Duration: 15 February 2025 – 16 January 2026
Workplace: office-based
Modality: full-time

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, a fair chance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=E1xkXZs0cAQ

Purpose of Activity/Assignment
The Communication Officer (Consultant) will provide comprehensive support to communication and advocacy efforts, ensuring the effective implementation of UNICEF Kazakhstan’s advocacy and communication strategy. This role aims to contribute to promotion of children’s rights and issues in the public domain, strengthening political and public will, and enhancing UNICEF’s credibility and brand in Kazakhstan. Under the Communication Specialist’s supervision and guidance, the Communication Officer will be developing media relations, increasing UNICEF share of voice in traditional media; communication campaigns for fundraising and partnership with business, as well as facilitating content production.
The ultimate objective is to enhance UNICEF’s visibility and influence, driving support for its mission to promote and protect children’s rights.

Scope of Work
The International consultant on MHPSS will be responsible for the following key tasks:
1) Analyze the current organization and functioning of the CPS both internal and multisectoral, the overall role of Orken Institute and CPSs in “establishing a unified system of psychological services aimed at maintaining and strengthening the psychological well-being of participants of the educational process” (CPS Methodological recommendation , and the multisectoral coordination and cooperation between services from different sectors for MHPSS. With support and involvement of national consultants to guide and conduct a review of the first year of CPSs’ operation, draw lessons learned and best practices, and provide recommendations for further institutional development of Orken Institute and CPSs, strengthening role of Orken Institute in supporting and development of CPSs, capacity building needs and areas, strengthening sector based and multisectoral case management systems. Based on the analysis done to provide policy recommendations for draft National Concept on Mental Health.
2) With support and involvement of national consultants to guide and conduct review of approaches, psychometrics tools, communication materials and training packages to be applied by four providers selected by the Project Office “on CPSs and implementation of anti-bullying programmes”. Identify commonalities and potential discrepancies in proposed approaches, suggest to the extent approaches are relevant and/or evidence based or proven. Present findings to the Project Office, UNICEF and propose recommendations for orientation and building capacity of involved providers to bring a common ground for further activities which is based on general principles, minimum MHPSS standards, and evidence-based and child-oriented approaches, with specific attention to particularly vulnerable groups, case management process and tools by the psychologists and multisectoral case management involving the different frontline workers from various sectors at service delivery level (teachers, GP, mental health workers.).
3) Develop training content and conduct training of providers, including Orken Institute, on common ground and general principles, minimum MHPSS standards, and evidence-based and child-oriented approaches for promoting child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing for providers and Orken Institute, and advise participants on recommended changes and adjustments for planned activities.
4) Identify needs and develop recommendations for capacity building of CPS’ psychologists in providing online-mental health psychosocial support services through uSupport platform. Based on needs identified develop training content and conduct training of CPS’ psychologists and involved staff of Orken Institute and the National Center of Mental Health (https://mentalcenter.kz)
5) Review monitoring and evaluation framework for activities planned by the Project Office and providers, advise on baseline, and assessment framework for testing/piloting stage and further scale of up interventions. Provide technical assistance to Orken Institute (and other involved stakeholders) for building capacity in coordination, monitoring and technical oversight of CPSs, as well as advise on division of responsibilities for coordination and oversight between other stakeholders at the central (the Ministry of Education) and local level (local government authorities/local departments of education).
6) Provide recommendations and support policy dialogue and advocacy upon needs with key ministries and decision makers on MHPSS policies and system strengthening.

The ultimate objective is to enhance UNICEF’s visibility and influence, driving support for its mission to promote and protect children’s rights.

Planned (field trips to oblast centers to support media engagements and content production within Kazakhstan), i.e. at least three 3-day field trips to Almaty, and other oblast centers in 2025.

Work Assignment Overview (Communication Officer Consultant).docx

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
• Education: University degree in public relations, journalism, marketing, communication, media, or a related field
• Experience:
– Minimum of 5 years of experience in public relations, journalism, marketing, external communication, or similar fields.
– Proven experience in communication and/or public relations.
– Excellent written communication skills and ability to compose engaging and accurate content
– Understanding of Kazakhstan media environment and experience in managing media relations
– Excellent organizational skills.
– Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines
– Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing
– Fluency in written and spoken English, Kazakh, and Russian is required

Evaluation criteria:
A) Technical Evaluation (e.g. maximum 75 Points)
• Proven experience in communication and/or public relations – 15 scores
• Excellent written communication skills and ability to compose engaging and accurate content – 10 scores
• Understanding of Kazakhstan media environment and experience in managing media relations – 15 scores
• Excellent organizational skills, self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; – 10 scores
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing – 10 scores
• Fluency in written and spoken English, Kazakh, and Russian– 15 scores
B) Financial Proposal (e.g. maximum of 25 Points)

For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (https://www.unicef.org/about/unicef-culture)

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility un-jobs.net UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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.

Completion of the UN/UNICEF mandatory trainings is obligatory upon commencement of the contract.

All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and that UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. This ToR is an integral part of the contract (SSA) to be signed with the consultant.

Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements