Consultant- WASH Innovation Technical Writer, Office of Innovation, Copenhagen, Denmark, 5 months part-time (remote) Individual Consultant International Position Mid-level Part time Short term contract

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. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, the right to innovate

UNICEF has a 70‑year legacy of innovation for children. From its base in Copenhagen, the Sustainable WASH Innovation Hub (the Hub) identifies, demonstrates and scales climate‑resilient water and sanitation solutions that can accelerate progress toward a water‑secure future for children and young people. Working with partners and UNICEF country and regional teams, the Hub selects high‑impact, cutting‑edge innovations, adapts them to context, and expands proven solutions from helping thousands in one country to reaching millions across multiple regions through an annually reviewed WASH portfolio focused on the greatest challenges and opportunities for impact.

How can you make a difference?

This role supports the Hub by developing high-quality knowledge and communication materials that showcase its portfolio of work (examples can be found on the UNICEF WASH knowledge site1). The Consultant will receive briefings on key elements of UNICEF’s WASH programmes across regions and countries and will work closely with technical experts who will provide and validate the core content. Using this input, the Consultant will refine, structure, and produce materials for both internal and external audiences. We are seeking an experienced writer with strong technical understanding of WASH and familiarity with UNICEF’s work.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  ToR_Technical Writer Consultancy.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Communication, English, Media Studies, International Development or related field;

*a first degree with two additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated professional experience in writing, copy editing and proof-reading a range of knowledge and communications material for various audiences.
• Demonstrated experience working with a range of actors (government, NGOs, private sector, academia, UN agencies).
• Proven experience writing and editing UNICEF knowledge and communication products, particularly those related to WASH innovation, scaling, and technical documentation—such as field notes, advocacy briefs, reports, and concept notes.
• Knowledge of the WASH sector or climate-resilient development including innovation programming and approaches.
• Understanding of the humanitarian–development nexus, especially in relation to innovation adoption and scaling.
• Commitment to UNICEF values including equity, safeguarding, ethical innovation, and child-centred design.

Skills :

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize information into clear and concise summaries for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of producing highquality reports, frameworks, and presentations.Demonstrated ability to deliver high quality outputs under tight deadlines.

Language Requirements: Fluency and experienced in working on English language publications, preferably with UN products/materials.

Desirables:

• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. (This criteria is essential as a desirable and should be included in all job postings.)
• Experience writing and editing knowledge and communication products related to innovative financing is an asset. Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Travel:

No travel is required for this post.

All travel (in case of any) will be by most economical fare and reimbursement will be as per UNICEF policy, “As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary”.

Payment details and further considerations

Payment of professional fees will be based on the 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.

How to apply:

• Interested applicants are required to submit a technical and financial proposal with all-inclusive fee. Please see the financial proposal template.  Consultancy Financial Offer template.docx
• Technical proposals should be no more than 10 pages and should include relevant examples of past work or links to past work.
• Financial proposals should be submitted using the template provided by UNICEF.
• Applications without a technical and financial proposal will not be considered.

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. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

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.