National Communications Consultant for funDoo and other youth programmes with UNICEF Uzbekistan

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.

Background

Uzbekistan is at a critical demographic juncture. According to UNICEF Uzbekistan’s study in 2020, young people under 30 years old constitute 60% of the population. For most of them, the school-to-work transition is challenging resulting in a high rate of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). After completion of compulsory secondary education, 56% of young people between 19 and 24 years are NEET - 69% of young women and 33.4% of young men. Young people perceive a lack of practical skills and absence of prior work experience as one of the key factors impeding their employment after graduation.

The state of girls and young women is particularly adverse. Substantial divide persists between girls and boys in computer literacy and Internet access and use. For girls and young women, the access is also hindered by social stigmatization based on the belief that the Internet influences behaviour of girls negatively. Among married young women, 71% never use the Internet. The underrepresentation of young women in STEM fields reduces their skilled employment prospects.

In this context, UNICEF Uzbekistan Country Office aims to empower young people with a focus on the most disadvantaged including girls and young people with disabilities to take informed decisions about their future and realize their full potential through different skills-building programmes including among others the chat-based 21st century skills learning programme funDoo. In 2022-2023, following the experience of the UNICEF India, UNICEF aims to customize and pilot the funDoo platform in Uzbekistan.

Piloting the funDoo platform requires strong communication support to promote it among young people and other stakeholders including through convening focus group discussions (FGDs) with young people and development of the promo video messages, posters, leaflets, and press releases to be disseminated in social and traditional media as well as by connecting funDoo with the other youth-related UNICEF programmes. Thus, UNICEF Uzbekistan is looking for a communications consultant to promote funDoo platform and support communication on the other UNICEF skills-building programmes.

Objective

The objective of this communication consultancy is to support the Youth team with the development of communication plans and materials for funDoo and the other skills-building programme to encourage participation and empowerment of young people in Uzbekistan.

Timeline and Deliverables

The deliverables are expected to be prepared within 9 months during the period from 21 November 2022 to 20 August 2023.

1. Development of the Strategic Promotion and Communication plan of funDoo in Uzbekistan

Tasks:

• Study about funDoo and its implementation in other country offices
• Coordinate and facilitate a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with young people on the preferred methods and channels of funDoo promotion
• Complete trainings and study the communication principles and guidance of UNICEF

Deliverables

1.1. The strategic plan for promotion and communication to introduce and engage the first 15,000 users is developed and approved - by 20 December 2022

2. Development of the communication and promotion materials

Tasks:

• Based on the strategic plan, develop promotion and communication materials including videos, posters, branded goodies, booklets, and others in Uzbek, Russian, and English - by 31 December 2022

Deliverables:

2.1 Communication and promotion materials are designed and prepared for dissemination in Uzbek, Russian, and English

2.2. Minimum 2 communication materials developed for youth programmes

3. Mobilization of partners

Tasks:

• Develop a list of influencers and partners who can support the large-scale promotion of the funDoo programme - By 31 January 2023
• Jointly with the Youth Development and Innovation Specialist, develop and conduct presentations of funDoo to the partners identified - 13 February 2023

Deliverables:

3.1 Established partnership for the promotion of funDoo platform with at least 5 stakeholders, and funDoo promotion is organized and supported by the 5 partners with a large-scale outreach to young people

3.2. Minimum 3 funDoo communication materials developed including social media posting and introductory page on UNICEF website

3.3. Minimum 2 communication materials developed for youth programmes

4. Recruiting funDoo users

Tasks:

• Run digital promotion campaigns for the launch of the platform and for each learning module separately
• Run five offline campaigns for the engagement of young people

Deliverables:

4.1 Summary report on the promotion of the first 2 learning modules - by 30 April 2023 4.2. Summary report on the digital and offline promo campaigns for the launch of the platform and its results, lessons learned

4.3 Summary report on the promotion of 3rd to 6th learning modules - by 31 July 2023 4.4 The number of registered users by June 2022 is at least 50,000

4.5. Minimum 3 funDoo communication materials developed - by 31 August 2023 4.6. Minimum 2 communication materials developed for youth programmes

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

• University degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, Digital communication, or a related field • At least 2 years of progressively responsible experience in communication, journalism, advertisement, or creative writing • Experience in communicating using social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, Twitter, etc.), digital marketing, or editorial • Experience in developing and implementing social media or digital communication/marketing strategies • Strong writing and analytical skills in Uzbek, Russian, and English

Management

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Youth and Adolescence Development Officer and Youth Development and Innovation Specialist. The consultant will also work in close collaboration with the UNICEF U-Report manager and the Communications section for timely and quality delivery of all components of the initiative.

Payment

The consultant will be paid in installments upon completion of the deliverables certified by the Youth and Adolescents Development Officer and the Youth Development and Innovation Specialist.

All required travel expenses within this consultancy will be covered by UNICEF according to its procedures (transport fares, terminal, DSA).

Reservations

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if deliverable(s) incomplete, not finalized or for failure to meet deadlines. UNICEF will reserve copyright of all developed materials and own primary data collected through this assignment. The materials cannot be published or disseminated without prior written permission of UNICEF. UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. The contractor must respect the confidentiality of the information handled during the assignment. Documents and information provided must be used only for the tasks related to these terms of reference.

UNICEF undertakes no liability for taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant on payments made under this contract.

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.