Advocacy Consultant, Polio Outbreaks, Child Survival Advocacy Team, UNICEF Division of Global Communication and Advocacy, New York, USA, office based with travel, 11 months, # 594149

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

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UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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How can you make a difference?

The period from August 2026-June 2027 is a significant, crucial time for polio eradication efforts. The months ahead are high risk, but with important opportunities for UNICEF’s advocacy and to secure essential results. UNICEF is looking for a consultant for 11 months to support key moments and initiatives which are part of UNICEF’s Global, Regional, and Country Polio Advocacy for the period 1 August-31 December 2026; and are part of UNICEF’s Global Polio Advocacy for the period 1 January-30 June 2027. Additional capacity is needed in the Division of Global Communication and Advocacy, Child Survival Advocacy Section, to: undertake timebound projects, support Regional and Country Offices (in the August-December 2026 period; work across UNICEF DGCA teams for the January-June 2027 period; and, scale up polio advocacy results during this crucial period of polio outbreaks and efforts towards polio eradication. This includes delivering resources and materials for internal purposes and donor engagement.

UNICEF’s polio advocacy is supported by a leading Foundation. This role will support a number of key grant deliverables.

Scope of work: Working closely with relevant Global, Regional and Country Advocacy Managers and the Gates Foundation Grant Focal Point, the consultant will:

• Develop concept notes and project plans for initiatives that will be implemented across UNICEF offices

• Support the development of key resources to support coordination and advocacy around key global and regional events

• Produce documents showing advocacy results required for strengthening partnerships and opportunities to secure future funding for polio advocacy

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: ToRTMC0003766.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Masters in Medicine, Epidemiology, Public Health, International Relations, Public Policy, International Development, Human Rights, Global Health, Communications, Journalism or similar.
• Work Experience:
• At least two (3) years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in sectors associated with global and/or public health, advocacy and communication.
• Excellent writing and research skills, including experience in writing short reports and briefings are essential.
• Experience in developing and creating advocacy materials, key messages, event briefings and concept notes, talking points, donor reports, and advocacy briefings is essential.
• Strong communicator with emphasis on being able to present complex policy ideas in succinct and engaging ways in advocacy and campaign materials is essential.
• Proven experience in deploying a range of advocacy and communication tactics with partners and including multiple teams.
• Demonstrated experience in design and management of projects.
• Knowledge of children’s rights, public policy, international development and humanitarian issues.
• Experience in advocacy at the international level is an asset.
• Experience working in a developing and emergency environment is an asset.
• Experience working in the field of Polio eradication or a thorough understanding of challenges associates with polio programs and outbreaks is strongly preferred.

• Skills: Good working knowledge and experience across Microsoft SharePoint, Word, PowerPoint, Excel is required.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Fluency in French is desirable

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) Financial proposal TMC0003766.docx

Remarks: If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not visible on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.