Graphic design-Child Friendly Cities Initiative Situational Analysis/Action Plan

Host entity: UNICEF

Areas of expertise: Communication, advocacy, public information

Application deadline: 06/11/2026

Mission and objectives

The UNICEF Office for the Eastern Caribbean Area works across 12 countries and territories: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos Islands. The Office is based in Bridgetown Barbados, without-posted personnel in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Castries, St Lucia.

UNICEF works with governments and other partners to ensure that countries fulfill their commitments made in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child that every child can grow and develop to reach their full potential.

Assignment context

This online volunteer assignment is part of UNICEF's support to the Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) in Trinidad and Tobago. The Online Volunteer will work under the guidance of the UNICEF Programme Specialist. The Child Friendly Cities Initiative is a global UNICEF initiative that supports local governments to realize the rights of children at the local level, using the Convention on the Rights of the Child as its foundation. It brings together local authorities, national government partners, civil society, the private sector, communities and children and young people themselves to make cities and communities safer, more inclusive and more responsive to children's needs. As part of the CFCI process, the Situational Analysis, assessing the current situation of children and young people across key areas such as health, education, protection, participation and the environment, and an Action Plan setting out priorities, activities, responsibilities and timeframes for making the municipality more child-friendly in the city of San Fernando. These documents are central tools for advocacy, planning and accountability, and will be shared with local and national decision-makers, partners, communities, and children and young people. The documents currently exist in Microsoft Word format. The Online Volunteer will support UNICEF in turning them into an engaging, visually appealing and accessible publication that communicates key findings and commitments clearly to a wide audience. The expected outcome is a professionally designed, editable document, with supporting infographics, that strengthens the visibility and uptake of the Situational Analysis and Action Plan.

Task description

We are looking for one (1) Online Volunteer who, under the guidance of the UNICEF Programme Specialist (Child Friendly Cities Initiative), will support the graphic design, layout, and production of a Situation Analysis and Action Plan Report. The document content has already been developed and approved by UNICEF and currently exists in Microsoft Word format. The assignment is to transform the content into engaging, visually appealing, reader-friendly publications that meet UNICEF's branding, accessibility, and publication standards.

The assignment consists of the design and layout of two publications:

1. Main Publication: Approximately 100 pages, combining the Situation Analysis and Action Plan into a single report.

2. Child-Friendly Version: Approximately 10 pages, presenting key findings and priorities in a simplified, engaging, and age-appropriate format for children and adolescents.

UNICEF will provide the approved final text, validated data for all charts and tables, and UNICEF branding and visual identity guidelines.

The Online Volunteer will:

Review the approved Word documents and develop a design concept, including page layout, typography, color palette, graphic style, and visual elements that align with UNICEF branding guidelines.
Design and format the two publications, ensuring professional presentation, visual consistency, and readability throughout.
Design the cover pages, section dividers, chapter openers, page templates, and navigation elements.
Transform key findings, statistics, and messages into clear and engaging visual content, including approximately 16 charts, infographics, diagrams, illustrations, or other data visualizations based on data provided by UNICEF.
Present the Action Plan in a visually accessible format using elements such as timelines, roadmaps, priority matrices, summary tables, or similar tools that clearly communicate objectives, activities, responsibilities, and timelines.
Design call-out boxes, key messages, quotes, highlights, and executive-summary elements to draw attention to important information.
Source or create suitable images, icons, and illustrations, ensuring that all visual assets are appropriately licensed or provided by UNICEF.
Apply accessibility and usability best practices, including legible typography, sufficient color contrast, consistent heading structures, and alternative text for images and graphics in digital versions.
Work closely with the Programme Specialist or designated focal point to ensure all design products accurately reflect the approved content and key messages without altering the substance of the text.
Incorporate feedback and revisions throughout the design process.

Review Process

The assignment will include three review rounds:

First Layout Review
Revised Layout Review
Final Proof Review

The Online Volunteer will revise the design based on consolidated feedback provided by UNICEF during each review stage.

Final Deliverables

The Online Volunteer will submit the following:

1. Print-Ready PDF

CMYK color profile
High-resolution output
Bleed and crop marks included
Ready for professional printing

2. Web PDF

Optimized and compressed for online distribution
Accessible PDF with tagged headings
Alternative text included for images, charts, and graphics

3. Editable Source Files

InDesign package and/or IDML files
All linked assets, fonts, and supporting files included

4. Graphic Assets

All charts, infographics, and illustrations delivered separately in PNG and SVG formats
Expected Outcome

The final products should be professionally designed, visually engaging, accessible, and publication-ready documents that effectively communicate the Situation Analysis findings and Action Plan priorities to a wide range of audiences, including government stakeholders, partners, communities, children, and young people.

Skills and experience

- Candidates should have at least 2 years of professional experience designing publications, reports or long-form documents.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, including styles, templates, section formatting, tables, text boxes and image placement since the final product must stay editable in WORD.
- Proficiency in at least one professional design tool such as Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) or Canva,
- Proven ability to turn date and complex information into clear infographics, charts, diagrams and timelines.
- Ability to follow brand and visual identity guidelines and keep design consistent across a full document.
- Strong attention to detail, the ability to meet tight deadlines and incorporate feedback effectively and make revisions within agreed timelines.
- Experience working on UN reports is an asset.
- A degree in graphic design or related field is considered an asset.

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.