BACKGROUND & RATIONALE UNICEF’s Gender Action Plan (GAP) identifies the effective sharing of knowledge and communication about issues, events and lessons learned related to gender equality as one of its performance benchmarks and part of the roadmap to improve institutional effectiveness to achieve results on gender equality and women and girls’ empowerment. In order to fulfil this portion of the GAP’s mandate, a Knowledge Sharing and Communication Task Team was established and assigned responsibility for leading on outputs 1 and 9 of the annual work plan, which relate to the aforementioned portion of the GAP’s mandate and are as follows: effective knowledge sharing, communications platforms and mechanisms are established/ enhanced; gender expertise at HQ, RO and CO levels strengthened. Facilitated by UNICEF’s gender staffing in New York and in regional offices, this task team aims to improve knowledge sharing, communication and collaboration within UNICEF’s Core Gender Group and to engage strategically with identified internal and external audiences around gender equality programming, policy and advocacy. The task team’s mandate includes:
• Forming, enhancing and delivering activities that improve knowledge sharing and communication across the Core Gender Group; • Facilitating knowledge sharing and communication about gender equality and the work of the Core Gender Group, gender specialists, gender focal points and others to an internal UNICEF audience; • Formulating and communicating key messages about gender equality to strategically identified audiences inside and outside of UNICEF; • Enhancing collaboration and cooperation throughout the Core Gender Group; • Facilitating opportunities for cross-country, cross-regional, and cross-divisional and cross-sectoral collaboration on common priorities through effective knowledge and information sharing; • Organizing and facilitating UNICEF participation in key global and regional gender events; • Innovating new ideas, mechanisms, tools for effective knowledge sharing and collaboration.
PURPOSE: UNICEF’s Gender section is seeking a suitably qualified consultant to assist with implementing the task team mandate and developing effective communication strategies towards its achievement. Through the use of excellent communication and convening skills, the Consultant will be responsible for developing strategies, tailoring and sharing content on gender issues with internal and external audiences in innovative ways to raise the profile of UNICEF’s implementation of the Gender Action Plan. Thus, the Consultant needs to have a background in communications and sound knowledge of current creative programming and messaging pertaining to gender equality in international development and humanitarian crises, with a particular focus on investing in the empowerment and potential of adolescent girls.
EXPECTED RESULTS: (MEASURABLE RESULTS) As part of the Knowledge Sharing and Communication Task Team in the Gender section, the Consultant will: (Please see the deliverables section below for specific tasks and responsibilities.)
a. Synthesize technical content on key gender priorities for different internal and external audiences: The Consultant will be responsible for synthesizing technical content on key gender priorities as outlined in UNICEF’s Gender Action Plan (GAP) into succinct and appealing communication and knowledge management (KM) products for a range of internal and external audiences. This includes synthesizing reports, presentations, strategic programme documents and briefing notes for different internal and external audiences.
b. Develop internal and external communication and KM strategies to promote the work to key stakeholders and audiences: The Consultant will be responsible for developing and implementing communication and KM strategies to reach different internal and external audiences around the implementation work of the Gender Action Plan, including communication around major events such as the Day of the Girl. This will entail utilizing existing knowledge platforms (ICON intranet, Yammer, TeamSite announcements, brown bag series, webinars, etc.), as well as identifying new ones to reach target audiences via tailored and appealing approaches. Communications materials that will need to be developed include briefing notes, briefing books and ICON stories, and external materials include fact sheets, key messages, blogs, resource kits, etc.
c. Contribute to the use of the Gender TeamSite: On an ongoing basis, the Consultant will seek to maximise the utilization of the Gender TeamSite, both as a work space for the Core Gender Group and as an internal knowledge sharing platform for UNICEF staff. The Consultant will work with the TeamSite coordinator and administrator to ensure content is updated and shared in an innovative manner, including posting blogs on topical gender issues, announcements, information about key events and meetings, and tracking work in progress. The task also includes providing strategic advice to staff on maximizing the use and potential of the TeamSite.
d. Convene, organize and facilitate knowledge sharing events: The Consultant will provide assistance to the organization of key global knowledge sharing events, such as Day of the Girl, Women Deliver, and at least four “brown bag” seminars at HQ and in regional offices and others, at least five global webinars. This includes promoting content to target audiences. Other knowledge sharing opportunities will also need to be identified, implemented, promoted and appropriately documented.
e. Participate in partnerships and create relations with stakeholders across UNICEF: The Consultant will be responsible for collaborating with the Gender Section and other colleagues involved in partnership development and resource mobilization to assist in producing necessary documentation. The Consultant will also be responsible for networking and collaborating with other dedicated communication, KM and advocacy focal points in UNICEF to share information about key gender messaging and initiatives. Stakeholders include the partnership divisions (PPD and PFP), knowledge exchange unit, Division of Communication and the Innovations unit.
TIMEFRAME The Consultant will work at UNICEF NYHQ in New York and report to the Senior Gender & Development Specialist for a period of 11.5 months and a total of 228 working days.
Start date: 27 June 2016 End date: 26 April 2017
DELIVERABLES DURATION (ESTIMATED # OF DAYS) DEADLINE 1 Technical content on key gender priorities for different internal and external audiences synthesized and packaged, as outlined above. 25 days – 26 April 2017 2 Assistance provided to Gender Core Group to produce communication and knowledge materials, as outlined above. 20 days – 26 April 2017 3 Comprehensive Gender communication and KM strategies developed, planned and initiated, as outlined above. 20 days – 29 July 2016 4 Internal communications materials, including briefing books, ICON stories, announcements, etc. developed, packaged and rolled out, as outlined above. 35 days – 26 April 2017 5 Briefing book on key gender themes for use in COs developed, as outlined above 15 days – 29 July 2016 6 External communications materials, including fact sheets, blogs, etc. developed, packaged and rolled out, as outlined above. 30 days – 26 April 2017 7 Support to the Gender TeamSite provided, including the following: reviewing communication strategy, overseeing updates, promoting content, seeking announcement and new content from the Core Gender Group, as outlined above. 15 days – 26 April 2017 8 Networked and collaborated with other key communication, KM and advocacy focal points in UNICEF (including other sectors and linking with Knowledge Exchange (DRP), Digital Media and Public Advocacy section (Division of Communication), and Innovations units (OED)), and best practices documented and shared, as outlined above. 15 days – 31 October 2016 9 Convened, organized and facilitated knowledge sharing events for UNICEF and externally (webinars, seminars, speaker series, etc.), as outlined above. 25 days – 26 April 2017 10 Utilized knowledge sharing platforms to share key messaging (including Yammer) to familiarize UNICEF staff with the GAP and its application to UNICEF programmes, as outlined above. 8 26 April 2017 11 Provided support to COs and ROs around gender communication for key projects, as outlined above. 20 days – 26 April 2017 TOTAL 228 days – 26 April 2017
KEY COMPETENCES, TECHNICAL BACKGROUND, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED DEADLINE Required : First university degree in communication, journalism, social sciences, international development or other related field; • A minimum of seven years of progressively more responsible and relevant professional work experience with communication for the area of international development; • Creativity and a passion for communicating UNICEF’s work on advancing gender equality; • Strong experience with communication strategy development and messaging; • Sound understanding of gender equality and gender issues in international development; • Excellent communication skills, including the ability to work across different units and encourage collaboration; ability to explain complex concepts to different audiences; ability to communicate with all levels of management and staff, sensitivity for cultural differences; • Excellent writing and analytical skills, especially in synthesizing complex information for multiple audiences; • Proven record of developing communication and knowledge synthesis products; • Ability to use interactive digital media; • Experience using social media for professional purposes; • Prevoius experience convening knowledge sharing events; • Fluency in English; • Excellent organizational skills and ability to handle multiple assignments with competing deadlines.
Desired: Advanced degree in communication, journalism, social sciences, international development or other related field; • Knowledge of another UN language; • Experience working with a gender team and/or sharing knowledge on gender equality; • Experience using SharePoint; • Experience developing case studies, blogs, documenting lessons learned, etc.; • Demonstrated Drive for results in previous work experiences.
UNICEF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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