Full-time Individual Contractor (11.5 months, home-based in Italy with field travel): U-Report Digital Mobilizer - Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO), Rome, Italy

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Protection

Scope of Work

Italy remains one of the main entry points into Europe for refugees and migrants fleeing conflicts, situations of violence and deprivation. Between 2014 and 2018, more than 70,000 unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) arrived in Italy by sea, 90 per cent of whom were between 15 and 17 years old. The continued significant presence of UASC (around 5,000 in reception centres in December 2020)) and the growing number of UASC who have turned 18 (around 60,000 over the last five years) are a cause for concern. In transit and at destination, UASC and young migrants and refugees continue to face many challenges and many gaps remain in the realization of their rights. One of the key issues of concern is that they do not feel heard and do not have anybody to talk to. Although they should be adequately informed about the decisions that affect them and their opinion taken into account, this does not seem to happen in practice. Building opportunities for them to engage in issues of concern to them in their local community not only supports their present and future civic engagement, but also contributes to their communities and societies.

To respond to these challenges, in 2016 UNICEF’s migrant and refugee response in Italy has modelled, piloted and rolled out U-Report on the Move, an adapted version of U-Report for UASC and young migrants and refugees. U-report is a mobile phone-based technology that provides a forum of opinion and information sharing for children, adolescents and adults. Using a crowd-sourcing approach to initiate a virtual dialogue with the members (‘U-reporters’), through U-report youth are able to respond to weekly polls and be agents of change in their communities. The ultimate aim of the programme is to stimulate citizen-led and adolescent/youth-led development. Once the information is collected the data is instantly analyzed. The information is subsequently utilized in communication and advocacy work across all media channels, many UNICEF programmes and through general partner engagement.

With nearly 8,000 U-Reporters registered by end 2020, U Report on the Move Italy is considered a best practice model within the U Report community and many of its features are replicated by other On the Move platforms globally. Alongside online promotions via Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, in 2022 scale up efforts are being boosted by a team of Social Mobilizers responsible for promoting the platform in reception centers hosting unaccompanied and separated children, young migrants and refugees and fostering their engagement and participation. A dedicated App will also soon be piloted and rolled out for this purpose. The digital community relies on a pool of U-Ambassadors, young advocates from the migrant and refugee community who promote registration of U Reporters and participate in national and international high-level fora. U-Ambassadors also participate in the U-blog platform and U-pod, a spinoff of U Report on the Move for engagement via blogging and podcasts. The U-Partner platform, as a tool for individual case management, has become a key aspect of the platform, with a focus on legal case management and mental health support. Likewise, Live Chat sessions and audio-visual material have become a key feature of the platform providing life protecting information to increase access to and uptake of services and generating a high level of engagement. In 2021 a new platform, U Report Italy, dedicated to Italian youth was launched jointly by the Migrant and Refugee Response team and the Italian National Committee for UNICEF. The platform enables to gather opinions of youth living in Italy on issues of concern to them, including amongst others, their views on discrimination and xenophobia that affect their peer U Reporters registered on the U Report On the Move platform.

Purpose of the Assignment

Under the guidance of the YAD Specialist, and in collaboration with the U-Report Manager and the Italian National Committee, the U-Report Digital Mobilizer will support the management of Rapid pro software and manage social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, You Tube and Tik Tok) and content production for U-Report on the Move and U Report Italy.

This work will contribute to the implementation of the U-Report on the Move actionable responses and advocacy actions in support to the protection and social inclusion, including the promotion of alternative care, GBV prevention and response and fostering of adolescent participation and skills building. It will also contribute to the launch and first phase of implementation of U-Report Italy in collaboration with the Italian National Committee for UNICEF.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks / Milestone******Deliverables / Outputs******Timeline / DeadlineSupport to RapidPro system managementPolls flows constructed; Social media triggers uploaded; Running of Facebook adsMonthlyAnalysis of user profiles and participation, identification of high and low-level users, export of dataTracking of user profiles, response rate, use of the app, website and social media reach & engagementSupport to piloting and roll out of U-Report app pilotU Report app piloted and rolled outManagement of social media communication channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, You Tube and Tik Tok)Infographic, audio-visual and written content produced and uploadedIdentification of opportunities to improve adolescent and youth participation and access to information and implementation of digital engagement initiativesRunning of contests and other digital activitiesIdentification of opportunities to improve adolescent and youth participation and access to information and implementation of digital engagement initiativesRunning of contests and other digital activitiesMonthly report on the activities carried out highlighting bottlenecks, main challenges and opportunitiesMonthly reportEnd of each monthFinal review report at the end of the contract periodFinal review reportBy September 2023Estimated Duration of the Contract

11.5 months (November 2022 - October 2023)

Individual Contractor's Work Place and Official Travel

The assignment will be home-based in Italy. The Individual Contractor is required on a full-time basis for the period of the contract.

The Individual Contractor will travel to field locations in Italy. The Individual Contractor will be responsible for organizing their travel. Travel expenses (tickets, accommodation, public transport, meals) will be reimbursed. The maximum amount for travel overall will be EUR 1,300.

Travel Clause

• All UNICEF rules and regulations related to travel of Consultants/Individual Contractors apply.
• All travels shall be undertaken only upon the prior written approval by UNICEF.
• The consultant is responsible for his/her for travel arrangements. The most economic and direct route is authorized.
• Travel costs will be reimbursed after the completion of mission upon submission of the invoice together with the supporting documentation.
• The consultant must be fit to travel, be in a possession of the valid UN BSAFE certificate, obligatory inoculation(s) and have a valid own travel/medical insurance and an immunization/vaccination card.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

Payment will be made on submission of a monthly invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. Please indicate an all inclusive fixed monthly fee in EUR to undertake this assignment, bearing in mind that the maximum monthly fee for this assignment is EUR 2,600.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required

• Bachelor's in sociology, anthropology, education, development studies, IT, communications or other social science field;
• Excellent IT, quantitative and analytical skills;
• At least 3 years of experience working with web-based platforms, managing websites;
• Excellent knowledge and use of social media channels;
• Experience in creating or managing content for young people is a strong asset;
• Good knowledge of graphic design programmes;
• Fluency in English and Italian;
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization;
• Commitment to UNICEF principles and mandate, commitment to the role, creativity, passionate about making a lasting difference for unaccompanied and separated minors

Desired

• Advanced University Degree is desired in sociology, anthropology, education, development studies, IT, communications or other social science field;
• Proficiency in Ukrainian, Bengali, Arabic, Pashtu or Urdu will be an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Please include a full CV and Financial Proposal in your application. Additionally, indicate your availability and monthly rate (in EUR) to undertake the terms of reference above, bearing in mind that the maximum monthly fee for this assignment is EUR 2,600. Applications submitted without a monthly rate will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.