Technical Writer , Multiple positions

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

The Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region through: management, financial and programmatic oversight of global and country-specific portfolios, clusters and operations centres, including hosting services; fund and management advisory services; project implementation; procuring goods and services; and managing human resources.

ECR ensures that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between business units and projects across the entire region.

ECR strategy is to:

• Strengthen UNOPS role in operationalizing the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Strengthen the implementation of ECR global and regional programmes, with revitalized partnerships in infrastructure, procurement and project management.

ECR operates global portfolios from offices in Geneva, Brussels and New York, and country-specific programmes from its operations and project centres located in Eastern Europe and Central Asian countries.

Based in the New York, the UNOPS Development Group Cluster supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. For example, within the United Nations Development Programme, the Cluster works with the Bureau for Policy and Programme and the Office of South-South Cooperation.

The cluster also supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as a broadening community of other New York-based United Nations organizations in the delivery of project management and implementation services.

Global Pulse is an innovation initiative of the Executive Office of the United Nations Secretary-General, exploring how digital data and real-time analytics can be used to understand and respond to changes in human well-being. To this end, Global Pulse is working to promote awareness of the opportunities Big Data presents for relief and development, forge public-private data sharing partnerships, generate high-impact analytical tools and approaches, and drive broad adoption of useful innovations across the UN System.

Global Pulse operates as a network of Pulse Labs, headquartered in New York with Labs in Kampala and Jakarta, together expertise from UN agencies, governments, academia, and the private sector to research, develop, test and share tools and approaches for harnessing real-time data to support decision-making and policy action. Examples of Global Pulse publications and reports include:

http://unglobalpulse.org/projects/BigDataforDevelopment, http://www.unglobalpulse.org/Mobile_Phone_Network_Data-for-Dev and http://unglobalpulse.org/nowcasting-food-prices

The Terms of Reference cover data storytelling and editorial support for multiple projects. The contractor(s), as directed by Global Pulse, will produce high quality documents or reports on one, some or all of the following big data projects:

• Child Marriage: What online data sources can be used to inform child protection specialists about campaign initiatives and public perceptions around child marriage?
• Biofuels: Are attitudes towards biofuels changing in Europe based on social media conversations?
• Immunisation: Can the on-line conversation reveal what are the reasons behind people's choices to get vaccinated or not in four different countries?
• Gendered priorities: Do women and men talk about different development topics in public on-line channels?
• Energy: What is the relation between energy consumption and poverty indicators made of remote sensing data and household surveys?

For each of the projects, the consultant(s) will work independently, though under direction of and in collaboration with the Global Pulse team.  For each of the assigned projects, the consultant(s) will receive a series of raw materials that can include descriptive statistics of different analysis made from big data sources, draft reports, bibliography, templates and/or outlines. The expected process required to produce the final products is as follows:

• Review, analyze and synthesize the main source material (an existing descriptive report and/or raw analysis with data from multiple big data sources for each specific product).
• Perform desk research as needed to complement the data stories and specific policy recommendations extracted from the previous analysis.
• Define content outlines, tone and structure for communications products
• Draft copy for assigned products
• Produce visuals and illustrations as needed
• Rewrite, update, fact check, copy-edit and proofread publications as needed

Deliverables for each of the proposed projects include:

●        Child Marriage

• Report (10-15 pages)
• Blog post(s)
• Brief (2 pages)
• Slide deck (5-10 slides)

●        Biofuels

• Report (10-15 pages)
• Brief (2 pages)
• Slide deck (5-10 slides)

●        Immunisation

• Report (10-15 pages)
• 4 briefs or infographics targeting four pre-defined countries

●        Gendered priorities:

• Infographic
• Blog post
• Brief (2 pages)

●        Energy

• Report including statistical data analysis (5-10 pages)
• Brief (2 pages)

UNOPS Core Values/Competencies

• Integrity
• Professionalism
• Respect for Diversity
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Planning & Organizing
• Accountability
• Creativity
• Client Orientation
• Commitment to continuous Learning
• Technological Awareness

Education:

Advanced university degree in communications, journalism, visual design, development-related field, computer science or relevant disciplines. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two years qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Five years of relevant experience required.
• Minimum three years relevant experience of writing engaging copy for a research and/or policy oriented audiences.
• Expertise in development or humanitarian issues is an asset.
• Experience in working with international organizations and/or doing research in data- related topics is an asset.

Language:

Fluency in English and a working knowledge of another UN language.

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement
Contract level:  IICA-2 (lump sum)
Contract duration: 4 weeks per project

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.