Part-time Individual Contractor (11.5 months, home-based in Italy with regular travel to field locations): Social Mobilizer (Coordination) - ECARO, Rome, Italy

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

Background and 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 2016 and 2021, more than 71,000 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 15.595 in reception centers in June 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. 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 user-friendly, cost-effective, anonymous social messaging tool designed to empower youth, ensuring that those who have registered on U-Report, known as U-Reporters, have access to information, speak out on issues that affect them and their communities, encourage citizen-led development and create positive behaviour change. U-Report is available via numerous messaging, social media, and SMS channels, and even works on a basic mobile.

With 8,000 U-Reporters registered by August 2022, 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, and Instagram 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. 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.

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, games, interacting and explaining the scope of the digital platform and related tools. During 2022-24 UNICEF will further scale up social mobilization activities in reception centres hosting UASC and young migrants and refugees, including for Ukrainian refugee adolescents and young mothers, through expansion of the Social Mobilization team and outreach to multiple regions in Italy.

The Social Mobiliser (Coordination) will work jointly with the Social Mobiliser to promote the U-Report On The Move platform and related tools in reception centers reaching unaccompanied and separated children, young migrants and refugees.

Purpose of the Assignment

The Social Mobiliser (Coordination) is primarily responsible for coordinating and promotion the U-Report On The Move platform and related tools in reception centers reaching unaccompanied and separated children, young migrants and refugees.

Key responsibilities include:

• Coordinating social mobilization activities : defining plans and related timelines, overseeing day-to-day activities of the social mobilizers team and drafting of a country-wide report.
• Promoting the 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.
• Planning of social mobilization activities, oversight of day-to-day activities of the social mobilizer team and reporting on results.

Specifically, the individual contractor will:

• Strengthen and expand the network of reception centres and alternative care (case famiglia, gruppi appartamento, etc.) for the promotion of U-Report On The Move and related tools.
• Prepare and co-facilitate mobilization sessions.
• Regularly track & report on mobilization sessions, registration & engagement of UASC and young migrants and refugees.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks / Milestone******Deliverables / Outputs******Timeline / Deadline• Planning of social mobilization activitiesWork plan of activities with targets and timelines for the Social Mobilizer team11 working days• Drafting letters to municipal authorities and reception centres’ managers for presentation of U-Report On The Move

• Online presentations to reception centre staff and municipal authorities as relevant

• Lead in liaising with reception centres and municipal authorities to organize presentation meetings and workshops with beneficiaries

- Mapping of the reception centres and alternative care system in Italy

- Calendar of meetings in reception centres

11 working daysOverseeing day-to-day activities of the social mobilizers teamWeekly report and meeting39 working days (average of 1 meeting per week)Preparing and co-facilitating mobilization sessions for U-Report registration and presentation of other digital tools if neededMobilization sessions for registration on U-Report On The Move and other digital tools, participation in polls, multi-media content production and advocacy activities88 working days (average of 20 mobilization sessions = 2 x month of 4 days each)Monthly report on the activities carried out and progress against expected results including bottlenecks, main challenges, and opportunities at country levelMonthly report11 working daysFinal review report at the end of the contract periodFinal report2 working daysEstimated Duration of the Contract

11.5 months (between October 2022 and September 2023)

Individual Contractor's Work Place and Official Travel

The assignment will be home-based in Italy. The Individual Contractor is required on a part-time basis for the period of the contract. The Individual Contractor is expected to work 14 days per month for 11.5 months.

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.

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 an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. Please indicate a daily fee in your application to undertake this assignment.

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

• University degree is desired in social or educational science, international relations, intercultural communication, and/or anthropology.
• Relevant professional experience of at least 2 years in youth engagement is required.
• Experience in working with vulnerable groups of children (e.g., children with a migration background, Roma children, children with low socio-economic background, etc.) is required.
• Demonstrated social mobilization skills.
• Proven ability to present and communicate new projects to a varied audience.
• Excellent communication skills and the aptitude to handle challenging messages and priorities with multiple audiences.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Proven ability to work flexibly and independently and deliver quality results against tight deadlines.
• Strong organization and time management skills and team oriented.
• Good computer skills (Office package) are required.
• Fluency in Italian and English is required.
• Language skills in Arabic, Bengali, Pashtu or Urdu (the U-Report languages) or any other UN languages, such as French would be an asset.
• Commitment to UNICEF principles and mandate, commitment to the role, creativity, passionate about making a lasting difference for unaccompanied and separated minors.

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 daily rate (in EUR) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a daily 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.