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, ADVOCACY

UNICEF South Africa (SACO) is seeking to obtain consulting services from a qualified individual consultant to provide editorial support for the Country Office. The tasks involve specialized skills in editing, proofreading and branding/layout for specific documents based on UNICEF writing styles and branding guidelines. 

The documents are produced by UNICEF SACO and will be used for diverse audiences, including  UNICEF staff, governments, policy-makers, developmental partners, NGOs, universities, schools, children and the public at large in order to inform, mobilize and advocate for the rights of children in Southern Africa.

The consultant will work under the strategic guidance and supervision of the UNICEF Deputy Representative, in close collaboration with the Programme Monitoring Reporting and Evaluation (PMRE) Manager and section, programme reports focal points.

The consultant will ensure the Country Office’s reporting obligations are met, and that the quality of reports are in accordance with UNICEF style and branding guidelines.

How can you make a difference? 

Donor reporting is an important area of UNICEF South Africa’s work. It provides donors with visibility for their contribution. As a result, UNICEF SACO is seeking individual consultant to support the production of written communication, advocacy and visibility materials that document key children’s issues and make the case for change.

The consultant will assist in Donor Reporting functions of UNICEF SACO by carrying out the following tasks:

1. Goal and Objective: The purpose of individual consultant is to assist the UNICEF SACO office in the editing of internal and external documents in accordance with UNICEF branding and style guidelines.

2. On a needs-basis, the consultant will be called upon to support UNICEF SACO in writing and/or substantive editing of key internal and external documents, assuring the highest quality as per the UNICEF writing and branding guidelines. 

3. The documents edited by the consultant will result in the production of information packaged and adapted for various audiences both internal and external covering studies, research, donor reports and key internal meeting reports.

4. If required, the consultant will work in close collaboration with photographers to capture relevant powerful images for stories and photo essays and/or with graphic designers to finalize the layouts, texts and illustrations to ensure high-quality production of various printed products.

5. If required, the consultant will support UNICEF to document good practices, especially on humanitarian response and human interest stories, including writing blogs.

Activities and tasks

Perform substantive editing and writing by:

Ensuring consistent style of writing and tone throughout the document. When appropriate, restructuring, consolidating and/or rewriting sections of the document to ensure logical flow and clarity in messages. Correcting spelling, punctuation, grammar and syntax mistakes and eliminating repetition and ensuring concise writing. Ensuring any graphics such as tables or figures are clear. Checking the table of content against the document. Checking the acronym list against the acronyms used in the document.  Editing footnotes, references and bibliography for completeness and consistency of style.  When required, consolidating and producing a write-up based on content inputs and data provided by SACO

Additional guidance

The reports need to be developed in a consultative manner. It is expected that for finalizing one report, at least 1-2 iterations are made by consultant based on SACO programme focal point and PMRE Manager feedback during a 1–2-week period until the report is finalized. Generic supportive- supervision and coordination support on a day-to-day basis will be provided by PMRE section.

The consultant will be available for feedback and inputs on submitted drafts of written communication products as per the requirement of the office, for up to a maximum of three rounds of writing and editing of all products before final approval by UNICEF.

All edited documents should be in line with the UNICEF Writing Style Guide, Branding Guidelines as well as the SACO branding templates (when available).

All assignments should be submitted electronically by the specified deadline to SACO. The consultant should provide track changes and comments directly in the document, as well as provide a clean copy of the final document. The final report will be cleared by the PMRE section.

The payment is upon satisfactory completion of the deliverables agreed between SACO and the consultant.

Work relationships:  For each assignment, SACO (PMRE section) and the consultant will agree on the scope, timelines and cost for reviewing, editing or writing and finalizing documents based on a per day work schedule. The consultant will work independently and will be home based. The interaction between SACO and the consultant will be by email/Teams or phone calls as appropriate. The consultant is expected to respond within 24 hours or less to requests from UNICEF SACO  The availability and willingness to take up an assignment on short notice is important.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

a. Specialized skills and/or training Knowledge and capacity to provide high quality reports in line with UNICEF writing style and reporting guidelines.

Education:  Advanced degree in the area of communication and similar field. Minimum eight (8) years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in writing/editing of reports and publications. A minimum of four years of progressively responsible relevant work experience with the UN, International Organizations, INGOs/NGOs in communication and report writing is desired.Fluency in English is required Experience in branding and layout is an added advantage. Expert attention to detail is required. Flexibility and availability/willingness to take up assignments on short notice. Strong knowledge of development/humanitarian contexts and programming, particularly as related to the Eastern and Southern Africa region is highly desired.

b. Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in writing/editing of reports and publications.

c. In addition, required competencies include the ability to demonstrate self-awareness and ethical awareness, drive to achieve results for impact, think and act strategically, manage ambiguity and complexity, and work collaboratively with others.

d. Knowledge of another official UN language an asset (especially French and Portuguese).

Administrative issues

The consultant should perform the work using their own resources (e.g. computer, internet connection) and UNICEF will not provide a working space. The work will be performed remotely/home-based without travel.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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:  

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. 

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. 

This vacancy is archived.

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