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, clean water…
Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) is a global alliance of over 300 national governments, donors, civil society organizations and other development partners working together to catalyze political leadership and action, improve accountability and use scarce resources more effectively. The ultimate goal of the partnership is to achieve universal access to water supply and sanitation. UNICEF hosts the Secretariat of SWA.
SWA has proven to be highly successful and the work of the Chief Executive Officer and Secretariat has become progressively more demanding. One area of increased demand for SWA’s work is on climate ction. For example, it has been identified that SWA global multi-stakeholder partnership can play a key role in connecting SDGs 6 (water and sanitation) and 13 (climate action), recognizing that the ability to meet these SDGs directly affects and is affected by almost all of the other SDGs, including poverty, food, gender and inequality. Furthermore, as the partnership is increasing its focus at country level, SWA can contribute to the success of the Paris Agreement by providing partners with a solid background on why and how countries can integrate mitigation and adaptation interventions related to sanitation and water.
More information on SWA’s website.
The work of the Chief Executive Officer and Secretariat is enhanced by high level advice from experienced and knowledgeable specialists to address specific issues and to analyse opportunities to achieve the objectives of the partnership. To support the work on climate change, SWA Secretariat requires in 2021 the additional support of a consultant. This year will be indeed a key year to advance the work around climate change in WASH as the world prepares for COP26.
More information on SWA’s website.
How can you make a difference?
Under the supervision of the Senior Adviser on Strategy and Policy and in consultation and coordination with the Communications Specialist, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:
- Be the day to day manager of three upcoming events, including coordinating logistics, development of agenda and invitees, development of target-audience friendly messages, coordination among different team and people within and outside the Secretariat:
o Virtual event during the World Water Week, convened by SWA, and focusing on WASH climate finance. (August)
o A high-level ministerial roundtable about the connection of SDG 6 and 13, in order to showcase experiences in implementing an integrated climate-WASH agenda (September/October)
o Be SWA’s focal point for the development of the COP26 Water Pavilion, including planning and implementing WASH- related events and animations in the pavilion and at COP26 in general to ensure maximum visibility to these issues. Represent SWA at the Water Pavilion throughout COP26. Support the communications team to promote SWA’s presence at the COP26 through traditional and social media, as well as other channels. (November)
o Review SWA’s existing public content related to climate and propose improvements.
o Support the communications team on the development and production of climate-related materials, as well as advice on a foreseen short-term campaign and media relations.
o Develop a short climate communications strategy and plan for SWA, which will be a part of the overall SWA Communications Strategy 2021-2025, to be presented to the Steering Committee in December 2021.
o Build capacity of SWA Secretariat, especially the communications team, in strategic climate communications. Develop capacity building workshop.
Deliverables
1. World Water Week
No. of days: 15
Deadline (TBC): 31 August
2. High-level roundtable
No. of days: 10
Deadline (TBC): 30 October
3. COP26
No. of days: 30
Deadline (TBC): 30 November
4. Review of climate communications materials
No. of days: 3
Deadline (TBC): 30 November
5. Advice to communications on climate campaign
No. of days: 3
Deadline (TBC): 30 November
6. Climate communications strategy
No. of days: 6
Deadline (TBC): 30 November
7. Climate communications workshop
No. of days: 3
Deadline (TBC): 30 November
TOTAL DAYS: 70
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- Master’s degree or higher in strategic communications, behaviour change, behavioural economics, or closely related field – English, Communications, or Social Sciences
- A minimum of 10 years of professional experience working in strategic communications and behaviour change for global organizations, including UN entities, other intergovernmental organizations or the private sector
- Professional experience in climate change communications, especially around organizing events and campaigns
- Fluent English, other languages an advantage
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
- Demonstrates Self and Ethical Awareness (1)
- Works Collaboratively with others (1)
- Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
- Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
- Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
- Drives to achieve impactful results (1)
- Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)
To view our competency framework, please visit here.
Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
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.
UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.
This position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/ assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.
REMARKS:
Travel, if applicable: Travel as part of this consultancy will be decided depending on support needs of the SWA Secretariat needs. Costs of travel are covered separately from this contract.
Duty Station
Remote based. The consultant may be located anywhere but must be readily available and responsive to work with SWA team, based in Geneva and New York.
Applicants are invited to: Include a cover letter of interest, CV, your approach to the assignment, technical and financial proposal (daily in US$) to undertake the above TOR. Applications submitted without a proposed fee will not be accepted.
Payment: Professional fees will be based on submission of agreed 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.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
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.
SWA is hosted by UNICEF. The Fund is administered under UNICEF’s financial, human resources and administrative rules and regulations, while operations are run by the Fund’s own independent governance structure that provides strategic guidance and oversight to its investments. SWA’s day-to-day activities are carried out by a Secretariat under the direction of the Sanitation Water for All, Director.
If selected for this consultancy, the resulting appointment will be limited to SWA, a UNICEF hosted fund.
