Consultancy, HIV/AIDS Advocacy and Communication Strategy -Employment,career opportunity in USA

Job Title: Consultancy, HIV/AIDS Advocacy and Communication Strategy
Organization: UN Children's Fund
Country: United States of America
Deadline: 18th Oct 2013

Consultancy, HIV/AIDS Advocacy and Communication Strategy
TERMS OF REFERENCE
***1. Background:

UNICEF has developed an internal HIV/AIDS ‘Advocacy and Communication Strategy’ and external ‘Vision Paper’ to raise awareness, boost fundraising, mobilize political will, as well as position and prioritize leadership and goals on the global HIV/AIDS agenda. The AIDS advocacy strategy outlines four areas of support to the overall HIV and AIDS programme of UNICEF: (i) simplification and innovation, (ii) knowledge leadership, (iii) synergy and integration, and (iv) partnerships. During 2012, the International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C. was a good example of how the full range of advocacy efforts combine to have an impact on policy, strategy, and ultimately, programming at country level. This consultancy will build on the successes of the AIDS Conference with a range of partners, including internal UNICEF sections and networks in particular the Division of Communication, as well as external partners such as implementers, policy makers, donors, and other partners at country, regional and global levels.

Key accountabilities which also frame this consultancy include the Advocacy and Communications Workstream, under the Global Steering Group (GSG) for the ‘Global Plan towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015, and keeping their mothers alive’ (‘Global Plan’). This work involves a keen focus on engaging communities in the response, and raising their voices and stories.

UNICEF has a formal accountability within the UNAIDS division of labour on children and AIDS; and UNICEF is widely viewed, within the UN system and beyond, as the global leader on children and AIDS. To fulfill this accountability in its mandate, it is clear that UNICEF and the sector overall must (i) continue to communicate a compelling, evidence-based investment case; (ii) expand advocacy with existing audiences as well as reach new audiences and; (iii) strengthen and extend strategic collaborations. Accordingly, UNICEF will leverage its strong partnerships within the HIV community and the wider child survival platforms, comprised of governments, international and national NGOs, foundations, the private sector, and faith-based coalitions to promote and implement an advocacy and communication strategy keep children and AIDS on the global agenda in the run up to the 2015 millennium development goals (MDG) deadline and beyond.

***2. Purpose:

This consultancy is a direct support to the advocacy and communications strategy and development of materials from UNICEF experience and that of partners. During the term of this consultancy, a number of high level events (see below) will be undertaken at global and regional levels, and this consultancy will provide direct support for these.

In particular, this involves producing advocacy and communication products which illustrate the work of UNICEF at various levels and for various internal and external audiences as mentioned above. Supporting National Committees (NatComs) to achieve fundraising and advocacy goals is an explicit element of this consultancy, particularly through ‘Telling the UNICEF Story’ in ways that are accessible and meaningful to NatCom audiences. Supporting media efforts required for the launch of materials, including partner efforts, is also an element of this consultancy.

Given the complexities of these audiences, a key challenge of this consultancy is to simplify concepts, strategies and key messages.

***3. Expected results: (measurable results) Under the supervision of the Advocacy Manager,

• Recommendations made on implementation of the advocacy strategy, especially with regard to advocacy opportunities
• Advocacy and communications products and initiatives developed for key calendar dates including, linkages with A Promised Renewed, release of 6th Stocktaking Report 2013, Natcom meeting/s, International Conference on AIDS and Sexually-Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA), International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) and other regional meetings, World AIDS Day 2013 advocacy, and the 2014 International AIDS Conference
• Sub-strategies developed for new print and digital advocacy and communication products and initiatives, including media support for launches and other efforts
• Development of advocacy and communication assets with a view to versatility, and repurposing in the future in new, creative, cost-effective forms
• Successful collaboration with NatCom/Private Fundraising Partnerships Division colleagues on story gathering and storytelling, especially on preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV for key calendar events and activities, and for release of Stocktaking Report 2013
• Workable concepts developed for advocacy related to both the first and second decades of childhood
• Strengthening of NatComs networks supported for advocacy and fundraising

***4. Start date: 28 October 2013 End date: 26 September 2014

***5. Timeframe: 11 months

***6. Duty Station: UNICEF Headquarters, New York

***7. Key competencies, technical background, and experience required:
a) Academic qualifications and required level of education: Industry experience in journalism, media, television and film; advocacy and fundraising in international development contexts. Master’s degree is an advantage.
b) Specialized training needed: journalism, media, television and film production; advocacy and fundraising in international development contexts
c) Length of work experience in the relevant area of the consultancy – minimum 8 years
d) Languages needed: fluent in English; other UN languages are an advantage

General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants / Individual Contractors

    Legal Status

The individual engaged by UNICEF under this contract as a consultant or individual contractors (the “Contractor”) is engaged in a personal capacity and not as representatives of a Government or of any other entity external to the United Nations. The Contractor is neither a “staff member” under the Staff Regulations of the United Nations and UNICEF policies and procedures nor an “official” for the purpose of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, 1946. The Contractor may, however, be afforded the status of “Experts on Mission” in the sense of Section 22 of Article VI of the Convention and the Contractor is required by UNICEF to travel in order to fulfill the requirements of this contract, the Contractor may be issued a United Nations Certificate in accordance with Section 26 of Article VII of the Convention.

    Obligations

The Contractor shall complete the assignment set out in the Terms of Reference for this contract with due diligence, efficiency and economy, in accordance with generally accepted professional techniques and practices.

The Contractor must respect the impartiality and independence of UNICEF and the United Nations and in connection with this contract must neither seek nor accept instructions from anyone other than UNICEF. During the term of this contract the Contractor must refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on UNICEF or the United Nations and must not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICEF. The Contractor must exercise the utmost discretion in all matters relating to this contract.

In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, the Contractor (a) will conduct him- or herself in a manner consistent with the Standards of Conduct in the International Civil Service; and (b) will comply with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICE relating to fraud and corruption; information disclosure; use of electronic communication assets; harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority; and the requirements set forth in the Secretary General’s Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.
Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official in the office concerned, the Contractor must not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government or other entity external to UNICEF any information that has not been made public and which has become known to the Contractor by reason of his or her association with UNICEF or the United Nations. The Contractor may not use such information without the written authorization of UNICEF, and shall under no circumstances use such information for his or her private advantage or that of others. These obligations do not lapse upon termination of this contact.

    Title rights

UNICEF shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to material created by the Contractor which bears a direct relation to, or is made in order to perform, this contract. At the request of UNICEF, the Contractor shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to UNICEF in compliance with the requirements of the law governing such rights.

    Travel

If UNICEF determines that the Contractor needs to travel in order to perform this contract, that travel shall be specified in the contract and the Contractor’s travel costs shall be set out in the contract, on the following basis:
(a) UNICEF will pay for travel in economy class via the most direct and economical route; provided however that in exceptional circumstances, such as for medical reasons, travel in business class may be approved by UNICEF on a case-by-case basis.
(b) UNICEF will reimburse the Contractor for out-of-pocket expenses associated with such travel by paying an amount equivalent to the daily subsistence allowance that would be paid to staff members undertaking similar travel for official purposes.

    Statement of good health

Before commencing work, the Contractor must deliver to UNICEF a certified self-statement of good health and to take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement. In addition, the Contractor must include in this statement of good health (a) confirmation that he or she has been informed regarding inoculations required for him or her to receive, at his or her own cost and from his or her own medical practitioner or other party, for travel to the country or countries to which travel is authorized; and (b) a statement he or she is covered by medical/health insurance and that, if required to travel beyond commuting distance from his or her usual place or residence to UNICEF (other than to duty station(s) with hardship ratings “H” and “A”, a list of which has been provided to the Contractor) the Contractor’s medical/health insurance covers medical evacuations. The Contractor will be responsible for assuming all costs that may be occurred in relation to the statement of good health.

    Insurance

The Contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of this contract as he or she considers appropriate taking into account, among other things, the requirements of paragraph 5 above. The Contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members. The responsibility of UNICEF and the United Nations is limited solely to the payment of compensation under the conditions described in paragraph 7 below.

    Service incurred death, injury or illness

If the Contractor is travelling with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF’s expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, or is performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval, the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate), shall be entitled to compensation from UNICEF in the event of death, injury or illness attributable to the fact that the Contractor was travelling with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF’s expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contractor, or was performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval. Such compensation will be paid through a third party insurance provider retained by UNICEF and shall be capped at the amounts set out in the Administrative Instruction on Individual Consultants and Contractors. Under no circumstances will UNICEF be liable for any other or greater payments to the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate).

    Arbitration

(a) Any dispute arising out of or, in connection with, this contract shall be resolved through amicable negotiation between the parties.
(b) If the parties are not able to reach agreement after attempting amicable negotiation for a period of thirty (30) days after one party has notified the other of such a dispute, either party may submit the matter to arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL procedures within fifteen (15) days thereafter. If neither party submits the matter for arbitration within the specified time the dispute will be deemed resolved to the full satisfaction of both parties. Such arbitration shall take place in New York before a single arbitrator agreed to by both parties; provided however that should the parties be unable to agree on a single arbitrator within thirty days of the request for arbitration, the arbitrator shall be designated by the United Nations Legal Counsel. The decision rendered in the arbitration shall constitute final adjudication of the dispute.

    Penalties for Underperformance

Payment of fees to the Contractor under this contractor, including each installment or periodic payment (if any), is subject to the Contractor’s full and complete performance of his or her obligations under this contract with regard to such payment to UNICEF’s satisfaction, and UNICEF’s certification to that effect.

    Termination of Contract

This contract may be terminated by either party before its specified termination date by giving notice in writing to the other party. The period of notice shall be five (5) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a total period of less than two (2) months and ten (10) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a longer period; provided however that in the event of termination on the grounds of impropriety or other misconduct by the Contractor (including but not limited to breach by the Contractor of relevant UNICEF policies, procedures, and administrative instructions), UNICEF shall be entitled to terminate the contract without notice. If this contract is terminated in accordance with this paragraph 10, the Contractor shall be paid on a pro rata basis determined by UNICEF for the actual amount of work performed to UNICEF’s satisfaction at the time of termination. UNICEF will also pay any outstanding reimbursement claims related to travel by the Contractor. Any additional costs incurred by UNICEF resulting from the termination of the contract by either party may be withheld from any amount otherwise due to the Contractor under this paragraph 10.

    Taxation

UNICEF and the United Nations accept no liability for any taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant and individual contractor on payments made under this contract. Neither UNICEF nor the United Nations will issue a statement of earnings to the consultant and individual contractor

How to apply:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV and P 11 form (which can be downloaded from our website at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html) to pdconsultants@unicef.org with subject line “Consultancy on HIV/AIDS Advocacy and Communication Strategy” by 18 October 2013, 5:00pm EST. Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

Joint applications of two or more individuals will not be accepted.