About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines fordeveloping countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

Consultancy: PROSPECTS Communications & Advocacy Consultant

Duty Station: Programme Group, GPD/CP/MDH

Duration: 5 December 2025 – 5 December 2027   

Home/ Office Based: Remote

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in advocacy, in programmes, and in operations. UNICEF delivers change by advocating for high-quality programmes at scale, harnessing innovation and collecting evidence, in partnership with governments, other United Nations partners, civil society, the private sector, communities and children. It uses these strategies to leverage wider change nationally and globally through advocacy, communications and campaigning. UNICEF also wins the support of decision makers and the public around the world to drive change, volunteer, advocate and mobilize resources for the cause of children, and works with partners to achieve an even greater impact.

As a part of its portfolio, UNICEF’s Migration and Displacement Hub leads the strategic partnership, programme development and coordination for the Partnership for Improved Prospects (PROSPECTS) and supports UNICEF regional and country offices to effectively work on behalf of children on the move. PROSPECTS aims to improve opportunities for forcibly displaced persons and their host communities in selected countries in Africa and the Middle East, through a paradigm shift from a humanitarian to a development approach. The Partnerships Consultant will support the Migration and Displacement Hub to complete specific activities, coordinating with the many HQ, regional and country offices

Scope of Work:

This consultancy will be responsible for supporting the Migration and Displacement Hub’s role in coordinating the development and dissemination of communications assets for the PROSPECTS partnership, including joint deliverables with partners, as well as implementing an advocacy strategy on migrant and displaced children within the broader context of UNICEF’s global advocacy priorities for children on the move.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

1. Support the finalization, implementation and monitoring of the 2026-2029 Global Advocacy Framework for children on the move

• Develop content and project content development of advocacy and communications resources and assets (e.g. briefs, inputs for press releases, copy for social media assets).

-  6 Communication and advocacy resources, assets developed for Global Advocacy Framework

20 Jan 2026

• Revamp, update and consolidate migration and displacement key messages related to the Global Advocacy Framework and key thematic issues, clearly organized on UNICEF’s internal SharePoint site, for internal use.

-  Consolidated portfolio of key messages updated and shared on the SharePoint site

20 Jan 2026

• Provide technical assistance and capacity building support for Regions, Country Offices and HQ sectors to increase understanding about the Framework and contextualize the Global Advocacy Framework to diverse contexts

- 4 presentations delivered.

- 8 meetings convened to provide technical support; Follow-up resources shared

20 Dec 2025

31 Jan 2026

28 Feb 2026

31 Mar 2026

30 April 2026

31 May 2026

• Support, and facilitate, the implementation of agreed activities to advance joint advocacy priorities and strategies at global, regional and country levels, liaising with relevant ROs and with COs in priority countries identified in the global framework

- 4 advocacy strategies deployed

31 July 2026

30 Sept 2026

30 Nov 2026

28 Feb 2027

• Identify and seize opportunities to ensure that advocacy priorities outlined in the global framework are reflected in high-level UNICEF engagements, including senior leadership interactions, global fora high-profile events (e.g. Global Refugee Forum Progress Review, IMRF), and public advocacy on corporate channels

- 8 briefing notes, talking points or communication assets developed and deployed for high level engagements

20 Dec 2025

31 Mar 2026

30 June 2026

30 Sept 2026

20 Dec 2026

31 Mar 2027

30 June 2027

28 Feb 2026

• Track progress against the strategy, including activities implemented as part of the advocacy strategy at global, regional, and national levels, including by developing mechanisms or tools where needed for monitoring and reporting

- 1 set of monitoring and reporting tools developed;

- 8 quarterly reports and briefings written and/or delivered

31 Mar 2026

30 June 2026

30 Sept 2026

20 Dec 2026

31 Mar 2027

30 June 2027

30 Sept 2027

5 Dec 2027

2. Support the implementation of the PROSPECTS Partnership communication strategy

• Contribute to the PROSPECTS Communication Working Group, providing inputs and strategic guidance on the implementation of communications activities and assets, including on the annual joint product, and ensure follow-up on agreed actions.  

- 12 PROSPECTS Communications Working Group meetings completed;

- 4 Joint products completed and disseminated

• Liaise with UNICEF’s Regional and Country Offices in the PROSPECTS partnership to map communications activities and assets planned by each office, ensuring visibility of ongoing programmes through articles, media engagements, videos, and human-interest stories that showcase results for children, and provide support to COs and ROs on advocacy and communications matters. 

- Mapping of communication assets and activities is completed and updated on a monthly basis (20 times);

- Deliver 14 emails or calls to provide guidance to COs and ROs

• Identify compelling stories and programmatic results to be featured in HQ-led communications products, and oversee production of those assets, including through multimedia missions to COs to produce content

- 8 HQ communication assets produced

• Collaborate with relevant teams to produce and oversee content updates for the external PROSPECTS webpage on UNICEF’s site

- 15 PROSPECTS webpage updates finalized

20 Dec 2025

31 Mar 2026

30 June 2026

30 Sept 2026

20 Dec 2026

31 Mar 2027

30 June 2027

30 Sept 2027

5 Dec 2027

3. Communication support to the Migration and Displacement Hub workplan activities 

• Facilitate development of advocacy and communications resources, assets, and content (e.g., key messages, briefing notes, talking points, press release inputs, video scripts, social media copy) to support the team’s work

-  15 communication resources and assets developed and disseminated

20 Dec 2025

31 Jan 2026

28 Feb 2026

31 Mar 2026

30 April 2026

31 May 2026

• Support the organization of events and webinars, including by participating in planning meetings, securing speakers, developing agendas and talking points and producing promotional materials

- 3 events or webinars delivered

• Ensure an open and constant flow of communication and close coordination between relevant GCA teams and the Migration and Displacement Hub in PG

- Weekly team meetings with the MDH and GCA teams participated and contributed

31 July 2026

30 Sept 2026

30 Nov 2026

28 Feb 2027

4. Manage external communication activities and publication production processes, liaising with relevant colleagues in GCA and external vendors to coordinate the end-to-end production of flagship reports, external publications, and multimedia products, that support the advocacy strategy, including a Climate Displacement Brief in East Asia.

-  Press releases, key messages, social media content developed for 3 reports or briefs; 3 reports/briefs successfully launched and disseminated, including supporting materials

15 April 2026

15 Dec 2026

30 Nov 2027

5. Support two high-profile advocacy and communications activations per year on global channels (e.g., World Refugee Day), facilitate planning and implementation across relevant divisions, and developing and disseminating a flagship asset (e.g., video documentary or publication), ensuring delivery against the workplan. 

-  4 activations completed

30 Jun 2026

20 Dec 2026

30 Jun 2027

5 Dec 2027

6. 

Coordinate advocacy on major displacement crises 

• Contribute to advocacy on major displacement crises (e.g. Rohingya, Sudan), drafting advocacy briefs and key messages, and coordinating with communication colleagues in CO, RO and HQ for producing and disseminating global content.
• Liaise with the GCA Humanitarian Advocacy team and the GCA Humanitarian Taskforce by attending meetings and ensuring coordination and follow-up on agreed actions
• Leverage existing partnerships with other agencies (including UNHCR and IOM), the UN Network on Migration, and the UN80 Humanitarian Diplomacy Collaborative Initiative to highlight key issues and asks related to Children on the Move – including through joint statements, joint key messages, coordinated engagement at key fora, and major events

- 8 advocacy briefs and/or key messages written

- 30 coordination calls conducted to validate and revise assets.

- 12 meetings attended; follow-up actions finalized

- 6 joint statements and related key messages finalized and disseminated

-  Coordination plans for 3 major events written and implemented

20 Dec 2025

31 Mar 2026

30 June 2026

30 Sept 2026

20 Dec 2026

31 Mar 2027

30 June 2027

30 Sept 2027

5 Dec 2027

Qualifications

Education:   

Bachelor Degree in social sciences, international relations, public policy, international development, communication or a related field

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• At least five years’ experience in advocacy and campaign strategy development and execution, preferably on both a global and national level on issues related to migrant and displaced children.
• Experience in providing expert advice and support on advocacy and campaigns.
• Demonstrated experience in design and management of projects.
• Knowledge of international migration and displacement policy issues and child rights, including the Global Compact on Refugees and the Global Compact for Migration and others.
• Experience working with the UNICEF on migration and displacement issues and the PROSPECTS Partnership is considered an asset.

Competencies  

• Demonstrated strong communication, presentation and writing skills are essential – a clear, concise, compelling writing style which is adaptable for difference audiences, including mainstream public.
• Strategic thinking and critical analysis.
• Commitment and drive, with a clear focus on results.
• Ability to juggle competing priorities under pressure, whilst maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines.

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

- Upload copy of academic credentials

- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability

- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

- At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory 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.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. 

Remarks:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.