Full-time Individual Contractor (8 months, home-based in Italy with field travel): Inter-sectional Discrimination Consultant - 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

Background and Scope of Work

The UNICEF National Response in Italy supports the efforts of the GoI and civil society organizations to ensure the protection and social inclusion of unaccompanied minors and young migrants and refugees. Since 2020, UNICEF in Italy is also leading in phase III of the EU Child Guarantee, the European Commission’s initiative to address child poverty and social exclusion.

Underpinning UNICEF’s programme in Italy are actions aimed at countering racism, xenophobia and discriminatory practices against excluded children and youth. In June 2021 the “OPS! Campaign – your Opinion, beyond any Stereotype, against any Prejudice” was launched to raise awareness and engage adolescents and youth in countering unconscious racial biases. The OPS! campaign combined evidence generation, skills building, social media content production and amplification through online platforms and activation of young influencers.

The first phase of the OPS! Campaign was completed with the Activate Talk held on 23 March 2022 (https://www.activatetalksitalia.com/) and will continue throughout 2021 expanding to embrace multiple and inter-related forms of prejudice, including both attitudes driven by prejudices and behaviours through discriminatory practices. Amongst these is prejudice and discrimination towards girls, children with disabilities, children in residential care, ethnic minority children. These children are represented in the recently established Youth Advisory Board (YAB) of the EU Child Guarantee in Italy, the European Commission’s programme to combat child poverty and social exclusion (2022 and 2030) whose plans for 2022 include awareness raising and advocacy on “social exclusion as discrimination for social, economic and cultural reasons”.

The inter-sectional discrimination work of the ECARO National response in Italy will be regularly shared with the global Community of Practice established by the HQ Migration unit and which is co-lead by the office in Italy, together with National Committee colleagues.

Purpose of the Assignment

The Inter-sectional discrimination Consultant will support young people’s engagement and advocacy action in advancing UNICEF’s inter-sectional discrimination agenda in Italy. Specifically, the consultant:

• will mentor and/or prep young people’s engagement and advocacy actions;
• support the review and quality assure creative content production by/for youth for social media platforms;
• support the review and quality assure blog and pod cast content produced by Youth Advisory Board members;
• support organization of meetings and consultations of the Youth Advisory Board for the Child Guarantee;
• support co-leadership of the Global Community of Practice (CoP) on xenophobia and discrimination.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks / Milestone******Deliverables / Outputs******Timeline / DeadlineSupport organization of 2 Youth Advisory Board meetings• List of members and travel arrangements;

• Agenda plan and Info pack (including detailed Agenda, bios for the speakers);

• An internal report with data on participation, key issues discussed, lessons learned and recommendations.By 30 June 2022 and by 15 December 2022Support creative content production by/for youth for social media platforms• 2 posts/IG per week on the YAB Instagram page;

• Scuola Zoo creative content produced and disseminated via the platform;

• Scuola Zoo reach and engagement report.OngoingSupport blog and pod cast content production• At least 4 blogs uploaded on the website and shared for amplification purposes.

• At least 6 podcasts uploaded on the website and shared for amplification purposes.Support co-leadership of the global Community of Practice on Xenophobia and Discrimination• Participate in preparatory meetings;

• Contribute to definition of priority themes and support organization of the webinars.Final report• Final reportBy 15 December 2022Estimated Duration of the Contract

8 months (May - December 2022)

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. All travel expenses (tickets, accommodation, public transport, meals) will be reimbursed. The maximum amount for travel overall will be EUR 1,000.

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.

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

• Bachelor's in social science, education, anthropology, or communication.
• A minimum of 2 years of practical professional work in social mobilization/educational activities with adolescents and youth with disadvantaged background.
• Proven track record in planning and coordination of events.
• Proven track record in use of youth-based digital channels of influence.
• Strong communication skills and the aptitude to handle competing messages and priorities with multiple audiences.
• Able to work independently, has sound judgment and strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships.
• Fluency in Italian and English is required.
• Demonstrated experience of working with and for refugee, migrant, asylum seeker and internally displaced groups.
• Experience working with web-based platforms, managing websites is desired.
• Creative, innovative thinker who can also translate ideas into practical applications is desired.

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. 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.

It should be noted that selected candidate will be responsible for arranging for their own health and medical insurance. This consultancy does not provide any other benefits other than the consultancy fee and 1.5 days leave entitlement per month and the UN official holidays. Selected consultant will be responsible for complying with local tax requirements and any tax liabilities that may arise as a result of the consultancy with UNICEF.

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.