Development of the Communication for Development (C4D) Emergency Toolkit -Employment,career opportunity in USA

Job Title: Consultancy, Development of the Communication for Development (C4D) Emergency Toolkit
Organization: UN Children's Fund
Country: United States of America
Deadline: 17th Oct 2013

Terms of Reference
Consultancy, Development of the Communication for Development (C4D) Emergency Toolkit

***1. Context
Acute emergencies including natural hazards, armed conflict, epidemics, economic downturns and food price hikes, are eroding rights and reversing development gains; stresses such as violence, unplanned urbanisation, rapid population growth, climate change and environmental degradation are compounding vulnerability, reducing resilience and increasing the impact of shocks. Moreover, despite advances in child survival and development, the benefits of rapid economic growth have not been equally shared and disparities have increased in many contexts. More than ever before, many of the most vulnerable children face increasingly high levels of risk.
As defined in the UNICEF Core Commitments for Children (CCC) in Emergencies, a humanitarian situation is any situation where humanitarian needs are of a sufficiently large scale and complexity that significant external assistance and resources are required, and where a multi-sectoral response is needed with the engagement of a wide range of international humanitarian actors. An emergency is a situation which threatens the lives and well-being of large numbers of people and in which extraordinary action is required to ensure their survival, care and protection. The CCC describes UNICEF’s commitments to humanitarian action in each of the technical sector areas (Nutrition, Health, WASH, HIV/AIDS, Education and Child Protection), including the preparedness, response and early recovery action required to fulfill these commitments. Communication for Development (C4D) is integrated across the programme sector commitments (see figure in attachment).

Development and humanitarian programmes should increasingly focus on the vicious cycle of vulnerability and exposure to shocks and stress. This requires adaptive programming that is conflict sensitive and risk informed, including addressing the structural and underlying causes of vulnerability, with an overall aim to strengthen the resilience of the most vulnerable children as well as the communities and the systems that are meant to provide a safe and protective environment.

In the next few years UNICEF intends to work within the resilience approach , working with governments, national and international development partners, including NGOs, and the UN Agencies to enhance local capacity for disaster risk reduction and to build resilience of communities and institutions to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. To the extent possible investments will be linked to long-term development goals. UNICEF’s focus will be to develop a model focused on strengthening community as well as institutional mechanisms and capacity that will enhance resilience against natural disasters, man-made violence, infectious disease outbreaks and other hazards.
Communication for Development: A critical intervention in humanitarian contexts
Communication for Development (C4D) is a systematic, planned, and evidence-based approach to promote positive and measurable behavioral and social change. C4D is both a strategy and an approach to engage communities and decision-makers at local, national, and regional levels, in dialogue toward promoting, developing, and implementing policies and programs that enhance the quality of life for all (McCall, 2011). UNICEF’s C4D work relies primarily on (1) behavior change communication (BCC); (2) social mobilization (including community participation and strengthening an enabling media and communication environment); (3) communication for social change; and (4) advocacy. A central tenet of UNICEF is that C4D is most effective when combined with changes in the social-ecological environment within which children and families live.

A mix of C4D interventions across individual, family, community and social levels levels (which reflects a socio-ecological model of change-SEM) should guide communication response to address the different dimensions of the problems, combining advocacy and other communication approaches as necessary. The SEM is a prevention systems model that influences people’s behaviours, as well as their interactions with their physical and social systems. Most challenges to quality of life are complex and cannot be addressed on a single level. Recognizing this, the SEM goes beyond one level and explores the interaction between, and interdependence of, factors within and across all levels of behaviors/social norms.

C4D in emergencies promotes safe, healthy and protective behaviours and social norms; creates demand for social services; empowers communities and promotes participation; and facilitates communication mechanisms between communities and providers for improvement of service provision. It seeks to share relevant, action-oriented information to prepare people in affected communities on what actions to take to maintain and protect the health and wellbeing of all their members, including those with disabilities, the elderly and other vulnerable groups. C4D is a consultative process among programme and communication specialists, local authorities, change agents and communities.
It is misguided to presume that communities affected by humanitarian situations are too shocked and helpless to take on responsibilities. In fact, many people, including children, are able to return to normalcy more quickly when they participate in helping others and themselves during and after an emergency.

C4D approaches and tools can:

 Set up communication platforms during development work that can be rapidly activated during an emergency situation.
 Conduct rapid assessment of communication channels and resources, including key opinion makers/shapers, and mapping of the communication landscape in the affected communities at a time of an emergency in order to disseminate key messages/information through the right channels and right language.
 Support programme sectors in consulting adults, children and young people in affected groups from the onset of a crisis to ensure that they are part of the emergency response. Affected groups should talk about constrains and enablers for the adoption of safe behaviours/practices.
 Forge alliances and bring stakeholders together, including local decision makers (from communities, government and NGOs/COBs/FBOs). They will support the dissemination of the life-saving information and adoption of healthy, protective and safe practices.
 Establish a central health education and communication coordination committee/center, bringing partners together to coordinate behavior and social change/promotional activities and focus on establishing or re-establishing positive individual and social practices.
 Participate in sectorial assessments that help to identify high-risk practices that have implications for behaviour and social change communication, as well as opportunities for developing community-based response mechanisms.
 Rapidly implement strategic and contextualized C4D interventions, based on an inventory of available communication tools and mechanisms, and quickly establish dialogue mechanisms with affected communities (through our network of partners).
 Monitor the implementation of the C4D strategies to ensure it is on the right track to foster the needed changes.

***2. The Project:
In close coordination with partners, UNICEF will facilitate the development of a Global C4D Emergency Toolkit with clear guidance on how to design, implement, monitor and evaluate evidence-based C4D interventions in humanitarian contexts. While the tool will focus primarily on humanitarian situations and emergency response, it will emphasize a preventive approach through basic guidance on how to link C4D work in development and emergency contexts. The new emergency toolkit will build upon the Behaviour Change Communication in Emergencies Toolkit, developed by the UNICEF Regional Office in South Asia in 2006, and other C4D guidance and tools developed by different organizations that operate in emergencies. The Global C4D Emergency Toolkit aims at supporting two different participant groups: 1) Programme planners and communication specialists (planning, implementation and M&E guidance); and 2) Front-line workers/community volunteers (operational guidance). It will be available in printed and electronic formats and should provide simple and hand-on tools to support the two groups on the prevention; preparedness, response and early recovery of shocks/hazards. UNICEF is building strategic partnerships for C4D in emergencies, including The International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC), and the CDAC Network. IFRC will develop C4D M&E guidelines that will become a component of this global C4D emergency toolkit. Engagement of other relevant partners such as the World Health Organization will be sought as well.

***3. Objective of the Consultancy
A consultant is being sought to a) Undertake a desk review of available evidence on applied communication for development strategies for emergencies, including the review of key UNICEF and partner documents related to humanitarian situations; b) Develop a draft of the C4D Emergency Toolkit in close collaboration with UNICEF (HQ and Regional Offices) and partners (IFRC and others); c) Test and validate the toolkit through a consultative process, involving UNICEF (HQ and Regional Offices) and partners (IFRC and others); d) Finalize the C4D Emergency Toolkit in close collaboration with UNICEF (HQ and Regional Offices) and partners (IFRC and others).
Expected chronology of the consultancy:
• Desk review of available evidence on applied communication for development strategies for emergencies, including the review of key UNICEF and partners’ documents related to humanitarian situations, and preparation of a brief report of the review with recommendations for the development of the toolkit (15 working days).
• Develop a draft of the C4D Emergency Tool Kit (20 working days).
• Test and validate the toolkit through a consultative process (15 working days).
• Finalize the C4D Emergency Tool Kit (5 working days)
***4. Deliverables and Deadlines

1) Desk review of available evidence on applied communication for development strategies for emergencies, including the review of key UNICEF and partners, and preparation of report with recommendations for development of the toolkit by 30 November 2013;
2) Draft of the C4D Emergency Toolkit by 30 December 2013;
3) Test and validate the tool kit through a consultative process by 28 February 2014;
4) Finalize the C4D Emergency Tool Kit by 30 April 2014.
***5. Payment Schedule:
Payment of fees will be made in four installments as follows:
Installment I: Upon acceptance by the C4D Team of the first deliverable.
Installment II: Upon acceptance by the C4D Team of the second and third deliverables.
Installment III: Upon acceptance by the C4D Team of the fourth deliverable.
***6. Breakdown of Travel
It is anticipated that the consultant will need to make the following trips:
• One or more trips to NYC for a maximum of 2 days per trip;
• One trip to a UNICEF regional hub (TBD) for a maximum of 5 days;
• One or more trips to a UNICEF country office (TBD) for a maximum of 5 days per trip (TBD)
***7. Time Frame
1 November – 30 April 2014 (The consultant is expected to complete this assignment in 55 working days during the period specified above).
***8. Duty Station: The consultant can work remotely; however, trips to NY and UNICEF Regional Offices will be required. It is also possible that the consultant might be asked to visit one or more country offices during the period of this consultancy.
***9. Qualifications
• Advanced university degree in communication, social sciences and/or related fields.
• 10-15 years of professional experience in social/international development and humanitarian emergencies.
• Expertise in communication and community-based work in emergency contexts
• Demonstrated experience with developing community- and national/sub-national-level communication strategies and guidance for behavior and social change in emergency contexts.
• Expertise in public health and other child survival areas.
• Expertise in child protection and education in emergencies is an asset.
• Expertise in monitoring and evaluation is also a plus.
• Experience in quantitative and statistical analysis as well as qualitative research methods and the development of indicators and measurement tools.
• Knowledge of UNICEF’s areas of work.
• Knowledge in relation to the areas of human rights, social inclusion and social change, gender equality, and inclusive development a plus.
• Excellent writing skills in the English language.
• Working knowledge of French a plus.
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:

Interested persons are invited to submit their P11 (which can be downloaded from our website at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html), CV along with a one-page cover letter summarizing relevant experience to pdconsultants@unicef.org with subject line “Consultancy, Development of the Communication for Development (C4D) Emergency Toolkit” not later than October 17, 2013. Please indicate a lump sum amount for the delivery of the products. Note that any travel required as part of the project will be paid by UNICEF and should not be included in the lump sum total. Any applications without a lump sum amount will not be considered.
Joint applications of two or more individuals will not be accepted.