Information and Communication Contractor

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)H (no hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate TypeCONTR Local Entry and Mid-Level Support

Target Start Date2023-08-01

Job Posting End DateJune 26, 2023

Terms of ReferenceTerms of Reference

Contractor

Title: Strengthening accessibility on UNHCR’s Information and communication platforms and materials

1. General Background of Project or Assignment: UNHCR is devoted to fulfilling its commitments towards Accessibility and Accountability to Affected People (AAP) on all fronts. As outlined in UNHCR’s Age, Gender & Diversity policy, ensuring access to timely and relevant information as well as two-way communication with forcibly displaced and stateless persons is critical in ensuring we are accountable to those we work with and for. Within the Digital space, providing accurate, up-to-date and understandable information assumes a life-saving character and allows for combating misinformation and disinformation.

May it be through Protection outreach activities, production of information material (leaflets and brochures) or its Help sites and integrated platforms, such as chatbots linked to the sites, UNHCR strives to disseminate up-to-date, reliable and life-saving information accessible to all and at all times, even in the lowest connectivity environment.

It is vital, however, that consideration is given to exclusion by design, as our information and communication platforms and materials do not fully meet people’s accessibility needs, may they be permanent, temporary or situational, and even more so in a displacement context. Therefore, applying universal design principles and stepping away from formal, legalistic and organisational jargon-based language when presenting the information is imperative the information provided is accessible to all, including persons with disabilities and those who are unable to read and write.

To support and guide the work of protection and other relevant staff in producing content and managing their sites, UNHCR wishes to create the “Talking Protection” compilation, a plain language multi-lingual and multi-format repository presenting protection-related text in an accessible, easy-to-understand format that will enhance access to life-saving information for a diversity of people, including people with disabilities and other people in displacement situations.

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations

To view occupational safety and health considerations for specific duty stations, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
Specific Occupational Safety and Health Considerations to this assignment (if applicable):

Assignment to be home-based

Overall Purpose and Scope of Assignment:

Concise and detailed description of activities, including measurable outputs and delivery dates, impact indicators (what qualitative and quantitative results would be achieved upon completion of individual contract), performance indicators (timelines, value of the service rendered in relation to the cost, timeliness) and work plan:

Consultancy Project Timeline

UNHCR Protection information Easy Read

1 Orientation

A desk review of UNHCR’s Help sites and offline information materials (brochures, leaflets) in information and communication platforms.

Introduction and initial discussions with project teams due date 1 - 4 August 2023

2 Working to define the user experience (UX) and component specification for help.unhcr.org and other online and offline information and communication platforms

- Discussing UX and any required changes with the team
- Familiarise themselves with the current Help sites and offline channels.
- Documenting and prioritising requirements, including the material scope
- Discussing requirements with the project team so it is determined how this might be accomplished
- Meeting the Help sites development team to understand upcoming improvements, limitations, site audiences and features
- Develop an inception report Due date 7 - 18 August 2023

3 Supporting UX improvements and integration of wider UNHCR information and communication portfolio

- Meeting key DIP team members to understand protection standards particular to each thematic area and how they affect the speech-language adopted;
- Based on research already conducted, understand how UNHCR’s digital relationship with individuals is affected by the terminology used in the information and communication channels and materials, including Help sites
Due date 7 - 18 August 2023

4 Agree on work methodology and approach for the end products

- Refine work methodology, considering easy-read and plain language formats
- Explore feasability and set out limitiations of work
- Develop inception report
Due Date 21 – 25 August 2023

4 Mapping of Protection information and communication key thematic areas for the purposes of online and offline engagement

- Building on already available research and field experience to map out key thematic areas and their commonly used terminology that may not meet the accessibility needs of the target audience. Due date 28 August - 1 September 2023

4 Developing a “Talking Protection” compilation to support the operations in communicating key information to individuals online and offline, including additional resources library

- Produce a compilation of key protection topics and text in an accessible, easy-to-understand format to be reviewed by DS, DIP and Brand teams;
- Compile a library of videos, images and guidance notes related to each thematic area as suggested additional resources for Help sites and offline information and communication materials;
- Supporting the DS team with any UX advice or user testing required for new functionality prior to or post-launch
- Produce a final report to support implementation regarding accessibility considerations for the proposed compilation, containing practical guidance, for example, on Alternative Text for images
- Propose recommendations for further enhancement of UNHCR’s information and communication platforms and materials
Due date 4 September to 15 October 2023

4. Required level, qualifications and work experience:

Level of responsibilities required (mark as appropriate) for individual contractors and fellows:

Mid-Level Support

The assignment is for an Individual Contractor

Qualification and experience required (degree required, years of work experience, field of expertise, language required):

 University degree in Communications or any other related area - required.
 Second-level university degree – desirable.
 Training in easy language and plain language – required.
 Minimum 8 years of relevant work experience in data analysis and writing high quality analytical reports and research products. If holder of post-graduate university degree, minimum of 6 years of relevant work experience.
 Proven experience in UX writing, UX design and digital content development.
 Experience in working with humanitarian or development actors on inclusive communication is desirable.
 Experience developing online and offline communication content for a multi-cultural audience is desirable
 Demonstrated understanding of data protection and handling of confidential data

5. Monitoring and Progress Controls (report requirements, periodicity, format, deadlines):

a. The final product (e.g. survey completed, data collected, workshop conducted, research documents produced specify):

 Inception report (25 August 2023)
 “Talking Protection” compilation to support the operations in communicating key information to individuals online and offline, including additional resources library of library of videos, images and guidance notes (15 October 2023)
 Produce a final report to support implementation regarding accessibility considerations for the proposed compilation, containing practical guidance (15 October 2023)

b. Work on the basis of time employed: Yes

c. If it is to result in a written product, specify:

i. Number of pages:
ii. Language(s): English
iii. Number of copies: 1

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

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Desired Languages

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Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Work Experience

Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance