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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, support!

In recent years UNICEF has increased its focus on young people. The UNICEF recognizes the whole spectrum of young people, including young adults or youth over 18, and includes in its Change Strategies “supporting young people and children as agents of change”. Young people can play the important role in the successful realization of UNICEF’s mandate to make a difference. Being important drivers of change, children and young people are essential partners and contributors to both the development and implementation of UNICEF’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025. With an ambitious SP, UNICEF intends to be deliberate and committed in fully involving children and young people in creating the solutions to accelerate the realization of the SDGs and driving change forward.

In 2018 UNICEF Uzbekistan jointly with the national partners launched a digital youth engagement platform, U-Report. U-Report is a global UNICEF project aimed at strengthening youth participation and building dialogue between young people and decision makers. It is based on innovative, user-centered opinion monitoring tool which enables real-time and anonymous data collection through free SMS, Facebook Messenger, Instagram and Telegram. Moreover U-Report is an effective tool for quick dissemination of reliable information through chat-bots among young people, that is specifically valuable force-major situations, such as natural disasters and pandemic or for providing learning content on different topics.

As of today, U-Report has engaged over 400,000 young people across Uzbekistan. The governance and promotion of the platform was supported by over 1500 young volunteers within U-Report Youth Committees and now the number of active U-Report volunteers is about 500 members across the country. More than 30 state agencies are regular partners of U-Report. U-Report poll results have impacted several decisions to improve the state of young people, e.g. reduction of the tuition fee in HEIs on 10% during the pandemic, establishing “Best volunteer of the year” award, polls results helped to find out needs and anticipations of youth for creating local youth plans for 6 cities in the framework of the project Child and Youth friendly cities. To keep young people engaged, besides polls U-Report team runs a wide range of online and in-person activities, including youth challenges, learning and skilling webinars, retreats, eco projects.

Technically U-Report is based on RapidPro system, that enables to build live chats, which give young people an opportunity to ask questions to the decision-makers, chat bots, conduct polls and disseminate socially useful information. From the 2023 in the RapidPro was launched one more function, except U-Report polls – FunDoo learning platform, also, in 2024 were actively deployed different chat-bots. Using RapidPro Government and the internal UNICEF programme needs can be expanded and respond to the demands and aspirations of children and young people in Uzbekistan.

In this context, UNICEF is looking for an individual national consultant to enhance further development of the platform and ensuring growth in the number of U-Reporters in Uzbekistan by operationalizing new functions of Rapidpro, strengthening collaboration with UNICEF programme sections, RapidPro vendor and young people known as “U-Reporters”, continuing best practices in partnership building and youth engagement.

Objectives
The objective of this individual consultancy is to develop U-Report Uzbekistan to ensure stronger and more efficient cooperation with UNICEF programmes and to coordinate further scaling-up of the platform nationally and achieving the three global strategic objectives of U-Report: (i) scaling (ii) engaging and (iii) creating impact.

Tasks - Deliverables - Timeframe

1. Strategic Development of U-Report

Develop U-Report Uzbekistan working plan for 2025 based on the U-Report Strategy 2023-2025, including lessons learned, partnership, cross-sectorial collaboration, communication and advocacy strategic approaches for scale-up.

1.1 U-Report Uzbekistan Working plan for 2025 is developed to ensure greater sustainability of the platform 

2. Facilitate meaningful civic youth engagement at the national and local levels

Develop, conduct polls, disseminate results and follow-up on the actions taken

2.1 Monthly 2 polls / chatbots are conducted, and the results are shared with the decision-makers (at least 20 polls and chat-bots in framework of the contract)

2.2 Report on U-Report poll results impacted change in actions of the authorities is developed with clear evidence of the impact 

Facilitate meaningful participation of U-Report volunteers in consultations, policy dialogues, conferences, UN(ICEF) campaigns, including for UN Observances Days 2.3 (a)Mid-term and (b) Final report on the number of U-Report volunteers participated in the consultations, policy dialogues, conferences or UN(ICEF) campaigns on topics affecting life of young people as speakers and/or moderators is developed

Promote Immunization through U-Report to disseminate evidence-based and among youth and young adults who frequently use social platforms, increasing vaccine acceptance and uptake among the young population 2.4 U-Report users are informed with reliable information about vaccinations 

3. Managing the U-Report project

Organize quarterly Steering Committee meetings or online participation to approve polls / polls’ plans, to share the most interesting poll results and to discuss opportunities of the platform development

3.1 Four Steering Committee meetings are conducted and / or polls are approved online

Manage partnership agreements and spending of the donor funds

3.3 Necessary reports/updates are provided on the implementation of the planned activities and spending of the donor funds used for U-Report and youth-engagement platforms

Ensure work of RapidPro such as chatbots and learning platform FunDoo, jointly with the UNICEF programme colleagues

3.4 Young people have access to U-Report and FunDoo through Telegram, Instagram, Facebook platforms

To operationalize (draw the flow and launch it for the users) the developed FunDoo tasks in RapidPro

3.5 All FunDoo users have an uninterrupted access to all the developed learning modules and tasks. Number of new learning tasks are launched by the end of 2025

Participate in global U-Report coordinated actions and community of professionals, networking with U-Report Managers in other countries.

3.6 Ensure continual U-Report upskilling with best practices and knowledge of other U-Report countries and Global Office Monthly

4. Outreach

Facilitate design and production of promo materials and other communication products

4.1 Communication products are developed and used for outreach and promo campaigns 

In line with the U-Report Working plan developed, run promotional and communication campaigns across all media outlets jointly with UNICEF Communication Colleagues

4.2 a-c Provided update on the undertaken campaigns and the results achieved measured by the growth of U-Reporters a) May 2025

5. Volunteers’ community and U-Report in social media

Coordinate work of U-Report volunteers’ community in the regions of Uzbekistan with U-Report volunteers’ consultant for U-Report development and UN(ICEF) campaigns and activities

5.1 Active U-Report volunteers’ teams are working in regions and disseminating U-Report and UNICEF values, projects among peers in different ways: outreach campaigns, events, etc. 

Develop content for U-Report social media with Volunteers’ consultant: about U-Report activities, volunteers, polls, conceptualization and / or production of posters, promo materials and other communication products.

5.2 Content for social media / products are developed and used for outreach and increasing number of users 

Management

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Chief of Communications in close collaboration with the Youth and Adolescent Development Officer and Programme Sections.

Resource requirements and payments

The consultant will be paid by instalments upon completion of the deliverables certified by the Chief of Communications.

Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Procedures and Working Conditions

The assignment is office-based and will require travel within Uzbekistan.

Reservations

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if deliverable(s) incomplete, not finalized or for failure to meet deadlines. UNICEF will reserve copyright of all developed materials and own primary data collected through this assignment. The materials cannot be published or disseminated without prior written permission of UNICEF. UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. The contractor must respect the confidentiality of the information handled during the assignment. Documents and information provided must be used only for the tasks related to these terms of reference.

UNICEF undertakes no liability for taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant on payments made under this contract.

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

• Master’s Degree in social policy or other relevant disciplines. 
• At least five years of professional experience in the areas of social policy, youth policy, adolescent development and participation, media, partnership development
• Proven ability to conceptualize, plan and execute high-level communications campaign across multiple mediums, with national brand recognition
• Excellent written and oral communications skills in Uzbek and Russian and working level of English language
  Computer literacy, experience working with web-based applications (such as RapidPro)
• Experience working with UN(ICEF) on youth participation and empowerment is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.