READVERTISEMENT: Local home-based consultancy: U-Report Manager, Rome, Italy (until 31 December 2021)

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, results

Italy remains one of the main entry points into Europe for refugees and migrants fleeing conflicts, situations of violence and deprivation. Between 2014 and 2018, more than 70,000 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 5,000 in reception centres in December 2020)) and the growing number of UASC who have turned 18 (around 60,000 over the last five years) 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. 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 mobile phone-based technology that provides a forum of opinion and information sharing for children, adolescents and adults. Using a crowd-sourcing approach to initiate a virtual dialogue with the members (‘U-reporters’), through U-report youth are able to respond to weekly polls and be agents of change in their communities. The ultimate aim of the programme is to stimulate citizen-led and adolescent/youth-led development. Once the information is collected the data is instantly analyzed. The information is subsequently utilized in communication and advocacy work across all media channels, many UNICEF programmes and through general partner engagement.

With nearly 6,000 U-Reporters registered by end 2020, 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, Instagram and TikTok, in 2021 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. A dedicated App will also soon be piloted and rolled out for this purpose. 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. U-Ambassadors also participate in the U-blog platform and U-pod, a spinoff of U Report on the Move for engagement via blogging and podcasts. The U-Partner platform, as a tool for individual case management, has become a key aspect of the platform, with a focus on legal case management and mental health support. Likewise, Live Chat sessions and audio-visual material have become a key feature of the platform providing life protecting information to increase access to and uptake of services and generating a high level of engagement. In 2021 a new platform, U Report Italy, dedicated to Italian youth will be deployed jointly by the Migrant and Refugee Response team and Italian National Committee for UNICEF.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF’s migrant and refugee response in Italy is looking for a consultant to continue manage the existing programme as well as to ensure its continued upscale, in particular through its deployment and adaptation on a number of digital platforms.

This work will contribute to building Italy's capacity to plan, develop, monitor and evaluate national and local capacity to ensure the protection, care and social inclusion of UASC and young migrants and refugees and foster their participation and empowerment. UNICEF and partners will use the information for advocacy and more focused programming for UAMs and young migrants and refugees and have a responsibility to share appropriate information with U-reporters, as well as with the larger community.

DELIVERABLES & TIMELINE

Under the guidance of the Youth and Adolescent Specialist, the U-Report Manager will:

• support the adaptation and deployment of the U-Report platform on a number of digital platforms (Facebook, Twitter, TikTok etc), including the development and management of relevant partnerships (technical and programmatic).
• ensure connections with and online engagement of users, identify and create conversations around issues related to UASCs and young migrants and refugees through online and offline mobilization, design and content management of materials.

The Consultant will supervise and monitor use of the U Report and U-Partner apps, providing regular analysis of user profiles and participation and of U-partner response rate. He/she will also provide ad hoc support to the Youth engagement consultant for U-Ambassador engagement and other offline actions

DELIVERABLE

TIMELINE

Elaboration of and management of online and offline scaling up strategy and plan for U Report on the Move

30 March

Piloting and roll out of U Report App

30 June

RapidPro system management (construction of flows, analysis of data collected, uploading onto the Website and social media platforms)

Monthly

Analysis of UASC profiles and engagement (response rate, use of the app, website and social media), identification of high and low-level users, export of data

Monthly

Support to U-Partners system management, through collaboration with partners first tier case management, analysis of engagement, export of data

Monthly

Identification of topics and content design to improve user access to information and opportunities for information exchange and networking through U-Report Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, website and app.

Monthly

Technical supervision of Social Mobilization team (monthly planning, follow-up and review of reports)

Monthly

Planning and management of live chats and weekly news podcasts (preparation of content, tracking of engagement)

15 December

Training and mentoring of U-bloggers and management of the U-blog website

15 December

Management and supervision of U-Report on the move partnerships (Translators without Borders)

Monthly

Support to the development of the Road Map for U-Report Italy and management of the joint platform

30 June

Monthly report on the activities carried out highlighting bottlenecks, main challenges and opportunities

Monthly

Final report

15 December

Contractual modalities:

• Estimated duration of the contract: The consultant is expected to work full time until 31 December 2021.
• Payments: The Consultant will produce and submit a monthly report to the Supervisor which will include activities completed, results achieved, any bottlenecks encountered and planned activities for the following month. The payment will be done on a monthly basis upon timely and satisfactory deliverables.
• Taxes: Consultants and Individual contractors are responsible for paying any taxes derived from the earnings received from UNICEF
• Nature of Penalty Clause in Contract: If the final reports and documents are not submitted according to the deliverables stated in this TOR, the payments will be withheld. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines (fees reduced due to late submission: 20 days - 10%; 1 month -20%; 2 months -30%; more 2 months – payment withhold). All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.
• Duty Station: The Consultant will be home-based in Rome with travel to the field for 3 or 4 days for a maximum of 3 field trips, depending on COVID-19 travel restrictions. The Consultant will be responsible for organization of their travel. All travel expenses (tickets, accommodation, public transport, meals) will be reimbursed. The maximum amount allocated for travel will be EUR 1,300.
• Travel:
  • 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, via the most economic and direct route.
  • Travel costs will be reimbursed after the completion of mission. UNICEF will pay the applicable DSA rate and other travel related expenses 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…

Required:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in IT, communications, psychology, sociology, anthropology, education, or other social science field;
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in project management is required, including experience of working with government ministries, civil society organizations and NGOs;
• Proven track record of managing projects with strong technology /data management components and /or of working with web-based platforms and social media-based channels of influence, social media -based communication and development;
• Fluency in written and verbal English and Italian;
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with experience in consensus building and in motivating cross-functional teams to meet ambitious project goals and timelines;
• Able to work independently, sound judgment and strong organizational skills;
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships.
• Knowledge or experience in the use of participatory methodologies for production of digital content (infopills, video pills, blogs etc) by young people

Desired:

• Experience working with young people.
• Previous working experience setting up and running U-Report or alternative RapidPro products;
• An Advanced University Degree in any of the above fields
• Experience with tracking and monitoring of large, complex projects with multi partner engagement.
• Humanitarian field experience.
• Experience in creating or managing content for young people.
• Italian is desirable.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's 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.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.

TO APPLY:

Applicants are invited to:

• Complete their UNICEF profile;
• Attach P11, CV and Cover Letter;
• Indicate a daily fee, bearing in mind that the maximum monthly allowed for this consultancy is USD 4,369 or EUR 3600, travels not included. Applications without fees will not be accepted.

Remarks:

This is a re-advertisement due to minor amendments in the ToRs. Previous applicants need not reapply as their original application will be duly 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.