Home-based consultancy: U Report Italy Consultant (75 days)

The UNICEF Refugee and Migrant Response in Italy is looking for a consultant to develop a Roadmap and support the roll out of U Report in Italy. The consultancy is expected to be for 75 days over a period of 5 months.

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

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. In line with Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF places participation at the heart of its efforts to promote the rights of every child whilst emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families.

In Italy, UNICEF’s contribution is twofold: the organization’s response to the refugee and migrant response since 2016 and the advocacy and fundraising work of the National Committee.  The programme in support to migrant and refugee children focuses on:  1. Youth & Adolescent Development 2. Child Protection and 3. Gender-Based Violence (GBV) programmes for a comprehensive response. A key pillar of the programme is adolescent participation and engagement through U Report on the Move dedicated specifically to migrants and refugees.  The Italian National Committee for UNICEF monitors legislative processes and carries out advocacy programming at the institutional level with various line ministries and child rights awareness raising at the local level.

To this end the National Committee relies on the around 900 volunteers aged 15 to 30 and a network of CSO partners  and youth associations engaged in monitoring the application of the CRC,  in addressing the needs of more disadvantaged and vulnerable children and adolescents, and in promoting their participation in all issues of concern to them.  Through these coordinated and joint efforts, over the past few decades there have been notable advances in Italy in the normative framework with regards to the right to participation of children (Law no 176, in 1997, Law no.285) and in measures taken to promote child participation, notably the establishment of adolescent councils at municipal and regional level, as well as in schools through the election of representatives of school associations.  However the Concluding Observations of the CRC to the Fifth and sixth periodic report submitted by the Government of Italy, raised a number of concerns on the full extent of participation of adolescents and young people and formulated a series of recommendations in order to, amongst others, promote meaningful and empowered participation of all children.

The onset of the COVID-19 emergency has further highlighted existing gaps with regards to adolescent and young people’s opportunities to voice their opinions, but also their strong drive to being heard and having a voice in decisions of concern to them. However, whilst young people have spontaneously created alliances and networks to be able to speak with one voice, they do not as yet have a common platform to express their opinions and concerns, amplify these and bring them to the attention of decision makers.

How can you make a difference?

Under the direct supervision of the Youth and Adolescent Development Specialist, P4, in Rome, Italy, the U Report Italy consultant will be primarily responsible for developing a Road Map and supporting the roll out of U Report in Italy.  

The objective will be met through collaborating closely with the U Report on the Move team and NatComm advocacy, communication and volunteer programmes. The Consultant will technically report to the U report on the Move Manager.

DELIVERABLES & TIMELINE

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

REQUIRED

• An advanced University Degree in Social sciences, IT, or communication.
• At least five years of experience in supporting and coordinating project activities across a large organization (UN, or NGO or government).
• Progressively responsible professional work experience in communication, education, and technology fields, some of which should be in an international setting
• Previous working experience with U-Report
• Relevant experience working with youth /adolescent organizations in various areas of programme/project development and management
• Experience with high-level communication initiatives and/or community-based channels of influence, community-based communication and development, participatory methodologies
• A strong understanding of UNICEF programmes, policy, and principles, including knowledge of communication, technology, user-centered design, youth engagement goals
• Fluency in English is required.

DESIRED

• Basic knowledge of Italian
• Relevant experience working with government ministries, national/local institutions, civil society organizations
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation of large, complex projects with multi partner engagement.

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.

Contractual modalities: 

• TERMS OF PAYMENT: The consultant will be paid per deliverable based on satisfactory and timely delivery of outputs. 
• CONTRACT DURATION: 75 days over 5 months
• 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.  The consultant is expected to make 1 trip to Rome for max 10 days, in case the Consultant is based elsewhere. Given the uncertainty posed by the current global pandemic, this trip will be confirmed on the basis of the national or international travel regulations.
• 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.
  • An amount for travel will be specified in the contract (travel lumpsum).
  • 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 applicable DSA and other travel related expenses upon submission of the invoice together with the supporting documentation.

TO APPLY:

Applicants are invited to:

• Complete their UNICEF profile;
• Attach CV and Cover Letter;
• Indicate a daily fee in EUR, bearing in mind that the maximum daily allowed for this consultancy is EUR 255, travels not included; Applications without financial offers will not be considered.

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.