International Consultant for Consolidated Emergency Report (CER) writing and editing, (REMOTE Assignment), Damascus, Syria, 20 working days within 1.5 month

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, commitment

BACKGROUND (RATIONALE AND CONTEXT):

Children in the Syrian Arab Republic continue to face one of the most complex emergencies in the world. Over two thirds of the population require assistance because of a worsening economic crisis, continued localized hostilities, mass displacement, devastated public infrastructure and effects of the earthquakes. More than 15.3 million people (including 7 million children) require assistance, and 6.8 million people are internally displaced. Almost 70 per cent of the population requires assistance due to a worsening economic crisis, localized hostilities, mass displacement and devastated public infrastructure.

In 2023, UNICEF Syria Country Office (SCO) delivered lifesaving services that addressed recovery needs with its partners and through its field offices, fostering the resilience of children and families. SCO also made a funding appeal of US$ 468.5 million to provide life-saving assistance to 7.8 million people (including 5 million children) across Syria according to the Humanitarian Action for Children.

As the year comes to an end, SCO is preparing to meet its end year reporting documentation requirements. The 2023 Consolidated Emergency Report (CER) is a critical aspect of the SCO to highlight the progress made against the humanitarian need and the funding appeal. The report will detail what SCO has achieved in advancing children’s rights and examine the impact of these accomplishments on the lives of children.

Therefore, the PRM section is eliciting an individual consultant to support the 2023 Annual Reporting requirements.

How can you make a difference? 

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT (PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT):

The purpose of the contract is to review (quality assure) the inputs received from the Syria Country Office teams/sections, edit, draft, and proofread the CER 2023, as well as to produce all CER accompanying annexes, including donors’ two-pagers reports.

LOCATION (GEOGRAPHIC AREA/ DUTY STATION): Damascus, Syria

Off-site working days: 20 working days, to be performed remotely 

DURATION:

The selected consultant will work for 20 days within 1.5 month period. It is envisaged: all workdays out of the country. The exact schedule of the activities will be agreed with the consultant based on the consultancy implementation progress. The deadline for submission of final deliverables to UNICEF will discussed and agreed according to the 2023 CER guidelines.  

SUPERVISOR:

The consultant will be supervised and report to the SCO Chief of Partnerships and Resource Mobilization. On a day-to-day basis, the consultant is expected to work closely and liaise with the SCO Programme Sections, with support from the PRM team.

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT (TASKS, SMART DELIVERABLES, DEADLINES):  

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS:

Regular online debriefing on progress, as well as close communication via email on the review process.

PROPOSED PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Payment of professional fees will be paid through one final installment based upon submission and UNICEF acceptance of the agreed deliverables as outlined in the “Description of Assignment” table.

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.

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

Education

• Advanced university degree (communication, journalism, literature, public relations)

Skills and experience

• At least 5 years professional work experience in a relevant field.
• Proven track record of reporting quality documents and reports will be required;
• Previous report writing experience, particularly UNICEF reports and standards (RBM – results based reporting), will be considered an asset;
• Experience working with UNICEF and/or the United Nations system will be considered an asset;
• Familiarity and experience with Humanitarian work will be considered an asset;
• Strong technical skills in editing, style correction and consolidation of variety of inputs will be required;
• English fluency and strong oral and written communications skills will be required;
• Strong communication skills (oral and written) will be required.

EVALUATION PROCESS (OF APPLICATIONS):

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Applications through UNICEF’s Talent Management System (TMS)

2. CV

3. Financial quote as lump sum for professional fees only

4. At least 3 Referees from Direct Supervisors

Shortlisted applicants may be invited for further technical assessment. Final recommendation will be made based on “best value for money”, i.e. the hiring section/office shall normally select the individual who quoted the lowest fee from among the candidates who are assessed as suitable for achieving all tasks on time, as per the criteria stipulated in this ToR, and based on the outcome of the evaluation/assessment conducted.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s core 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. 

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 the 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.