualifications

Education:

An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in social sciences (i.e. sociology, demography, psychology, political science, social policy or economics), public health, public policy, public administration, international development, or in an area relevant to UNICEF’s sectoral work (e.g. Health, Nutrition, WASH, Education, Child Protection, Social Protection, Inclusion, HIV/AIDs, etc.) is required.

Work experience:

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• A minimum of 5 (five) years of progressively responsible professional experience and demonstrated track record of having undertaken substantive writing on gender and development.
• Experience with writing SG reports is essential.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in an international and multicultural environment.
• Foundational competencies required: commitment, embracing diversity, integrity, self- awareness and self- regulation, teamwork, and drive for results.
• Knowledge and understanding of children’s rights, women and girls’ empowerment, gender rights is desirable.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Fluency in English (written and verbal) is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN 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.

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.