Agenda Cidade UNICEF is UNICEF Brazil’s main initiative dedicated to protecting children and adolescents living in favelas, peripheral neighborhoods and other vulnerable urban territories from all forms of violence. Since 2022, the initiative has operated in eight Brazilian capitals: Belém, Fortaleza, Manaus, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, São Luís and São Paulo. Its 2025–2028 cycle promotes integrated and evidence-based action across education, health, child protection and social assistance, working with municipal governments, communities, civil society organizations, the private sector, adolescents and young people.

Communication plays a strategic role in raising awareness, supporting advocacy, giving visibility to results and practical solutions, strengthening stakeholder engagement, and amplifying the participation and voices of adolescents.

This consultancy will support UNICEF Brazil in planning, coordinating and implementing communication activities for Agenda Cidade UNICEF in the eight cities. The consultant will contribute to ensuring that national and local communication efforts are coordinated, evidence-based and aligned with UNICEF’s communication strategy, standards, visual identity, ethical principles, child safeguarding requirements and advocacy priorities.

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SCOPE OF WORK:

Under the direct supervision of the Communication Specialist, the consultant will provide time-bound, deliverable-based technical support for the planning, production and implementation of communication activities for Agenda Cidade UNICEF.

The consultant will work in coordination with UNICEF communication and programme colleagues, including relevant Field and Zone Offices, as well as external partners and service providers, as required for the completion of the agreed products. The assignment will help translate programme evidence, implementation results and the experiences of children, adolescents, families, communities and municipal actors into clear, ethical and audience-appropriate communication products.

The consultant will be responsible for developing a national digital communication plan for Agenda Cidade UNICEF; producing human-interest stories in selected participating cities and territories; developing communication campaign packages for Global Road Safety and Prefeito/a por Um Dia; preparing institutional and monitoring reports; producing press releases to give visibility to the partnership; and supporting communication activities related to an Agenda Cidade UNICEF event in Rio de Janeiro.

All products must be developed in accordance with UNICEF communication standards, visual identity, editorial guidance, ethical storytelling, informed consent and child safeguarding requirements. The consultant will work on a delivery basis and will not perform staff functions. Payments will be linked to the submission and acceptance of the agreed deliverables.

DELIVERABLES

1. Inception report and detailed workplan, including the proposed methodology, eleven-month workplan, delivery schedule, coordination arrangements, dependencies and main implementation risks.

• Deadline – 15 days after contract

• Estimate Budget - 4%

2. Agenda Cidade UNICEF activity report, consolidating the main activities, results, evidence and communication highlights from the agreed reporting period, including an editorial structure and recommendations for institutional and digital dissemination.

• Deadline – 30 days after contract

• Estimate Budget - 5%

3. National digital communication plan for Agenda Cidade UNICEF, including communication objectives, priority audiences, key messages, recommended channels and formats, editorial approach, indicative content calendar, implementation responsibilities and monitoring indicators.

• Deadline – 60 days after contract

• Estimate Budget - 9%

4. Global Road Safety communication campaign package, including communication objectives, priority audiences, campaign concept, key messages, content and dissemination plan, proposed digital assets, engagement opportunities and monitoring indicators.

• Deadline – 90 days after contract

• Estimate Budget - 9%

5. Prefeito/a por Um Dia communication campaign package, including the proposed concept and methodology, communication objectives, priority audiences, key messages, visual and digital content requirements, dissemination stages, engagement of participating cities and implementation guidance.

• Deadline – 120 days after contract

• Estimate Budget - 9%

6. Production of up to seven (7) human-interest stories related to Agenda Cidade UNICEF and UNICEF Rio de Janeiro priorities, including: identification of potential stories and characters, research and interviews; text drafting and editing; photography; selection and organization of visual assets; suggested social media copy and dissemination angles.

All products must comply with UNICEF editorial standards, child safeguarding procedures and informed consent requirements.

• Deadline: According to the approved workplan, by 30 November 2027

• Estimate Budget: 35%

7. Development of up to three (3) press releases to provide visibility to Agenda Cidade UNICEF, strategic partnerships, field activities and programme results.

• Deadline: According to programme demand, by 31 December 2027

• Estimate Budget: 15%

8. Monthly coordination meetings documentation package. Preparation of meeting notes, key decisions, agreed actions, follow-up recommendations and next steps from monthly Agenda Cidade UNICEF coordination meetings involving UNICEF offices and partner teams.

Up to eleven (11) meeting reports.

• Deadline: Within five working days following each meeting

• Estimate Budget: 15%

9. PowerPoint presentations package. Development of up to three (3) PowerPoint presentations related to Agenda Cidade UNICEF and UNICEF Rio de Janeiro priorities, including narrative development, content organization, slide structure and visual recommendations.

9.2. Deadline: According to programme demand

9.3. Estimate Budget: 3%

10. Event communication support package. Communication support for up to three (3) Agenda Cidade UNICEF and/or UNICEF Rio de Janeiro events, including: communication planning; key messages; coverage plans; content production; and event summaries.

• Deadline: According to event schedule

• Estimate Budget: 11%

11. Final consultancy report and handover package, consolidating the products completed, results achieved, pending matters, editable files, templates, lessons learned and recommendations for continuity.

• Deadline - 30 September 2027

• Estimate Budget - 3%

Proposals must include a budget for each deliverable accompanied by a CV highlighting experiences relevant to this position and portfolio.

DURATION OF CONTRACT

11 months, from 1 February 2027 to 31 December 2027

TRAVEL PLAN

N/A

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT

• Current enrolment in, or recent completion of, an undergraduate degree in communication, journalism, public relations, advertising, marketing, digital media, audiovisual production, design or another relevant communication-related field.

• A minimum of one year of relevant practical or professional experience in communication, journalism, digital communication, content production, public relations, advocacy or communication project management. Relevant experience acquired through internships, consultancy assignments, volunteer work, freelance projects or other professional activities may be considered.

• Previous experience working with UNICEF or another United Nations organization is required.

• Demonstrated experience developing or adapting communication products for digital channels, such as social media content, digital campaigns, videos, presentations, web content, human-interest stories, reports or other digital assets.

• Ability to understand communication needs and translate them into clear, creative and audience-appropriate products, recommending appropriate formats, channels and communication solutions.

• Experience with communication related to children’s and adolescents’ rights, violence prevention, safe mobility, adolescent participation, urban development or other development-related areas is an asset.

• Familiarity with Agenda Cidade UNICEF, UNICEF-supported territorial initiatives or the challenges faced by children and adolescents in contexts affected by armed violence in Rio de Janeiro will be considered an advantage.

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Fluency in Portuguese is required. Working knowledge of English, particularly reading and writing skills, is desirable.

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 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 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.

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

GENERAL CONDITIONS: PROCEDURES AND LOGISTICS

• Consultant will work from home using own equipment and stationery. UNICEF will provide office space for consultative meetings when needed.

• Consultant’s, travel costs should be included in the consultant’s fee.

• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant and mandatory courses are completed.

• Consultants will not have any representative, certifying, or approving authority, or supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.

• The consultant will work remotely on a delivery basis.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

• Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.

• A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum, administrative cost, travel cost and subsistence costs, as applicable.

• The payment will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. 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.

INSURANCE AND HEALTH COVERAGE

• The contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expenses, such life, health, and other forms of insurance covering the term of the contract as he or she considers appropriate.

• The contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.

RESTRICTIONS

• Consultants may not receive training at the expense of UNICEF. Notwithstanding, consultants must complete the applicable mandatory trainings before the signature of the contract.

• In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government, or unless on leave without pay.

REMARKS:

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Communications Consultant - Agenda Cidade UNICEF, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 11 months.