National Consultancy: U-Report Technical Specialist (For Sierra Leone Nationals Only)

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, innovation.

Please access UNICEF Sierra Leone information here

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of this role is to support UNICEF in leveraging this technology to support children and young people in social, behavioral change, legislative and policy, input, monitoring, and data, gathering, rapid communication in emergency context, supporting dissemination of commercial information in agriculture, increasing access to social services for the most ponderable, socializing health education and supporting the governments no corruption policy.

Amplify The Voice of Youth: The primary objective is to channel the collective wisdom and perspectives of young people into the decision and policy-making processes of the Sierra Leonean government across sectors and focusing on issues that adolescents and youth are concerned about. The consultancy aims to project manage the entire process around the collaboration of UNICEF, The United Nations’ Youth Thematic Team with the United Nations’ Youth Advisory Group to leverage cutting-edge UNICEF technologies, including U-Report, EMOJO, and the Internet of Good Things, to amplify the voices of youth in Sierra Leone.

By harnessing the power of U-Report, which allows for real-time data collection and feedback, the consultancy seeks to create a dynamic platform where adolescents and youth can express their concerns and aspirations. EMOJO's emotional analysis capabilities will help gauge the sentiments behind adolescents and youth’s feedback, providing nuanced insights for more effective policy formulation. Additionally, the Internet of Good Things will serve as a valuable resource hub for showcasing and disseminating vital information and resources to youth.

Ultimately, this collaborative effort strives to accelerate prosperity in Sierra Leone by ensuring that the voices and ideas of its adolescent and youth population are integral to the nation's governance and development strategies, (linking to ongoing policy discussions across sectors). Through technology-driven engagement, the consultancy aims to foster a more inclusive and responsive decision-making ecosystem, driving positive change and sustainable progress.

Specific Tasks:

UNICEF expects the U-Report specialist to oversee the implementation and management of various innovative digital platforms, including U-Report, YOMA, IoGT, and EMOJO, in Sierra Leone. Under the general guidance and supervision of the Innovation Specialist, the consultant will have the following key functions/accountabilities:

Strategic Planning, Coordination & Project Management:

Phase 1: Initial Stakeholder Engagement

Phase 2: Gathering Youth Voices

Phase 3: Deep Dive Focus Groups

Phase 4: Amplification through Mobile Journalism

Phase 5: Reporting and Presentation for Policy Review

Phase 6: Feedback and Policy Impact

Phase 7: Managing Multiple Campaigns

Please see attached ToR for details on the assignment and deliverables. UReport Consultant TOR 24.pdf

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

• An advanced university degree in ICT, Technology, Education, or other relevant field or a first degree (Bachelor’s) in a relevant field (such as ICT, Technology, Education, or Youth Innovation) combined with additional 2 years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
• A minimum of 5 years working experience in ICT, Technology, Education, or another relevant field.
• Experience in working on the planning, rollout, and administration of an IMS or LMS based projects/programmes, is an asset.
• Experience in deploying digital platforms, tools and approaches.
• Specific experience in real-time, USSD based mobile tech programming tools in Sierra Leone
• Experience working with Government is considered as an asset.
• Experience in working on the planning, rollout, and administration of an IMS or LMS based projects/programmes, is an asset.
• Experience in deploying digital platforms, tools and approaches.
• Specific experience in real-time, USSD based mobile tech programming tools in Sierra Leone
• Experience working with Government is considered as an asset.
• Fluency in English is required, strong written and verbal competency is necessary.

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.