National Consultancy, Communication Consultant – Education (for Namibian nationals only)
Job no: 534558
Position type: Consultancy
Location: Namibia Division/Equivalent: Nairobi Regn’l(ESARO)
School/Unit: Namibia
Department/Office: Windhoek, Namibia
Categories: Consultancy
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, deserves the best start in life
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the lives of children and adolescents around the world and in Namibia. Lockdown measures, school closures and general uncertainties around community transmission further continues to impact on their education, safety and mental health of learners and teachers. It is therefore important to continue engaging, protecting, and supporting children and adolescents as part of the COVID-19 response. Communication with and to the public, including children and their parents, communities but also other stakeholders in education and child protection, is crucial in such uncertain times.
It is against this background that UNICEF seeks to engage a seasoned communication expert with relevant experience in Public Relations, including developing communication strategies, press releases, and communication materials, be they visual, audio, print or online, to support the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture and UNICEF in their communication efforts. The consultant will also play a significant role in supporting UNICEF’s ongoing efforts to build the capacity of children and young people as agents of change through their participation and engagement.
How can you make a difference?
Scope of Work
Purpose:
The purpose of the consultancy is to:
- Support the development and implementation of a communication strategy on the COVID-19 emergency and its impact on education;
- Support the development of communication and information material such as posters, bill board messages, information packages for learners and teachers related to COVID-19 and education.
- Develop packages for social media based on agreed COVID-19 themes as they related to education health, safety and protection.
- Support the consultation, information and participation of children, caregivers and other relevant stakeholders in decisions relevant to education under COVID-19, including through surveys, sms, etc.
Expectations:
Under the general supervision of the Communication and Partnership Specialist, and technical input from the Education Specialist, the consultant will be expected to focus on effective communication related to under the COVID19 response:
- The Communication Consultant should be able to exercise considerable levels of independence in working with the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture and UNICEF programme staff and partners. The Communication Consultant will be guided to develop key priority tasks with clear and measurable objectives (in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, the Education Specialist and Communication and Partnership Specialist). The progress of the plan will be evaluated through periodic formal discussions and frequent day to day feedback.
- The Consultant will collaborate and network with key partners such as Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, Ministry of Health and Social Services and Namibia National Student Organization.
- The Consultant will give technical advice and insight to the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture Director, Programme Quality Assurance and UNICEF programme team on the best approaches related to engaging and working with learners and young people and other relevant stakeholders at national and regional levels as well as high level advocacy on various ongoing activities within UNICEF and the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture.
- Consideration to be given to target audience and reach of marginalized population and those in remote areas and accessibility for persons with disability should always be ensured when designing communication tools.
Key Tasks and deliverables:
The Communication Consultant must undertake the following tasks and activities:
- Familiarize himself/herself with UNICEF guidance on Education during the COVID-19 emergency, UNICEF Communication Guidelines, the GRN-UNICEF Country Programme 2019-2023, as well as other relevant programmatic documents linked to education.
- Develop a communication and advocacy strategy based on the UNICEF/UNESCO/WB/WFP Framework for Reopening Schools; Policy Brief: Education during COVID-19 and beyond; and education in general other relevant Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture materials to ensure continued learning including engaging all education stakeholders.
- Develop a communication and advocacy strategy to educate children and the community on COVID-19 health protocols, issues and behaviors.
- Based on the Communication Strategy and included in the strategy come up with a costed implementation plan with timeline and tools for implementation.
- Suggest and share creative and innovative ideas to engage, reach and empower adolescents under COVID-19.
- Perform any other duties required by the supervisor
Key Activities
Deliverables
Timeline
- Inception Phase
- Develop a communication strategy for Education under COVID-19, support its and implementation
- Develop a costed implementation plan for the Strategy
Inception report with work plan and timeframe, highlighting the methodological approach and agreement on the type of communication and advocacy material to be developed for the consultancy
30 October
Communication strategy developed for Education under COVID-19 and submitted.
A costed implementation plan which includes timeframe developed and submitted.
- Communication platforms
- Working with NANSO -Development of key tools for engagement
- Working with Nantu- Development of materials for teachers
Social media packages developed and submitted
30 November
Engagement tools and their strategic use provided
Pamphlets, brochures with key messages developed and submitted
- Support the development of communication materials around COVID-19 and education)
- Dissemination strategy developed for schools messaging under COVID-19 ‒ mental health and psychosocial support (parents and learners), return to schools, school preparedness and adherence to health protocols.
- Develop and produce school messaging inserts for radio (to be translated to 11 languages) tailored to local audiences and context
- When required, draft brief media releases on the school operations and writing of human interest stories.
- Tags
child protection
country programmes
journalism
mental health
political science
poverty eradication
press releases
product development
psychosocial
public relations
social sciences
social services
social welfare
- Posters with same messages developed for distribution through social media, media and distribution to communities.
- Identify various media, propose topics and discussion on COVID-19 and Education frequently
- Short videos of child parliamentarians/youth/ celebrities/influencers/Political persons in response to COVID 19
- Develop strong partnerships with key stakeholders – community groups, leaders and other partners in the community and civil society – for the promotion of key behaviors to stop transmission.
December 2020 –
31 March 2021
- Final report
Final report and power point presentation. Report must include
- Best practices and lesson learned
- Sustainability measures for ongoing engagement
- Recommendations
21 May 2021
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Desired profile
- A First level Degree in one of the following fields: Journalism, Communications, Social sciences, International Development, Political Science or other field related to UNICEF’s work.
- A minimum of two (2) years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: communication, advocacy, journalism, external relations.
- Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
- Proven expertise in developing surveys, polls and other engagement interventions are thus highly desired
- Knowledge of one or more local languages is a strong asset.
- Experience in working with young people is essential,
- Ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and concisely
- Possesses strong organizational and detail-oriented skills
- Knowledge and understanding of social issues especially those affecting children an young people
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
- Knowledge of Namibia’s political and socio-economic environment
- Prior experience and/or knowledge of UNICEF Country programmes of cooperation will be an added advantage.
- Prior experience in working with Government is a strong asset.
Administrative issues
Work relationships:
The consultant will have a dual reporting line with daily reporting to the Director, Programme and Quality Assurance and quality assurance responsibilities to Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships Specialist (UNICEF) and will further relate to the Education Specialist (UNICEF).
Terms and Conditions:
- The Consultant will be allocated a office space at the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture with occasional meetings/working time at UNICEF.
- The Consultant will work on their own computer. Computer equipment may be provided if required for the work.
- the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture and UNICEF reserves the right to terminate the contract should the work not be satisfactory.
- The consultant is expected to start on the 5th of October 2020
- The consultant is expected to daily report for duty as per the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture’s office hours from Monday to Friday 08:00 to 17:00
- Remuneration will be paid on a monthly basis against monthly reports on the progress of the agreed tasks.
UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions will be shared upon acceptance of an offer with the successful candidate.
Risks
Delays from the side of implementing partners, such as Government and NGOs could occur. These should not occur as the activities and this consultancy has been prior agreed with implementing partners. In case they do, it will be mitigated by ensuring strategy product development without the direct input from partners for direct use by UNICEF.
A sudden increase in COVID-19 cases lead to renewed movement restrictions.
This will be mitigated to moving the consultations online and having regular meetings with the consultant to assess progress.
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.
View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
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.
How to Apply
Qualified candidates can access UNICEF’s vacancies at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/ to submit online application by latest Thursday, 24 September 2020.
Qualified candidates are requested to send their CVs, letter of interest clearly indicating how their qualifications and experience matches the requirements, as well as samples of relevant previous work products. Please indicate your ability, availability and financial proposal/quote to complete the terms of reference of the consultancy.
Rates must include all expenses related to the assignment (e.g. daily/monthly consultancy fee)
Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considered.
Evaluation Weighting
70% – Technical
30% – Financial
Remarks:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
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.
Advertised: Sep 18 2020 Namibia Standard Time Application close: Sep 24 2020 Namibia Standard Time
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