International Consultant: Digital Media and Art Specliast for Advertising

Background information:

UNFPA Malawi plans to scale up its high-level advocacy and communications during the forthcoming period. In line with the SDGs and major development targets set out in Malawi’s national development plan the country programme of UNFPA has ambitious targets to improve the lives of women and girls through advancing issues at district level around sexual and reproductive health and rights, health services and targeting violence against women and girls.

To support our approaches at programming level UNFPA seeks to expand its external communications strategy both at partner and national media levels. This expansion of communications activities will build on UNFPA’s core principles and work to broaden insight and knowledge of the work of UNFPA from the highest level in Government down to grassroots communities.

Whilst UNFPA will continue to use local and national platforms to work with the government to highlight the need to continue to prioritise investment in women and girls and their sexual health and rights it seeks to significantly scale up these efforts to pursue the targets set out in the new country programme.  In this regard, UNFPA Malawi country office is seeking a Digital Media and Art Specialist who will work on multiple digital media and animation fronts for some of the ongoing projects in the country through UNFPA. The Digital Media and Art Specialist will design and produce:

• Sequels to NTHAMBI SERIES. NTHAMBI SERIES was an animated series created in 2019 by UNFPA CO in line with the Nairobi Summit and its mandates. We aim to use the same character named ‘NTHAMBI’ in integration and approach towards sexual and reproductive health.
• Series of images on each character involved in the NTHAMBI SERIES specially to support UNFPA media advocacy on specific calendar days. The objective is to advocate on social-media the commitment of Malawi towards agenda 2030.
• Creating information, education and communications material for the Spotlight Initiative and JPGE.  This includes:  short videos for social media, designing visibility and communication material, infographics among others.
• Lead, design and facilitate digital media training for youth. This will be 6-months of training with 5 modules (5 weeks each) meeting live twice a week (for 2 hours each, total 4 hours per week) in the following subjects: Basic visual literacy/photo editing, basic graphic design, illustration, animation/video, and creating multimedia for clients and organizations/workplace skills for designers.

Therefore, UNFPA Malawi would like to contract individual Digital Media and Art Specialist on a retainer basis that can develop creative illustrative referral pathways as per the above description of work. 

Primary Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Resident Representative, The Deputy Representative will provide the supervisory role with immediate follow ups being made by the communications consultant and Programmes team.   The majority of activities are envisaged to be delivered from the stationed country office.  

• Sequels to NTHAMBI SERIES. NTHAMBI SERIES was an animated series created in 2019 by UNFPA CO in line with the Nairobi Summit and its mandates. We aim to use the same character named ‘NTHAMBI’ in integration and approach towards sexual and reproductive health.
• Series of images on each character involved in the NTHAMBI SERIES specially to support UNFPA media advocacy on specific calendar days. The objective is to advocate on social-media the commitment of Malawi towards agenda 2030.
• Creating information, education and communications material for the Spotlight Initiative and JPGE.  This includes:  short videos for social media, designing visibility and communication material, infographics among others.
• Lead, design and facilitate digital media training for youth. This will be 6-months of training with 5 modules (5 weeks each) meeting live twice a week (for 2 hours each, total 4 hours per week) in the following subjects: Basic visual literacy/photo editing, basic graphic design, illustration, animation/video, and creating multimedia for clients and organizations/workplace skills for designers.

Qualifications:

• Minimum Master’s Degree in Fine Arts, Computer graphics, Interactive media communications studies or related field is required.
• Strong theoretical and practical background in graphic design, including the use of design software’s
• Show a clear and mature style of design, demonstrating an understanding of the communication requirements of the United Nations.
• Good understanding of new and evolving technologies and digital platforms;
• Knowledge of standard software packages
• The ability to deliver fast - within the 20 days’ time period

Experience:

• 7 years of professional experience in graphic designing, interactive media or social innovation.
• Strong track record of producing small movies/illustrations and combining multimedia designing and intercultural communication.
• Working experience in a development or humanitarian environment is desirable.
• Understanding on Sexual Reproduction Health  and Rights

Duration and  Working Schedule:

• 12^th April 2021- 31^st December, 2021 on retainer basis.

Deliverables, Monitoring and Timeline:

• The Digital Media and Art Specialist is expected to deliver according to the requests based on the country office on the projects where support is outlined above. All work to be delivered electronically.
• Progress will be monitored as per the schedule of each deliverable outlined above including:
• Regular meetings with the Representative, Deputy Representative and the Communications team, SRH and Youth team.
• Reports will be submitted at the end of the activity.

Timeline:

• The task is expected to be completed within a given number of time by the requesting officer in the country office

How to Apply:

• Candidates who have the required/relevant qualifications and experience should submit their applications including a detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV), motivational letter, P11 with a copy of qualifications to the following address: recruitment.malawi@unfpa.org. 
• Please specify in the email subject ‘Consultant-Digital Media and Art Specialist’. 
• Applications should be received on or before 26th March 2021.