UNICEF is looking for Consultancy Title: Communication Consultant, Supply Chain Data, Monitoring, and Evidence, Danmark

Location/duration:

Duration: 11.5 month

Location: Supply Division, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Start Date: October 2018

Reporting to: Supply Chain Manager, Monitoring, Strategic Data and Evidence Unit (MSDEU), UNICEF Supply Division, Copenhagen.

Background:

The Monitoring, Strategic Data and Evidence Unit (MSDEU) focuses on the generation, synthesis, use and sharing of evidence and data as key contributions to supply chain optimization, programme design, and demonstrating results and achievements. The unit serves as the centralized source of:

1. official supply and logistics data, monitoring, statistics and analysis
2. demand forecasting and planning
3. support to country governments on increasing their use of data to manage and improve performance of national supply chains
4. evidence based on research and evaluation that supports learning, and improvements to processes and programmes.

As the centralized source of official supply and logistics data in UNICEF, MSDEU serves as the norm-setting entity on supply data in UNICEF. In this capacity, MSDEU supports colleagues throughout the organization with setting standards for data use, monitoring performance, and supporting the understanding and use of data. This work is done through, for example, internal trainings, internal communication, generation of tools and visualizations of the supply chain data.

Leveraging its internal supply chain data expertise, MSDEU also provides support to country governments in their use of data to improve performance of the national supply chains. This support is part of UNICEF’s health system strengthening strategy, focused on promoting supply chain improvements and is implemented as part of the Gavi Alliance immunization supply chain (iSC) strengthening strategy. The strategy focuses on improving essential areas such as human resources capacity, planning, cold chain equipment, supply chain system design, and data for management.

Due to the cross-cutting nature of the work, MSDEU works with many internal and external stakeholders, including UNICEF Regional and Country Offices, and partners such as the Gavi Alliance, development organizations and country governments.

UNICEF is seeking a consultant to support MSDEU with communication and development of materials to support the use of supply chain data and evidence in UNICEF and within the governments’ supply chain. These communication materials will require turning data into compelling and engaging “stories” that leverage tables, charts and visuals to communicate to internal and external audiences.

Description of assignment:

Under the supervision of the Supply Chain Manager, the consultant will work in three related areas:

1. Development of an umbrella communication strategy and associated detailed strategies
2. Development of communication materials (non-technical) and support in the development of technical materials, including written and visual design content
3. Development of country case stories, particularly for our work with externals.

1. Development of an umbrella communication strategy and associated detailed strategies

The consultant will develop an umbrella communication strategy encompassing more detailed strategies for the different focus areas. These will highlight key messages and information centering on encouraging data use, and learning from evidence. The strategy will target the specific audiences, which will include UNICEF colleagues and external partners. The strategy will define planned communication outputs for the different focus areas in MSDEU, which will be further specified in the detailed strategies for each of the areas. The strategy should include varying types of communication materials with consideration of the targeted audiences and platforms for communication. A workplan should be included as part of the umbrella strategy.

2. Development of communication materials (non-technical) and support the development of technical and learning materials.

As part of the implementation of the communication strategies, the consultant will lead the development of relevant communication materials for MSDEU. These may include but are not limited to development of key messages and visuals to showcase forecasting and/or supply data analysis updates, or briefs to highlight evaluation results and learnings. Communication materials will be developed based on quantitative and qualitative data sources. It is expected for some outputs that the consultant will incorporate data visualization and storytelling to maximize audience interest and uptake. These materials will be developed, as needed, in the form of handouts, briefs, presentations, infographics, posters and videos.

MSDEU develops technical material and the consultant is expected to support the technical colleagues with the development of these documents (i.e. proofreading, design and ensuring consistency between the various materials). MSDEU plans to update internal training materials to target external country partners in support of improving the availability, quality and use of supply chain data in countries. The consultant is expected to coordinate this work, while the colleagues in MSDEU will provide the technical inputs to the training material update.

The consultant will also be responsible for developing posts for relevant forums and platforms as part of the communication strategy implementation, and he/she will help ensure the UNICEF intranet and Teamsites (hosted on Sharepoint) are updated with relevant material.

3. Development of country case stories, particularly for externals

The consultant will develop 4-5 success stories to showcase the work of selected countries in improving the use of data in the management of their supply chain. These stories will be used as communication materials to guide other countries and will focus on highlighting the processes, challenges, key decisions and achievements to date.

The consultant will support the selection of relevant country cases and will lead the development of the stories, including identification of information sources and key messages. UNICEF envisions that the stories will be developed based on existing information, such as technical situation analysis reports, presentations, as well as Skype interviews with key stakeholders (e.g. UNICEF Country Offices and Supply Division staff, Ministry of Health representatives, local partners and others). Other information sources can be included depending on the consultant’s ideas to the content and structure of the communication materials. Considering each country context and type of support provided by UNICEF, the consultant will help define and formulate key messages for each case study and develop them as agreed into a communication piece.

MSDEU will support the consultant in ensuring access to data analysis and evidence in support of the content of the case studies.

Key deliverables:

• Umbrella communication strategy, including a workplan of outputs, and associated detailed strategies for each focus area
• Developed communication materials as specified in the communication strategy or as agreed with the supervisor
• 4-5 case stories for D4M of publishable quality and approximately 2-5 pages in length. The specific cases will be decided upon initiation of the consultancy, but could be:
  • Improving forecasting in Nigeria
  • Using dashboards to manage supply chains in Niger
• Minimum bi-monthly posts or publications on relevant platforms as agreed to with the supervisor (e.g. Yammer, TechNet-21 forum, GIN newsletter)
• Support development of technical documents. The specific documents will be decided upon initiation of the consultancy, but, as a minimum, will include:
  • Update of Guidance for Dashboards for Immunization Supply Chain[1]
  • Update of Monitoring the Supply Chain training material for use by external partners
• Internet, intranet and internal MSDEU-relevant Teamsites are updated with relevant content.

Qualification requirements:

Education: Advanced university degree in journalism, communication, international relations, public health, supply chain; a combination of relevant academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience and technical knowledge:

• Minimum five years relevant and progressive professional work experience in development of written communication material such as articles or case stories for general public.
• Experience with data (qualitative and quantitative) visualization and storytelling, which blends design visuals and narrative.
• Ability to parse through large amounts of information in order to create simplified and clear products for useful for decision-making.
• Demonstrated familiarity with the work of UNICEF, the UN and/or with health, immunization, supply chains, management information systems, health/supply chain data use is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high quality results in a timely manner.

  Responsive to client requirements and feedback.

Language: Strong communication skills (written and oral) in English are essential. Excellent English writing, editing, and proofreading skills required. Similar proficiency in French will be considered an added advantage.

Evaluation process:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/application.

2. Financial quote for the consultancy which must include: the total consultancy fee (broken down into daily rate in US Dollars and number of consultancy days) and potential relocation costs (with details of the economy class ticket price).
3. CV.
4. Examples of previous, relevant work.
5. 3 References.

Applications must be submitted through the UNICEF electronic application system by 30 August 2018. Applications without a financial quote will not be considered.

UNICEF considers best value for money as criteria for evaluating potential candidates.  As a general principle, the fees payable to a consultant or individual contractor follow the “best value for money” principle, (i.e. achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee). Payment will be made upon approval of each case study.

Successful applicants will be invited to a telephone interview and candidates will be selected based on the following evaluation criteria.