Job description

Purpose of consultancy
Background
The UNFPA Berlin Representation Office (BRO), part of the HQ-based Division for External Relations (DER), is a small office responsible for liaison and advocacy with the government, parliament, civil society, media and other key partners in Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and potentially Central European Member States, in support of continued and increased political and financial backing for UNFPA.
The Chief, BRO post is currently vacant. In the interim, the Policy and Advocacy Specialist (P-3) is covering core functions of the Chief post, which has reduced the office's capacity to deliver at a time of heightened activity: BRO is preparing for a series of important high-level stakeholder events in Berlin this October, including an evening event and government consultations around the World Health Summit (WHS). UNFPA’s broad high-level presence and substantive participation will require sustained communications, advocacy, and outreach work. 

This consultancy is intended to backstop that gap for a defined transition period (August - October 2026), providing dedicated support to communications, event coordination, digital/social media, website and briefing-material workstreams normally carried by the Policy and Advocacy Specialist, so that the office can meet its external relations commitments until a new Chief of the office is onboarded.

Objective

To provide a policy and advocacy consultant to UNFPA BRO to support the preparation, positioning and delivery of communications around major events in October, including social media strategy and content, website content, and briefing notes and advocacy materials, structured in three sequential work packages.

Scope of work:
The consultant will work across three sequential packages aligned with the milestones leading up to the event in October 2026. Indicative day allocations are shown for planning purposes and may be adjusted by mutual agreement within the total contracted days

Package 1: Communications Foundation & Strategy (August 2026, indicative 20 days)

  • Stakeholder and media mapping for Germany and countries of coverage relevant for the office and its advocacy efforts.
  • Communications and social media audit of BRO's current channels, materials and past outputs.
  • Draft social media strategy and content calendar covering the period through the WHS, including channel-specific approaches and pre-production.
  • Review and plan for BRO website content updates: event pages, news items, and donor-facing content.
  • Draft press materials / media advisory for the events.
  • Initial briefing note(s) on UNFPA's advocacy targets.

Package 2: Event Planning & Advocacy Coordination  (September 2026, indicative 20 days)

  • Provide technical and operational support to prepare UNFPA's inputs for the International Dialogue for Population and Development, WHS, high-level events, donor consultations, and bilateral meetings. This includes drafting event flows and session agendas for review, liaising with colleagues on scheduling, and tracking timelines. Support event logistics for high-level events, including maintaining invitation lists, tracking RSVPs, and preparing correspondence with attendees and partners for review and dispatch by BRO staff. 
  • Drafting and finalization of briefing notes, talking points and Q&A materials for BRO leadership and UNFPA senior management.
  • Produce and publish content executing Package 1 plans: social media content and event promotion, and website updates (event pages, news items, donor-facing content). 

Package 3: Event implementation & Handover (October 2026, indicative 10 days)

  • Real-time support around the WHS (Berlin, October 2026), remote or on-site.
  • Drafting of final briefing notes, summary reports and talking points for UNFPA engagements.
  • Post-event website and social media wrap-up content.
  • Final consultancy report summarizing deliverables achieved and any outstanding actions.
  • Handover note for the incoming Chief, BRO and the Policy and Advocacy Specialist, covering ongoing communications workstreams

Duration and working schedule: 50 working days in total, within the period 1 August - 31 October 2026, on an as-needed full-time basis, distributed indicatively across the three packages above.

Place where services are to be delivered:
The consultant can work remotely from their own location, or from the Berlin Office if already based locally.
Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements:
The consultant will report to the BRO Chief ad interim, in coordination with colleagues at UNFPA Headquarters and in Berlin.

Monitoring will follow the package structure:

  • A short work plan confirmed at the start of each package.
  • Submission of the agreed deliverables at the end of each package, in electronic format (Word, PowerPoint, or platform-native format as applicable).
  • A brief written progress update at the end of each month covering completed deliverables and any risks or delays.
  • A final consultancy report at the end of Package 3, summarizing outputs delivered against this ToR.

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

Education:

  • Advanced university degree in communications, public relations, journalism, international relations, political science, international law, public administration, or a related field.

Knowledge and experience:

  • A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in communications, digital/social media strategy, advocacy or public affairs, including with international organizations.
  • Demonstrated experience managing website content and social media channels for an organization or public entity.
  • Experience drafting briefing notes, talking points and Q&A materials for senior officials.
  • Experience supporting, coordinating and implementing high-level events, conferences, consultations or summits.
  • Familiarity with the mandate of UNFPA, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) advocacy, global health diplomacy, or the UN system is preferred.
  • Quick comprehension, strong analytical skills, very strong writing, editing and organizational skills; ability to work independently, and meet tight deadlines under pressure and a condensed timeline. 

Languages: Fluency in English and German (both oral and written) is required.

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA:
UNFPA will provide:

  • Access to BRO's existing communications materials, website content management system, and social media accounts.
  • Relevant background documentation (e.g. country Engagement Strategy, coordination documents, prior briefing notes and other strategic content relevant for this work).
  • A designated focal point for review and approval of content and deliverables.
  • Virtual meeting access as required.

The consultant will:

  • Use their own personal laptop/computing equipment with relevant software.
  • Ensure availability of a sufficient internet connection when working remotely.
  • Provide deliverables and reports on time and in the format required by the hiring office.

How to Apply:
Please send your CV and a short letter of motivation to berlin.office@unfpa.org by 15 July 2026, with "Communications and Advocacy Consultant" in the subject line.

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