South Sudan: Digital producer (P-3) Juba, South Sudan (Consultancy)

Terms of Reference for Consultants & Individual Contractors

Title of Consultancy

Digital producer

Purpose

Support the CO fundraising strategy through news and feature stories for a global audience.

Consultancy Classification Level

P3

Location

Field locations with a focus on NBeG and the Equatorias

Duration

6 months

Start Date

15 February 2017

Funding Source (WBS, Grant and GL Code)

Grant:

Background

Despite the mounting humanitarian needs in South Sudan, donor funding for organizations working in the country is reducing. The reasons for this are various: competing global emergencies, a focus among European governments on refugee inflows and fatigue among donors with a protracted, and largely man-made, crisis in South Sudan. As a result, several embassies, among them the German and the Danish, have already announced that their funds for South Sudan will be reduced in 2017. ECHO funding has been cut by 20% for 2017 compared to 2016. With a new administration assuming power in Washington from 2017, it remains to be seen whether US funding will also be impacted.

Donors are also aware that the government continues to limit humanitarian access in many areas while at the same time expelling aid workers who have been outspoken. This has resulted in discussions among donors about the possibility of withholding funding or even leaving the country.

Given this landscape it is important that the needs on the ground and the potential impacts of funding shortfalls be highlighted to donor governments, their constituents and those who can influence them.

During the crisis in Juba in July 2016, most donors present in South Sudan left or were evacuated to neighboring countries. However, by the end of 2016 many have re-established at least a limited presence on the ground. UNICEF's biggest donor, the US Government through USAID, OFDA and FFP, was present on the ground during the crisis; DFID is planning to re-establish a permanent international presence in Juba in 2017; the European Union, especially ECHO are back in country and so are the Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, Japanese and German embassies; some with reduced presence for the time being. However the Canadian Government as well as JICA and the GIZ have not yet returned to South Sudan.

Justification

With the conflict in South Sudan now in its fourth year, securing funding is becoming increasingly difficult due to many competing global emergencies and changing political situations in Europe and the United States. Many donors have cut their funding to South Sudan and the competition over the remaining funds available to humanitarian agencies has become more intense. Due to its excellent reputation among donors and its wide reach via 10 field offices, good opportunities exist for UNICEF to secure additional financial support. To best exploit these opportunities, the work of the communications section and its outputs need to be better aligned with the office's new fundraising strategy.

The digital producer will be contracted for a period of six months with the objective of producing video and photo content that highlights funding gaps and challenges and the implications of those gaps on the children of South Sudan. She/he will spend 50 percent of her/his time in the field producing digital content for use primarily on the UNICEF South Sudan social media channels and UNICEF global channels. Longer form photo essays and videos will also be shared with national committees, the digital unit at headquarters and pitched to news organizations.

Specific Tasks

Expected Deliverables

Deliverables

Duration

(Estimated # of weeks)

Timeline

1- Six innovative videos for use on CO social media channels.

2- Weekly photographs for use on social media channels

3- At least two video or photography productions successfully pitched to global media platform

4- Three packages of digital content to be used in donor reporting.

9 weeks

Weekly

3 weeks

4 weeks

1 March – 1 September 2017

All material will be packaged and uploaded onto a UNICEF FTP Site / and a drive couriered to UNICEF South Sudan

All material will follow the UNICEF copyright stipulations.

Reporting

The consultant will report to the Chief of Communication.

Expected background (Qualifications & Experience)

At least five years' experience of writing for a major news organization with strong editorial judgement and demonstrable skills in storytelling and media relations. Experience of working with UNICEF on similar projects and previous experiences in work with children would be an asset. As would experience of working in complex, multi-cultural environments and the ability to deliver results in a challenging environment. Native spoken and written English is required.

General Conditions:

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=502576