Public Affairs and Government Relations Consultant, Brasília/DF, Brazil [12 months]. Individual Consultant International Position Long-term contract National Position

UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, works to protect the rights of every child and adolescent, everywhere, especially the most vulnerable, in the most remote areas. In more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children and adolescents survive, thrive, and reach their full potential.

Among the strategies developed by the organization in Brazil is advocacy for the rights of children and adolescents. Within this agenda, UNICEF aims to support Brazil in expanding and strengthening public policies focused on children, adolescents, and their families, in order to ensure the full exercise of their rights. This strategy includes direct and ongoing engagement with all three branches of government, through dialogue with the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches, in support of stronger and better policies for children in the country.

For the year 2026, UNICEF has established three advocacy priorities that will guide its work at the national and subnational levels.

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

To support its advocacy agenda, UNICEF will hire a Public Affairs and Government Relations Consultant. The objective of the consultancy is to strategically support the organization in advancing its priority agendas. The consultant’s work will focus on advising UNICEF on advocacy and political dialogue decisions, including: qualified monitoring of the legislative process and of issues under discussion within the Executive branch; the production of political and contextual analyses; and regular dialogue with UNICEF leadership to inform decision-making. The work will primarily focus on UNICEF’s three advocacy priorities for 2026, as well as other relevant issues that may emerge throughout the year.

DELIVERABLES

1. Political Monitoring and Advocacy Plan

1.1. Deliverables/Outputs

Initial mapping of UNICEF’s advocacy priorities;

Identification of relevant legislative proposals and legislative and executive agendas under      discussion at the beginning of the year and planned for 2026;

Design of a first draft of a policy influence strategy for UNICEF, focused on priority areas;

Preliminary mapping of key stakeholders (Legislative and Executive branches);

Proposal for a workflow of meetings, briefings, and alerts.

1.2. Deadline: up to 30 days after the start of the contract

1.3. Estimate Budget: 20%

2. Legislative and Executive Monitoring and Analysis (Quarterly Reports)

2.1. Deliverables/Outputs

Weekly monitoring of the National Congress and the federal Executive branch;

Integrated analysis of the political context related to issues of interest to UNICEF;

Periodic strategic guidance to inform advocacy and political dialogue decisions, including participation in internal meetings and high-level discussions;

Weekly dissemination of alerts and briefings;

Identification of risks, opportunities, and emerging issues for the child rights agenda, with a special focus on UNICEF’s three priorities for 2026 and potential emerging topics;

Monthly mapping of key stakeholders and scheduling at least one meeting with them per    month;

Documentation of advocacy and engagement activities carried out

2.2. Deadline:

Report 1: end of month 3

Report 2: end of month 6

Report 3: end of month 9

2.3. Estimate Budget: 60% (20% per report))

3. Final Monitoring, Advocacy, and Recommendations Report

3.1. Deliverables/Outputs

Consolidated analysis of the Legislative and Executive branches throughout the year;

Evaluation of the advocacy strategies implemented;

Key results, risks, and opportunities;

Lessons learned and strategic recommendations for the next cycle.

3.2. Deadline: End of month 12

3.3. Estimate Budget: 20%

DURATION OF CONTRACT: 1 year 

TRAVEL PLAN: Not applicable

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT

• Graduate degree in Social Sciences, Political Science, International Relations, Law, Public Administration, Public Policy, or related fields.
• A postgraduate degree or specialization in Public Policy, Public Management, Government Relations, Advocacy, Human Rights, Children’s Rights, or related areas will be considered an asset.
• Proven professional experience in government relations, advocacy, political engagement, or legislative and executive monitoring.
• Experience in monitoring decision-making processes within the Legislative and Executive branches, preferably at the federal level.
• Experience in analyzing legislative proposals, public policies, or government agendas, with the ability to produce briefings and strategic analyses.
• Experience in institutional engagement with parliamentarians, advisors, public officials, and other key stakeholders.
• Knowledge of the functioning of the National Congress, Ministries, and public policy formulation cycles.
• Ability to operate in dynamic political environments with autonomy, discretion, and strategic vision.
• Previous experience in civil society organizations, international organizations, the public sector, associations, or government relations areas – especially on issues related to the rights of children and adolescents – will be considered an asset.

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Portuguese and English

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

• A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum, administrative cost, travel cost and subsistence costs, as applicable.

UNICEF’S CORE VALUES

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

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

Remarks: 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

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.