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.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

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.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, support

Background

UNICEF works to promote and protect the rights and wellbeing of every child. Effective communication and visibility materials are critical in supporting advocacy, resource mobilization, programme awareness, behaviour change communication, and stakeholder engagement.

The onset of digital and social media has led to a marked increase in the use of infographics and visual material as a means of conveying and sharing information in a quick, concise and visual form. In addition UNICEF Zambia produces a large number of publications and policy briefs, which need layout and design support. Zambia Country Office seeks 4-5 graphic designers to be on Long Term Agreements (LTAs) to layout and design a variety of materials in support of UNICEF programme sections including Education, Health and HIV/AIDS, Social Policy, Child Protection, Nutrition, Climate, Water and Sanitation and Social and Behaviors Change.

In line with UNICEF’s brand guidance, the LTA holders will provide support to the various functions to provide creative and high-quality design services on an as-needed basis for a period of 36 months. The selected consultants on LTA will support the development of visually compelling communication products aligned with UNICEF branding and communication guidelines.

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to engage a skilled Graphic Designer under a Long-Term Agreement arrangement to provide professional graphic design services for print, digital, social media, branding, advocacy, and visibility materials.

Detailed Term of Reference (TOR): Download File LTA Terms of Reference for Graphic Designer Advert.pdf

How can you make a difference?

Key Tasks:

The LTA holder will be contracted by individual programme sections and depending on the needs, the main tasks are likely to include:

Conceive, design and produce visual communication materials, including briefs and short reports, that illustrate and enhance communication around UNICEF’s work and issues affecting children;
Layout and design written documents, in line with corporate brand guidance.
Review and select images from UNICEF’s online database, to complement design and layout, following UNICEF ethical imagery and caption guidance
Develop infographics for programme sections, and key advocacy themes
Provide all materials in raw and final files to UNICEF Zambia, through electronic transfer to a public drive.

Deliverables:

The consultant will be home-based.

To provide high-quality graphic design and visual communication materials that align with UNICEF branding and communication guidelines.
To support various UNICEF Zambia sections with creative and impactful visual content for advocacy, fundraising, programme implementation, and public awareness initiatives.
To ensure timely delivery of visual communication products, including publications, reports, infographics, social media content, presentations, and campaign materials.
To promote consistency in visual identity and messaging across all UNICEF communication channels.
To establish a pool of qualified service providers that can efficiently respond to UNICEF Zambia’s recurring visual communication requirements.
To enhance audience engagement through innovative and compelling visual storytelling that highlights UNICEF’s impact for children and communities in Zambia.

The LTA will be for an initial period of two (2) years, with an option to extend for one (1) additional year on the same rates, terms and conditions, subject to satisfactory performance and continued need. The maximum total duration is three (3) years.

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

Requirements:

Education

Diploma or Degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Fine Arts, Multimedia Design, or related field.

Experience

Minimum 5 years of professional experience in graphic design. Professional expertise and knowledge in graphic design, prepress and print technology (including quality and appropriateness of design) and design for social media
Proven experience designing for international organizations, NGOs, development agencies, or corporate clients. Experience working on social media campaign content including graphic design, messaging and branding
Experience in creating animations / animated videos and any related social media assets
Strong portfolio demonstrating creative and technical expertise.

Technical Skills

Proficiency in:

Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop)
Canva Pro (desirable)
Motion graphics tools (desirable)
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Word

Competencies

Creativity and innovation
Attention to detail
Ability to work under tight deadlines
Strong communication skills
Ability to interpret briefs accurately
Understanding of branding guidelines

Evaluation Criteria:

Selection will be based on a combined technical and financial evaluation in the ratio of 70:30. The technical evaluation will be conducted in two stages:

Criteria	Marks
Criteria	Min	Max
Technical qualifications and experience	5	10
Quality of portfolio (sample work)	15	20
Understanding of the assignment	15	20
Previous experience with similar organizations	15	20
Financial Score The selection of the consultant will be on the basis of technical evaluation & financial offer in the ratio of xx:xx (e.g. 80:20)	20	30
TOTAL	65	100

Financial proposals will be assessed against UNICEF’s best value for money principles.

The LTA will specify a fixed day/session rate for the duration of the agreement. UNICEF does not guarantee any minimum volume of work. Payment will be made upon satisfactory completion of each assignment and submission of invoices.

When a specific assignment arises, UNICEF will approach LTA holders in ranked order. Consultants who are unavailable will be passed over for that assignment, without prejudice to future engagements. A separate contract will be issued for each assignment. Work should not begin, unless and until a contract is in place, signed by both parties, and fully funded.

Joint applications from multiple consultants will not be accepted. Each candidate is required to submit their proposal as individual service providers.

Consultants are responsible for determining and meeting any applicable tax obligations in their country of fiscal residence.

HOW TO APPLY

Candidates are requested to submit the following documents:

Expression of interest/motivation letter
Sample of design portfolio and Curriculum Vitae
Quoted fees, as per the jobs listed above. A financial proposal indicating professional fee as per the above template. Please do not forget to specify your name in the file while saving. (Financial Proposal template FINANCIAL PROPOSAL GRAPHICS DESIGNER.docx to be uploaded under other supporting documents).

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Without all the above documents your application will be considered incomplete and invalid and will not be considered further

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation 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.

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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

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.

Long-Term Agreement (LTA) for the Engagement of Individual Consultants – Graphic Designers (Home-Based, 36 Months, On-Need Basis)