Communication Consultant at UNICEF

Job Number: 513189

Work Type: Consultancy

Background
Nigeria is one of the top five countries with highest numbers of people without access to safe water and improved sanitation and practicing Open Defecation. Nigeria was unable to reach the MDG targets for water (75%) and sanitation (65%) with major shortfalls in the rural areas. Open defecation poses a major threat to public health with an estimated 50 million Nigerians practicing open defecation. Open defecation is more common in the rural than in urban areas with wide disparities in access across wealth quintiles. As at 2013, only 28.2 % of the rural population has access to improved sanitation, while 47.7% have access to safe water. In the urban setting, access to water supply is 77.6%, while the sanitation coverage is 42.7%.

In order to strengthen the sanitation supply side interventions, UNICEF has commissioned a sanitation marketing research in 2013/14. The main objective of this research was to generate better evidence to provide a better understanding of the community sanitation needs and preferences; their motivation for adoption of certain sanitation practices; the available supply chain and financing for sanitation-related products and services; and the policy and enabling environments for designing and promoting appropriate sanitation marketing models in Nigeria.

UNICEF pilot on Sanitation Financing resulted in developing the three-pronged strategy for Sanitation Financing in Nigeria also considering the key elements from the Sanitation Marketing approach. Based on the strategy, UNICEF initiated partnerships with 42 Rural Financial Institutions to provide affordable Sanitation loans (@ up to one-third of the existing market interest rates). These financial institutions will incorporate sanitation financing into their existing micro-credit portfolio and provide loans in collaboration with UNICEF and the State and Local Government agencies. Pilots were initiated, working together with the Rural Finance Institution Building Program (RUFIN), for the formation 60 Sanitation Savings and Credit Groups at the Community Level to mobilize investments for construction of improved toilets. These savings and credit groups provide loans for members through periodical & consistent savings and internal lending mechanisms.

Job Purpose

• Under the supervision of the Chief of Communications, with reporting line to the WASH Specialist, the communication consultant (national of Nigeria) will develop and ensure effective implementation of the Open Defecation Free Nigeria’ communication campaign of UNICEF Nigeria.
• More specifically, the consultant will be responsible for providing visibility to activities and results in a timely and efficient manner. The consultant will develop communication materials to support advocacy needs of the WASH Section of UNICEF Nigeria.
• The consultant will also develop and promote stories, including human interest stories and other materials for sharing with partners.
• The consultant will also organize and support field visits of journalists of media professional to ensure visibility of activities and project results.

Scope

• The Consultant will be based in the UNICEF Nigeria Country Office, Abuja and will work closely with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources; the Media; Communication agencies as well as UNICEF National and Field Office colleagues.
• The tasks will involve travelling to States, LGAs and Communities for consultation with relevant government partners and UNICEF colleagues.

Major Tasks to be Accomplished
Under the supervision of the Communication Section, and in close coordination with the WASH Specialist, the consultant will work in UNICEF Abuja, with field visits to UNICEF Field Offices. The Communication consultant will be accountable for and carry out the following task in fulfilling the expectations of this post:

• Develop and lead implementation of communication plan for End Open Defecation in Nigeria communication campaign
• Develop the communication plan through a participatory process
• Based on the communication plan, design and finalize effective advocacy and communication materials for the campaign, and other needs of WASH section
• Work with technical colleagues to identify gaps in information required for visibility and ensure those gaps are adequately filled
• Support the development of quality communication materials (leaflets, radio, video clips and TV spots etc.) for promoting key advocacy message
• Undertake other relevant tasks such as language-editing of technical reports, policy briefs and briefing notes
• Use of social media, video, photography to document to share project successes
• Write and finalize human interest stories
• Support documentation for visibility of the WASH activities and results for advocacy:
• Provide inputs on communication activities for donor reports, ensuring accurate and timely submission
• Develop communication products (presentations, human interest stories, and social media posts); plan and ensure execution of photo shoots and video products with UNICEF-hired photographers and videographers
• Plan and support organization of special events and high-level field visits by donors and UNICEF partners
• Ensure donor visibility and donor mention in communication products and activities
• Undertake other tasks in support of communication and advocacy needs of education section, as per planning with communication section

Qualifications or specialized Knowledge/Experience Required
Education:

• Advanced degree in communication, journalism, mass-media, advertising, public relations, or related field. In the absence of advance degree, a first university degree with additional 3 years of experience will be necessary.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in communication, journalism, advertisement, creative writing or external relations
• Experienced in planning and rolling out communication campaigns
• Experienced with communicating using social media platforms.
• Experienced with planning and executing work-plans.
• Strong writing and analytical skills using diverse tools and computer applications

Language:

• Fluency in English language and writing skills.

Contract Duration:

• Contract will be for a total duration of 11 months