Individual Contractor (Channel mapping and effectiveness study / 3 months)

Office: UNHCR Regional Bureau for the Americas
Title of project: Channel mapping and effectiveness study
Purpose of project:
1. Explore the underlying causes of current information gaps. This will specifically look at what variables influence the lack of information: gaps in availability of information, gaps in trust in information sources, gaps in the quality of the information provided or gaps in community engagement.
2. Map current communication channels (i.e.: Facebook groups and Instagram pages, WhatsApp groups, TikTok and YouTube influencers, digital platforms, and other relevant channels) used and trusted by Venezuelan refugees and migrants (including associations and groups) to be leveraged to disseminate information among different groups.
3. Understand whether communication channels established by humanitarian organizations to provide information and collect feedback are effective, efficient and satisfy the communication needs of affected populations.
Location: Home-based
Duration of the assignment: 3 months
Condition: Full-time (40 hours per week)

General Background of Project or Assignment:

The Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (R4V Platform) was established to lead and coordinate the response to refugees and migrants from Venezuela. Currently over 160 organization participate in the work of the platform through several coordination support and product-oriented working groups.

The Communicating with Communities (CwC/C4D) regional working group has been created to enhance communication with affected population through increased information sharing, through projects that encourage community participation and the institution of two-way communication with communities to shape the response in a relevant manner. The working group actively promotes interagency collaboration among the actors that participate and contribute to its mission.

In 2019 the CwC/C4D Regional Working Group of the R4V Platform conducted an Information and Communication Needs Assessment to understand the needs of Venezuelan refugees and migrants, and their host communities, across the Latin America and Caribbean region with regards to information and communication.

The exercise, in addition to highlighting access rates to and use of different communication channels, was aimed at understanding preferences and practices of different groups to allow humanitarian organizations to craft effective communication strategies to engage affected populations in two-way dialogue.

While the assessment was fundamental to shed light on many aspects of the communication ecosystem of populations affected by the Venezuelan exodus, some challenges remain.

Since 2019 many initiatives have sought to bring information to refugees and migrants. Nevertheless, when the effectiveness of such initiatives gets measured, or during needs assessment that aim at understanding how informed people feel, a gap in information provision is always observed.


Overall Purpose and Scope of Assignment:

The expected outcome of the study will constitute the basis of future regional and national efforts to communicate with Venezuelan refugees and migrants, and their host communities.
The study report will become a practical tool with recommendations from refugees, migrants, experts and service providers and will provide guidance and ideas on how to reach different groups of affected populations to ensure that the information produced by R4V partners can effectively and efficiently at different points of their journey, in transit and at destination. A toolkit will be made available to replicate the study.

Methodology:

The study will be divided in three parts: a first part where the gaps analysis will be conducted through a blended desk-based research, FGD and KIIs. A consultant will work with focal points across the countries to review existing similar exercises/research or conduct research about the possible causes of information gaps.

Interviews will be conducted with social media groups, communities and influencers to discuss the availability and trust of information for refugees and migrants, as well as what specific gaps exists, including trust, access to information, clarity and usability of information.

Interviews will be conducted with social media groups, communities and influencers to discuss the availability and trust of information for refugees and migrants, as well as what specific gaps exists, including trust, access to information, clarity and usability of information.

Interviews with refugees and migrants with different demographic and age, gender and diversity profiles will be conducted to understand how they find information relevant to them, which one they trust and what gaps they specifically identify in the current ecosystem. A second part where the main communication channels used by refugees and migrants are mapped, and link with key influencers and group administrators are established, and a third part where the current channels established by humanitarian organizations are evaluated. The consultant will be responsible for defining and finalizing the methodology of the study.

Phases in the implementation:

Channel mapping:
-The channel mapping will be conducted through desk-based research. A consultant will work with focal points across the platforms to review existing similar exercise or conduct research about existing channels in different national contexts.
-Interviews will be conducted with group administrators and influencers to discuss the elements of success of such channels as well as what specific groups they target as well as the engagement rate with refugees and migrants.
-Interviews with refugees and migrants with different demographic and age, gender and diversity profiles will be conducted to understand their experience in using existing channels, why they trust and use them and what important variables make them popular.
-If channels are adequate (e.g.: they do not engage in political debate, do not post inappropriate or discriminatory content), evaluate establishing links between the communication channel administrators/influencers and CwC/C4D focal points at the national level to disseminate information through these identified channels. This effort will be supported by a consultant and in coordination between National Focal Points and Regional CwC focal points.

Channel effectiveness evaluation:
-A targeted survey will be drafted regionally to evaluate the how channels established by humanitarian organizations are working: information provision platforms, feedback channels, etc. The areas explored will be how accessible, effective and efficient these channels are according to affected populations.
-The survey is shared with community members through the engagement with partner organizations, community-based organizations, Facebook and WhatsApp groups and influencers, among others, identified in the first part of this exercise. This will be a shared responsibility between the consultant and national focal points.
-Interviews with key informants (refugees and migrants with different demographic and age, gender and diversity profiles) will be conducted to understand their experience in using established channels and what can be improved. Responsibilities for the interviews and representation of different groups and their participation will be determined depending on the context and in coordination with national platforms.

Required level, qualifications and work experience:
The successful candidate will satisfy the following requirements:

Education: Completed advanced university degree from an accredited academic institution, preferably in Social Sciences, Anthropology, Development, Communications or related area.

Experience: A minimum 5 to 7 years of experience in;
-Experience in conducting assessments and needs evaluation exercises focused on information and communication needs of affected populations, particularly in the context of human mobility within Latin America or other regions.
-Experience in conducting assessments, studies or other evaluation exercises in a multi-country context (preferred)
-Experience in data collection and analysis, especially applying the age, gender and diversity approach to allow deep understanding of the context for different population groups.
-Experience in coordinating assessments and evaluation studies with different stakeholders.
-Experience in training in data collection and assessments for enumerators (preferred)
-Proficient in using Microsoft Office products particularly including Excel, Word, PowerPoint.
-Knowledge of IM tools such as Kobo Toolbox, Power BI and dashboard software (preferred).
-Excellent communication skills, verbal and in writing.

Languages: Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Working knowledge of Portuguese is an advantage.

Behaviour:
-Develops effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
-Self-organized and able to lead and coordinate with multiple stakeholders
-Organised and precise.
-Actively seeks new ways of improving ways of working and systems.
-Professional and respectful, promotes an inclusive working environment by supporting engagement of different stakeholders. Please note that this position is offered under Individual Contractor contract.
Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed and might be requested to sit for a test. Only short-listed candidates will be notified. No late applications will be accepted.

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing or training.) The closing date for submission of applications is 20 September 2021 (mid-night Geneva time).