National Consultant to support in scaling up the social media platforms of the Children’s Club network, Colombo (remote)

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, results

UNICEF works to protect the rights of every child in Sri Lanka. Our goal is to ensure that all of our children survive, thrive and fulfill their vast potential.

In a world that is rapidly changing, children are faced with complex challenges and unprecedented opportunities. UNICEF’s programs are designed to reach and benefit all children so that they can withstand these challenges, leverage these opportunities and be the drivers of their own destiny.

UNICEF is committed to creating a country in which every child is free to learn, play and grow. Our programs work towards providing all children in Sri Lanka with shelter, nutrition, protection and education, wherever they may be. We strive to create communities in which children can live with dignity and hope, free from discrimination, violence and fear.

We make every effort to create and maintain environments that will enable and empower children to be the very best that they can be.

In this way, all children will not only benefit from economic and social growth but will become the driving force behind sustainable national development.

For over 50 years, with the help of our vast network of partners, UNICEF has made significant strides in raising health, education and protection standards for children in Sri Lanka. From achieving Universal Child Immunization (1989) to establishing The National Child Protection Authority (1998) to providing decades of crucial relief in the wake of devastating conflict and natural disaster, UNICEF has played a pivotal role in creating an environment in which children have the best chance to survive and thrive.

Yet, many challenges still exist, especially for the most vulnerable. Some national and regional bodies require resources and reinvigoration. Individuals and institutions need to be strengthened, coordinated and aligned with global standards so that children enjoy support in their schools, communities and homes to help them overcome challenges and unleash their full potential into the world.

Due to our long-standing reputation as an experienced, neutral and collaborative partner, UNICEF is ideally suited to drive these efforts. Our history of success in Sri Lanka is built on our ability to tap into a wide network of national and international partners which, in turn, is bolstered by our own far-reaching presence in the field. In working closely with these government, non-government and private entities, UNICEF takes a leadership role, drawing on our technical expertise to accurately assess existing challenges and develop, execute and coordinate solutions that are relevant and scalable on the ground.  For more information about UNICEF Sri Lanka and its work visit: http://www.unicef.org/srilanka

How can you make a difference? 

Scope of Work:

Background

Children have a right to influence decisions and participate in matters that affect their lives by being informed, engaged, and heard. The Government of Sri Lanka recognizes the right, importance, and need of child participation in areas that matter to them. Furthermore, the Child Participation Guideline of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs emphasizes that child participation needs to be incorporated into all decisions, processes, and activities related to children, including formulation of policies and plans for the benefit of children.

Children’s Club program is one of the key programmes implemented by the Department of Probation and Child Care Services (DPCCS) of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs to ensure the right to participation of children. There are around 9,000 active children’s clubs in the country at the village level with the participation of around 570, 000 children. Divisional, district and national children’s councils are formed and functioned with the representatives selected from village-level children’s clubs, divisional level councils and district level councils respectively.

The DPCCS has recently developed a strategic action plan for the Children’s Club network. ‘Empowering children and youth in Sri Lanka to amplify their voices and creating a positive perception on children’s clubs’ is one of the key objectives in this strategic action plan. In alignment with this objective and as a strategy to achieve this, it is intended to promote and scale up the social media platforms of the Children’s Club network. The recruited consultant is expected to provide a short – term support to the operational team of these social media platforms, consisting of the selected representatives of the National Children’s Council, Children’s Clubs and the DPCCS.

Description of assignment:

1. Proposing an appropriate and sustainable operational team structure to manage the social media platforms of the Children´s Club Network.

Recruited consultant is expected to propose an appropriate operational team structure to manage the social media platforms after understanding the operations of the children’s club network; referring the resource materials; and consulting the National Children’s Council, DPCCS and UNICEF. Proposed team structure (10- 12 members including children with disabilities) should consist of children from the National Children’s Council and Children’s Club network; and officials from the DPCCS.

Consultant is expected to develop a proposal of a team structure (organogram), job descriptions for each role, and screening/selection criteria to recruit suitable candidates for the suggested team roles. Based on the job descriptions and screen guidelines provided by the consultant, the DPCCS will complete the selection process to recruit candidates for the operational team.

2.  Enhancing the capacity of the operation team to manage the social media platforms.

Recruited consultant is expected to enhance the capacity of the operational team through facilitating two three-day residential workshops; and three virtual follow up meetings.

Orientation Workshop – It is proposed to consider below areas for the orientation workshop. Exact focus areas will be determined after the recruitment of the consultant in coordination with DPCCS and UNICEF.

Team building un-jobs.net Purpose and objectives of the team un-jobs.net Child Participation as a right un-jobs.net Introduction to Digital Marketing un-jobs.net Digital Marketing landscape (especially in Sri Lanka) un-jobs.net Digital ecosystem and touch points (in relation to the Children’s Club network also by referring the existing Digital Mapping developed by UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia as a guidance) un-jobs.net Basics about the selected social media platforms un-jobs.net Digital Research Tools un-jobs.net Social Media ethics and Social Responsibility un-jobs.net Online Safety and Protection

Operational Workshop – It is proposed to consider below areas for the orientation workshop. Exact focus areas will be determined after the recruitment of the consultant in coordination with DPCCS and UNICEF.

Digital Strategy for the social media platforms of the children’s club network un-jobs.net Communication and Performance Objectives un-jobs.net Branding Guide for Social Media platforms (logo, name, tag line etc.) un-jobs.netTarget Audience, Audience Persona, and Social Media brand voice un-jobs.net Social media content strategy (content pillars, key advocacy moments, and some proposed content types under each pillar, potential influencers) un-jobs.net Operational procedures (in terms of content creation, obtaining consent, obtaining approval for publishing etc.) un-jobs.net Dos and Don’ts for the social media platforms of the children’s clubs.

Consultant is expected to provide below documents that are co-developed with the operational team, DPCCS and UNICEF after the workshops. Documents needs to be contextualized and relevant for the social media platforms of the children’s club networks.

After the Orientation Workshop – Mapping of Digital Ecosystem and Touchpoints, Social Media Ethics, Online safety and protection guidance

After the Operational Workshop – Digital Strategy, Communication and Performance Objectives, Branding Guide, Target Audience, Audience Personas, Social media brand voice, Social Media content strategy (content pillars; Advocacy moments; and proposed content types and potential influencers), Operation procedures, Consent Forms, Dos and Don’ts

Training workshops should be conducted in Sinhala and Tamil. If the consultant is not fluent in either Sinhala or Tamil languages, consultant is expected to arrange a translator for the workshops, since the workshops should be conducted in Sinhala and Tamil languages. It is recommended to select a translator with considerable understanding on digital media. Based on the need, UNICEF and DPCCS will arrange a sign language interpreter.

UNICEF and DPCCS will arrange the required logistics for the workshops. Workshop will be conducted in Colombo or at a central location considering the locations of the operation team members. Consultant is expected to manage his/her transportation (and the transportation of a translator if needed) to attend the workshop. Training workshops will be scheduled during the weekend/public holidays/school holidays. 

3.  Providing on-going support for the operation team to manage the social media platforms.

After the completion of the workshops, it is proposed to conduct three two-hour virtual discussions with the operational team to provide the required on-going support monthly. Themes of these virtual discussions will be decided later based on the need.

Virtual discussions should be conducted in Sinhala and Tamil. If the consultant is not fluent in either Sinhala or Tamil languages, consultant is expected to arrange a translator for the virtual discussions, since the discussions should be conducted in Sinhala and Tamil.  It is recommended to select a translator with considerable understanding on digital media.  Based on the need, UNICEF and DPCCS will arrange a sign language interpreter.

•    Above areas are listed based on the existing requirement of the task. Consultant is expected to undertake additional areas, that can be arisen based on the changing programmatic requirements.

•     Training materials of the workshops should be submitted at least one week prior to the workshop. Training materials of the workshops, and documents submitted after the workshops should be initially developed in English.  Revisions are to be conducted by the consultant based on the feedback received from the National Children’s Council, DPCCS and UNICEF. UNICEF will recruit translators to translate the training materials and documents to Sinhala and Tamil. Consultant is expected to coordinate with the translators and finalize the training materials and documents.

•      Consultant should provide frequent updates of activities taken place to UNICEF and DPCCS. Touch base meetings can be organized as required to discuss any issues/concerns to ensure progress is in line with the expected requirements and timeline.

•      Consultant should adhere to the agreed work schedule and deliver according to the accepted quality standards.

Consultant to support in scaling up the social media platforms of the Children’s Club network (remote)

Duration of the consultancy: 15 days (within 4 months)

Tentative start date: 15 March 2024

Duty station – Colombo

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

Bachelors – Communication, Digital Marketing, Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations or other relevant field

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

•        At least five years of professional experience in designing and implementing audience focussed digital and social media strategies.

•        Strong experience in managing digital and social media platforms and campaigns, preferably in a humanitarian or not-for-profit environment.

•        Strong familiarity with the digital landscape in Sri Lanka

•        Strong experience in training and facilitation in relation to digital and social media

•        Strong experience in working with children in relation to digital and social media.

•        Advocacy and social engagement skills necessary for dealing with technical experts and partners.

•        Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Sinhala/Tamil are required.

•        Strong conceptual, synthesis and strategic thinking skills.

•        Strong organisational skills, with the ability to deliver results on time.

•        Previous experience in working with the DPCCS, UNICEF and UN will be an added advantage

How to apply:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a resume and other relevant documents

Please complete your profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system. https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_consultancy_assignments.html

Please indicate your ability, availability and fee/rate (in LKR) to undertake the terms of reference above. (Indicate an all-inclusive fee (including lump sum travel, IT accessories, Internet and subsistence costs, as applicable) to undertake the tasks in the Terms of reference. Office 365 license will be provided by UNICEF, as applicable) 

Applications submitted without a fee/rate will not be considered  

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:  

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. 

If you think this position might be for you, please take the time to review our Country Office Mutual Agreements before you apply.

If you believe you can team member that can uphold these everyday, then we look forward to receiving and reviewing your application.

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