Social Mobiliser Consultant, UNICEF Refugee and Migrant Response in Italy, 134 days (home-based)

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. Since 2014 more than 80,000 UASC have arrived in Italy of which 70,000 have since come of age. As of August 2021, the total of asylum seekers and refugees hosted in the reception system is 77,299, 9.131 of whom are UASC (only 5% are girls). While adolescence is characterized by a period of heightened vulnerabilities, it also provides a window of opportunity for successful transition to adulthood and equality especially for the most disadvantaged adolescents, including UASC. One of the key issues of concern for UASC is that they do not feel heard and do not have anybody to talk to. Although these adolescents should be adequately informed about the decisions that affect them and their opinion taken into account, this does not seem to happen in practice at the reception centers where they are hosted.

Since 2016, the UNICEF Regional office for Europe and Central Asia outposted office in Italy is providing support to the Government of Italy , to ensure timely, equal and appropriate care, protection and support for social inclusion of UASC and young migrants and refugees, as part of the Regional Migrant and Refugee Response. A central pillar of the response is the use of digital and social media in order for them to access services and express and mobilize themselves. Engagement is also fostered through the identification of opportunities at national and international levels in order for them to voice their opinions and advocate on issues that concern them.

U-Report is a social messaging polling tool designed to empower people and communities to speak out on issues that they care about and achieve social change. Once the information is collected the data is instantly analyzed. The information is subsequently utilized in advocacy work across all media channels, many UNICEF programs and through general partner engagement. U-Report on the Move, designed specifically for UASC and young migrants and refugees was first piloted in Italy and is today a reference for the U-Report community globally. Via the U Partner platform, U-Report is also used as a tool for individual case management, informing and supporting UASC and young refugees and migrants, on legal, mental health and other issues of concern.

A number of U-Report spin offs have since been rolled out and promoted via the platform, including U-blog, a blogging platform to foster engagement and participation, U-Pod (https://www.spreaker.com/user/upod), a webradio programme that provides key information on protection and social inclusion paths. Likewise, the platform is used to promote digital tools in support to the social inclusion of users, such as Mygrants (https://mygrants.it/en/) and StudiaMi (https://www.studiami.eu/) . Empowerment is also about engaging U reporters and young migrants and refugees in the production of multimedia content and in promoting their role (both online and offline) as advocates viavis key international , national and local stakeholders.

Registration is open to anyone, however given their young age and language abilities, online and offline social mobilization is key to scaling up as it enables to engage with young migrants and refugees. Offline social mobilization is undertaken in reception centres through workshops, games, interacting and explaining the scope of the digital platform and related tools. Online social mobilization is carried out with reception centre staff, local authorities and the network of civil society organizations supporting young migrants and refugees and focuses on presenting the U Report platform and promoting participation of U-Reporters and young migrants and refugees in national and international advocacy events.

How can you make a difference?

Under the direct supervision of the Youth and Adolescent Development Specialist, P4, in Rome, and technical supervision of the U Report Manager, Italy, the Social Mobilizer Consultant is primarily responsible for promoting the U-Report on the Move platform and related engagement opportunities of unaccompanied and separated children, young migrants and refugees.

Key responsibilities include promoting the U-Report on the Move platform and engagement opportunities for unaccompanied and separated children, young migrants and refugees.

Specifically, the consultant will:

• Strengthen and expand the network of reception centres, civil society organizations for the promotion of U-Report on the Move and engagement opportunities .
• Prepare and co-facilitate offline and online mobilization sessions.
• Regularly track & report on mobilization sessions, registration & engagement of UASC and young migrants and refugees.

Contractual modalities:

• Duration: The contract is expected to be for 134 days during a 11.5 month-period.
• Duty station: The Consultant will be home-based with travel throughout Italy to organise social mobilisation sessions in reception centres. Travel will depend on COVID-19 travel restrictions. The Consultant will be responsible for organizing their travel. All travel expenses (tickets, accommodation, public transport, meals) will be reimbursed.
• Supervisor: The consultants wil report to the Youth and Adolescent Specialist and work closely with the U-Report on the Move Project Manager
• Terms of payments: The payment will be done on a monthly basis upon satisfactory completion of planned deliverables.
• Taxes: Consultants and Individual contractors are responsible for paying any taxes derived from the earnings received from UNICEF

• Travel:

• The maximum travel amount for the contract will be EUR 10,500 or USD 12,238.

• 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.

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.

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

• University Degree is desired in social science, international affairs or communication. Diploma or equivalent in cultural and linguistic mediation as educator, social mobilizer or at least 2 years of experience accompanied by professional certifications may replace the degree;
• 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;
• Strong communication skills and the aptitude to handle competing messages and priorities with multiple audiences;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Proven ability to work flexibly and independently with limited supervision and deliver quality results against tight deadlines;
• Have a solid understanding on the local context where the activity takes place.
• Fluency in Italian and English are required. Language skills in Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Tigrinya (the U-Report languages) or any other UN languages, such as French would be an asset.

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.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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 CV and Cover Letter;
• Indicate a daily fee, bearing in mind that the maximum daily allowed for this consultancy is USD 188 or EUR 162, travels not included.

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.