Home-based Consultancy: Social Mobilizer Consultant (132 Working days; #1 based in Crotone/Catanzaro (Calabria)-#2 based in Ragusa/Agrigento (Sicily) - with regular travel to field), ECARO

Contract

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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

Italy remains one of the main entry points into Europe for refugees and migrants fleeing conflicts, situations of violence and deprivation. Between 2020 and 2022, more than 28,000 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 20,000 in reception centres in December 2022) and the growing number of UASC who have turned 18 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 and in the achievement of full physical and mental well-being. 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.

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.

With more than 10,000 U-Reporters registered by June 2023, 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, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Instagram in 2022 scale up efforts are being boosted by a team of Social Mobilizers responsible for promoting the platform in reception centres hosting unaccompanied and separated children, young migrants and refugees and fostering their engagement and participation.

Registration is open to anyone, however given their young age and language abilities, social mobilization is key to scaling up as it enables to engage with young migrants and refugees through workshops, psychosocial activities, interacting and explaining the scope of the digital platform and related tools.

As per UNICEF ECARO/Italy outpost Contingency Plan for potential increase of migrant and refugee influx and in order to establish adequate preparedness measures, to provide timely, effective, and quality response support, scale up of U-Report On The Move is planned through social mobilization activities targeting UASC and young migrants and refugees throughout Italy with a particular focus on Sicily and Calabria, being the main region of arrivals.

Key responsibilities include:

• Promoting U-Report On The Move platform and related digital tools in reception centres and alternative care (case famiglia, gruppi appartamento etc.) reaching unaccompanied and separated children, young migrants, and refugees.
• Strengthening and expanding the network of reception centres for promotion of U-Report On The Move and related tools.
• Facilitating mobilization sessions and other similar activities.
• Regularly tracking & reporting on mobilization sessions, registration & engagement of UASC and young migrants and refugees.

How can you make a difference?

- Work location: Home-based in Italy

- Payment schedule: The consultant will be paid based on satisfactory and timely submission of deliverables.

- Duration: 132 days between July 2023 and July 2024

- Travel: The consultant is expected to travel.

• All UNICEF rules and regulations related to travel of Consultants 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.

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

• University Degree is desired in social or educational science, international affairs, intercultural communication and/or anthropology.
• Diploma or certificate in cultural and linguistic mediation, social mobilization or at least 2 years of experience in working with vulnerable groups of youth accompanied by professional certifications may replace the University degree.
• Relevant professional experience of at least 2 years in youth engagement is required.
• Experience in working with vulnerable groups of youth (e.g., children and adolescents with a migration background or with low socio-economic background, etc.) is required.
• Demonstrated social mobilization skills is required.
• Proven ability to work flexibly and independently and deliver quality results against tight deadlines.
• Fluency in Italian and English are required.
• Language skills in Arabic, Bengali, Pashtu, or Urdu (the U-Report languages) or any other UN languages, such as French is required.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Desired:

• Good computer skills (Office package).
• Have a solid understanding on the local context where the activity takes place.
• Proven ability to present and communicate new projects to a varied audience, including children and adolescents.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors 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.

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:

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.