Consultancy: Activate Talk Project Coordinator, Rome, Italy (88 days)

UNICEF's migrant and refugee response in Italy is looking for a consultant to undertake 4 Activate Talks between 15 February 2020 and 31 December 2020.

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BACKGROUND:

Since the beginning of the migrant and refugee influx, UNICEF is responding to the unique needs of children and women who are seeking asylum in Italy, on the move, stranded or pushed back. 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. Despite the decrease in arrivals since July 2017, Italy remains one of the main entry points into Europe for refugees and migrants fleeing conflicts, situations of violence and deprivation.  The continued significant presence of UASC (in December 2019 of which the highest number remains in Sicily) and the growing number of UASC who have turned 18 (around 60,000 over the last five years) are an increasing cause for concern. 

At central level in Italy, UNICEF cooperates with the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the National Ombudsperson for Childhood and Adolescence, which are the key Italian authorities in charge of UAMs.  At local level, UNICEF and its implementing partners are collaborating with all the key institutions to provide technical assistance and build capacities for the protection, care and social inclusion of UAMs and UAMs who have come of age. Over the last 2 years of programme implementation, a number of models have been designed using innovative approaches (including digital solutions) which have been tested for replication and scaling up purposes and for which important partnerships have been established at national and local levels for sustainability purposes.

Advocacy for the promotion of children’s rights and related policy and services has been a key feature of UNICEF’s refugee and migrant response in Italy. One of the key pillars of the advocacy strategy for migrants and refugees in Italy is to give young people themselves the opportunity to voice their opinions – this has been primarily achieved through U-Report on the Move, a digital platform that through polls and content sharing puts young migrants and refugees in the driver’s seat making them digital story-tellers, advocates for their communities and inspiring others who have listened to their voices. Alongside U-Report, a number of offline actions (workshops, meetings etc) have also played an important role in promoting their role as advocates for change by key stakeholders of the system to better respond to the protection and social inclusion needs.

A key feature of this strategy has been the launching of a series of 4 Activate Talks  in Rome. The roundtables involved young Italians, migrants and refugees as speakers whilst participants included line Ministries, UN Agencies, civil society organizations, entrepreneurs, innovators. An Activate Talk (as per UNICEF global guidance on activate talks) is a talk-show style panel discussion with 4-5 “change maker” speakers followed by a Q&A. Each Activate Talk focuses on a theme relevant to young migrants and refugees and Italian youth showcasing successful solutions able to improve their protection, care and social inclusion. 

The themes of the 4 Activate talks held in 2019 focused on civic engagement and active social inclusion, vocational training and start-ups, hate-speech and discrimination, and alternative care. A key take away of the Activate Talks implemented in 2019 is that whilst giving young people a voice in high level fora such as the Activate talk fora is critical to ensuring their needs, aspirations, worries and concerns are heard, ensuring that change happens through commitments and action from decision-makers requires both effective targeting of the stakeholders invited to the talk  and follow-up to the events

PURPOSE:

Under the direct supervision of the Youth and Adolescent Development Specialist, in Rome, Italy, the Project Coordinator is primarily responsible for creating conversations through planning and coordination of 4 Activate Talks  in 2020 around innovative solutions for Unaccompanied Minors and young migrants and refugees in Italy.  It includes mobilizing and engaging participation of young migrants and refugees in Rome and elsewhere in Italy in the Activate Talks. All in all, 4 Activate talks will take place: 2 in Rome, 1 in Milan and 1 in Palermo.

The Project Coordinator will oversee the coordination, from planning to implementation to follow-up of the event. The Project Coordinator will link with local partners, non-governmental and governmental agencies; and will be supported by the UNICEF response team in Rome.

The Project Coordinator is the focal point for all communication related activities and will coordinate with the communication focal point of the UNICEF National Committee and UNICEF Response team.

Tasks, activities and number of days for each Activate Talk

DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINE

For each of the 4 Activate Talks the Individual Contractor will submit the following deliverables:

• List of speakers and invitees
• Save the Date, agenda plan and AT Info pack (including press release, detailed Agenda, bios for the speakers)
• 1 press release
• 2 short videos (2 per Activate Talk)
• Activate Talk brief with key messages for dissemination to key stakeholders
• An internal report with data on participation, key issues discussed, lessons learned and recommendations

The schedule of the 4 activate talks be determined as per the advocacy and communication plan and coincide with key advocacy moments of the implementation of the work plan, tentatively starting in April and ending in November.

PERFORMANCE INDICATOR: The deliverables will be assessed against timely completion and quality of work.

ESTMATED NUMBER OF WORKING DAYs: 88 within a 10.5 months period  between15^th February 2020 and end on 31^st December 2020

PAYMENT SCHEDULE: 

The Consultant will be paid after organization of each event after submission of the report to the supervisor.

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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES:

• Advanced University Degree is desired in social science, journalism, or communication. Bachelor’s Degree is required in any of the above fields.
• A minimum of 2 years relevant professional experience in youth engagement
• Proven track record in planning and coordination of events.
• Strong communication skills and the aptitude to handle competing messages and priorities with multiple audiences.
• Fluency in Italian and another UN language are required.

WORKING MODALITY AND OFFICIAL TRAVEL

The Consultant will be home-based in Rome with travels to Milan (3 days) and Palermo (3 days) to prepare and implement 2 Activate Talks.

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 eligible maximum amount for travel is specified in the contract.
• 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. 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 APPLY:

Applicants are invited to:

1. complete their UNICEF profile 
2. attach latest P-11 History Form, CV and Motivation Letter (http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.htm)
3. Indicate a daily fee, bearing in mind that the maximum allowed for this consultancy is USD350/day
4. Indicate a lump sum for expected travel expenditures

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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.

REMARKS:

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.