UNICEF MALI
Terms of Reference for International Specialist to provide strategic, results-based external
communication support for partnerships and resource mobilization within the
Department of Policy, Advocacy and Communication (PPC)
Title:
Advocacy and Visibility Specialist for Partnerships & Resource Mobilization
Duration:
364 days (August 2011 to July 2012)
Level:
L3
Type of Contract:
TA
Duty Station:
Bamako
Supervisor:
Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Specialist;
Policy, Advocacy and Communication Unit
1. Introduction/ Context
In an effort to achieve better results for children, UNICEF has strengthened its spectrum of private
and public partners in order to provide services and support for the most marginalized children and
women. Today, the organization is engaged in numerous Global Programme Partnerships (GPP),
cooperates with more than 800 companies worldwide and works effectively with thousands of civil
society partners and NGOs. UNICEF has integrated a Strategic Framework for Collaborative
Relationships and Partnerships as one of its organizational improvement initiatives to work with a
more streamlined approach per these essential relationships.
The Partnerships Framework addresses the rapidly evolving external landscape of international
development cooperation that aims to make aid systems more effective. It brings focus and clarity to
UNICEF’s engagement with its external partners and guides the organization with regard to its
strategic engagement in future collaborative relationships and partnerships.
In the current global economic context, with donorship on the decline as need grows exponentially
for the most vulnerable, a focus on support for partnerships is fundamental to reach results for
children. It is imperative to advocate and communicate clearly with our existing donors, partners, and
prospective funders as a means to manage these strategic relationships for the continued provision
of key support and funding for UNICEF’s work.
UNICEF Mali has made strategic partnerships a priority for the programme cycle period of 2008 2012 to achieve better results for children. To date, UNICEF Mali engages in a wide range of
partnerships and collaborations in order to accelerate the scale up of high impact interventions with a
strong focus on community-level outreach (GAVI Alliance, Dubai Cares, The Catalytic Initiative, EU
etc). Partnerships & Resource Mobilization within the UNICEF Mali office also entails responsibility
for broader corporate engagement with private sector coordination to foster visibility and
collaboration for results (Danone Water Japan, Sony Corporation, Orange etc.).
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The recruitment of a Resource Mobilization Specialist (L3) by UNICEF Mali was one of the actions
taken to reinforce partnerships, and to develop new alliances to leverage resources for children in
line with the policy framework being developed at a global level. In order to support advocacy
communication across programme areas to achieve greater coherence with major partners, UNICEF
Mali currently engages Communication Specialist focused on Nutrition and a Partnerships &
Resource Mobilization Assistant producing multimedia products. These two contracts will end in
June and July 2011.
Given this and the multiple communication initiatives throughout the programme cycle, UNICEF Mali
now requires the recruitment of an Advocacy and Visibility Specialist (middle level) for optimal
knowledge management, visibility and reporting.
This role is essential to provide additional capacity for both the current and expected workload to
engage our partners effectively and manage creation of interesting results-based multimedia content,
(photography, videos, publications and reports) and inform shareholders and constituents, etc. by:
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Engaging donors with Mali to reach the most vulnerable populations, in line with UNICEF’s
global shift in a focus on equitability for the bottom quintiles;
Documenting, sharing information and initializing dialogue on what we do and how we work
through results-based quality reporting;
Providing essential visibility to our donors for their continued support;
Creating high-quality media products to be shared online for optimal international exposure;
Crafting proactive and reactive communication on key UN days to support local initiatives;
Facilitating private sector partnerships under an umbrella of rights-based, equitable inclusion;
Ensuring adherence to the UNICEF Style Guide, Video Toolkit, Photo Guidelines and
programmatic terminology to manage technical consistency and high ethical standards;
Distributing, tracking and analyzing data relating to media products’ visibility and fundraising.
2. Purpose of the assignment
Under the supervision of the Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Specialist within the Policy,
Advocacy and Communication Unit, the incumbent of the post will contribute to the strengthening of
UNICEF Mali’s strategic partnerships in order to leverage better results and mobilize resources for
marginalized Malian children and women.
3. Main activities and outcomes
More specifically, the consultant will:
3.1. Produce advocacy and communication tools to strengthen partnerships and resource
mobilization
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Maintain the Mali UNICEF Website (in both French and English through management of high
quality international translation) including creation of new web-based streaming content,
building and maintaining social media outlets to give children an opportunity to speak for
themselves (specifically supporting participatory children’s workshops begun February 2011);
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Track and analyze Web Site statistics in line with funding and advocacy priorities to identify
and address communication gaps;
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Collect, document and disseminate programming experience and best practices for UNICEF
and partners;
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Write and edit texts for enhanced partnerships and resource mobilization such as UNICEF
Intranet communication products on PANORAMA, Funding Market Place, WCARO Intranet
etc;
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Initiate, produce, manage and distribute multimedia products supporting key partnerships;
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Work in tandem with the Communication team to formulate a strong, obtainable,
Communication Strategy for UNICEF Mali 2011-2012 to support the creation and production
of the above multimedia products for all programme areas in line with the global advocacy
and communication strategy to be launched July 2011;
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Manage sub-contractors to effectively produce necessary products (this will include working
with local and international vendors, the UNICEF Mali supply division, translators, designers,
writers, photographers, filmmakers, editors and copy editors) to ensure high quality products
for international distribution;
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Develop graphic supports and tools for reporting (tables, harmonization of statistics etc);
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Strengthen inter-agency communication tools to support OneUN in Mali;
3.2. Facilitate corporate and UNICEF National Committee collaborations via:
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Proposal review, technical guidance and field mission support to maximize fundraising impact
through informed, thoughtful advocacy and visibility;
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Facilitate improved, strategic and collaborative communication with corporate partners in
order to protect the UNICEF brand and preserve our reputation as a defender of child rights;
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Ensure that corporate partners follow UNICEF guidelines to protect children and ensure that
UNICEF is accurately represented and receives higher profile to any commercial message;
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Contribute to the strengthening of quality reporting, acting as managing editor to provide
guidance on formating in line with UNICEF guidelines for style and branding (ensuring quality
of proposals, reporting, human interest material, photos and other visibility aspects) in line
with the Partnerships & Resource Mobilization Strategy;
3.3. Ensure quality management of the CO’s photo coverage through « Photo Mechanic » and
the « Global Image Database »
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Ensure quality and diversity of UNICEF Mali’s photo coverage to best reflect the country
programme and partnerships (selection and editing of images for the Global Photo Database,
ensuring the photographer’s captions are in line with UNICEF photo guidelines, assigning
coverage to local and international photographers, etc.);
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Organization of existing photo coverage including caption writing in English using the
software « Photo Mechanic »;
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Edit photography to provide stories and albums of images for the Photo Database;
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Create original, high-quality photography capturing the country programme, as needed;
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Facilitate sharing of an alternative local catalogue for photos taken by non professional
photographers (ie: for office events, images taken by programme staff, etc);
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Train staff in the use of the UNICEF Mali website and Global Photo Database homepage to
ensure that images are shared supporting programmatic partnerships and key funding.
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3.4. Provide essential project management for external communication supporting key
programme funding. Specifically, manage communication needs for:
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Child Survival donors/partners: a)Dubai Cares (WASH) partnership, b)Catalytic Initiative
(Health) partnership, c) EU (nutrition) d) Capacity-building/training (Save the Children/Health)
partnership;
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Child Protection/Partnerships: EYE SEE Mali participatory children’s workshops (Child
protection unit/Japanese National Committee/Sony Corporation/NGOs :SNV, AEJT, CFP),
NatCom collaborations and public donor partnerships.
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Education: Manage the production of human interest content for the NatCom DonorToolkit,
specifically supporting the “Schools for Africa” Initiative, looking at child-friendly schools, nonformal education and girls’ education (PFP-Geneva/WCARO Education unit/UNICEF Mali
education unit) and ensuring the visibility of other donors.
Duration
The international consultant is recruited for 364 days.
4. Place of work
The international Consultant will be based in Bamako and will follow the rules and regulations
applied to international staff. The assignment will also require periodic travel to support partnership
initiatives, field missions and facilitate media content creation.
5. Supervision, Feedback and Reporting
The consultant will be supervised by the Partnerships & Resource Mobilization Specialist and his/her
work will be evaluated according to the results achieved in expected fields.
6. Key qualifications and required skills:
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Advanced University degree in relevant disciplines of communication, international
development and other equivalent studies;
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At least 5 years of professional work experience in the area of communication, or equivalent
experience, including work in developing countries, preferably with UNICEF and/or another
international development agency or NGO;
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Successful multimedia (photo/video/text) project management following inception of an idea,
production, management and distribution of material;
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Ability to work as a professional photographer and photo editor, with experience producing
field-based content for advocacy-based communications;
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Practical experience with design and layout of documents, print materials, and web content;
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Excellent working knowledge of computers including software to edit texts and images
(specifically, Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Photo Mechanic); distribute material
electronically (Voyager or Fetch FTP), and internet-based content management for UNICEF
Mali website (Red Dot Content Management System);
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Proven skills in communication, networking, advocacy and negotiation;
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Previous experience supporting partnerships and/or resource mobilization is an advantage;
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Ability to express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in written and oral form and to
produce reports in a timely manner;
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Ability to work independently as well as with a team in an international, multicultural and
interdisciplinary environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships
both within and outside the organization;
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Independent and creative thinking;
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Excellent oral and writing skills in English, and good working knowledge of French.
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