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: GenU Cross-sectoral Communications Advisor - Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Generation Unlimited (YPA) Secreatriat

Duration: August 1, 2023 to December 31, 2026

Home/Office Based: 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. 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: 

Building on work across the UN with and for young people, and in line with the UN Youth Strategy, UNICEF in 2018 launched Generation Unlimited (GenU), a new global Public-Private-Youth partnership dedicated to skilling and connecting young people, aged 10-24, to opportunities in employment and entrepreneurship. 

To help position GenU as the leading partnership eco-system dedicated to youth skills and livelihoods, GenU is seeking to recruit a Cross-sectoral Communications Advisor Consultant to create quality showcases of impact stories and results, while unlocking amplification and endorsements across communication channels within the partner network.

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of the Deputy Director of GenU, and guidance of the Chief of Communications and Marketing Officer, Generation Unlimited, the consultant will:

# Deliver co-created communications campaigns leveraging and activating the reach and influence of Founding Partners and Lead Government Partners and for GenU governance moments.

# Deliver global communications for Green Rising on the road to COP30

# Deliver campaigns showcasing programme impact across bilateral and joint partnerships moments

# Develop and deploy launch announcement and comms plans for incoming partners

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

Develop and deploy Lead Government and Founding Partner communications plan          

• Co-create 8 x campaign packs with partners and co-ordinate deployment across owned, partner and earned channel           

15th Dec 2026

• Deliver 4 X media placement or op-eds with lead government and or founding partner

31st Oct 2026

• Deliver 360-degree event plan and comms execution for 2X high-profile governance events 15th Jan 2026
• Deliver 4X reports on communication response and effectiveness against KPIs     

15th Dec 2026

Develop and deliver Green Rising communications plan     

• Co-create 2 x campaign packs and facilitate deployment across owned, partner and earned channel

15th Nov 2025

• Deliver 4 x media placement or op-eds         

15th Apr 2026

• Deliver 4X reports on communication response and effectiveness against KPIs     

15th July 2026

Deliver campaigns showcasing programme impact across bilateral and joint partnerships moments

• Develop 18 x campaign packs and co-ordinate deployment across owned, partner and earned channel           

7 April 2026

• Develop, deploy and track 2x social behavior change campaign promoting positive norms in e-agri businesses      

30 June 2026

• Deliver 9X reports for each programme on communication response and effectiveness against KPIs           

15th Nov 2026

Develop and deploy launch announcement and comms plans for incoming partners          

• Create 2 x launch announcement packs and co-ordinate deployment across owned, partner and earned channel           

15th Oct 2025

Qualifications

(1) Education

• Advance University (Masters)degree in communications, marketing, design, innovation, social science or related field.
• Fluency in English is required.

 Additional language skills (e.g., Arabic, French, Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

2) Work experience

• At least 10 years of experience communication development and execution
• Significant experience in storytelling and developing human interest stories for social and digital media and ability to translate the experiences for in-person and virtual events.
• Experience in managing social media channels and growing audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities within specified timeframes, across multiple teams and time zones.
• Ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with external partners and diverse organizations including Governments, Private Sector organizations, Youth organizations.
• Technical expertise in working in various media formats – print, audio, video, web etc.
• Familiarity with UNICEF communication guidelines is an asset; along with knowledge of United Nations or other international organizations.
• Experience across diverse industries desirable.

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.