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, participation. 

UNICEF South Africa - we work to promote the rights of every child. 

This consultancy is requested by the Social and Behaviour Change Manager, to contribute to UNICEF’s goal of ensuring adolescents – especially girls – benefit from expanded programmes and opportunities to live healthy lives, exercise critical skills and knowledge for life and participate in shaping their environment.

While UNICEF has made significant progress in advancing in child rights, health, education, nutrition, WASH and child protection in South Africa, challenges remain. Despite being classified as an upper-middle-income country, South Africa has consistently ranked as one of the most unequal countries in the world. Over 62% of children ages 0-17 years are multidimensionally poor, with children in rural areas twice as likely to be multidimensionally poor as those in urban areas. Data marginalisation is an important concern and is most extreme in rural areas. 

Adolescents (aged 10-19 years) make up 18.5%¹ of the population, and while a range of policies exist to improve their futures, most adolescents, especially girls, face multiple challenges. The incidence of HIV amongst young women aged 15 to 24 is three times higher than of young men of the same age. Among adolescent mothers⁵, 51.5% attend school compared to 83.2% of childless adolescents in the same age group⁷. Girls are also disproportionately affected by high levels of school-related gender-based violence – in school, on the way to school, and online. In addition to a high youth unemployment rate, 68% of female black youth are not in employment, education, or training.  

Strengthening community engagement, feedback and accountability mechanisms is one of UNICEF South Africa’s priority approaches to drive the social and behaviour changes needed to help address these persistent issues. Such mechanisms increase opportunities for children and adolescents to participate in the decisions that affect their lives, and to hold duty bearers to account. They also improve adolescents’ access to relevant and timely information, including in emergencies. Further, the direct feedback provided, and data generated, is used to tailor programmes to more effectively address the barriers that deprive children of their right to education, health, safe water and sanitation and protection from exploitation and abuse.

UNICEF’s flagship digital platform is U-Report, a free and anonymous messaging platform powered by RapidPro open-source software. U-Report engages young people through polls to gather their opinions and suggestions, chatbots to share lifesaving and life enhancing information, alerts to notify them of important events or resources, and links to other services and opportunities. UNICEF uses U-Report to shape and support programme priorities, emergency responses, and advocacy actions.  

Together with the UNICEF Volunteer Programme and GBem Clubs (Girls and Boys Education Movement) in schools, U-Report is UNICEF South Africa’s primary platform of directly engaging with children and youth. UNICEF also seeks to help bridge the digital divide through The Internet of Good Things (IoGT) which operates via partnerships with mobile network operators and Free Basics by Facebook, to make reliable lifesaving and life-improving information available for free, including on low-end devices. The U Report will also help to promote adolescent girls' education through multi-pronged interventions addressing socio-cultural norms and attitudes that prevent girls from thriving.

To date, UNICEF has sought to strategically increase the number of U-Reporters, focusing on ages 15 to 19, as well as girls and young women. Registered U-Reporters have grown from 112,000 to 400,500 since 2022; 85,000 have accessed U-Report’s one-stop 24/7 informational centre and regular polls have had an average of 12 000 U-Reporters participating. IoGT has had 7.7 million page views since January 2022. In line with strengthening and scaling youth engagement platforms and supporting UNICEF and the DBE’s efforts to address gender-based violence and other factors influencing the school learning environment, U-Report will be launched in public schools in 2025 – to recruit and engage U-Reporters from ages 13 upwards.

To sustain and scale U-Report and Internet of Good Things (IoGT), the UNICEF South Africa Office requires a Digital Youth Engagement Consultant. The candidate should be a South African citizen or have the necessary documentation to legally work in South Africa, currently be 26 years of age or older, have tertiary level training in the relevant technical skills, and at least three (3) years’ experience in digital communication and direct youth engagement or community engagement.

How can you make a difference? 

The Consultant will apply technical skills to manage, sustain and scale U-Report and IoGT, and analyse results to communicate findings to stakeholders, including children and youth. The Consultant will be expected to have the skills to engage with youth digitally and in person, such as with GBem clubs, to extend the U-Report community on the ground as well as the digital platform, as well as to engage with Government, partners and UNICEF colleagues. In collaboration with Social and Behaviour Change and Communication and Advocacy colleagues, the Consultant will work across UNICEF’s education, child protection, health, nutrition and WASH sections to engage the relevant platforms on priority areas of work and strategic moments for maximum impact.  

The objectives of UNICEF’s technical support is to sustain and scale up U-Report and IoGT by:

1. Ensuring smooth day-to-day management, monitoring and reporting of the RapidPro (open-source software which powers U-Report) and IoGT systems, and tailored functions.
2. Facilitating the launch and scaling up of U-Report and IoGT with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) in priority public schools.
3. Developing and implement digital engagement activities on violence against children, online safety, mental health, girls’ empowerment and parenting.
4. Institutionalising and scaling U-Report and IoGT within UNICEF South Africa, to support programmes, communication and advocacy.

Scope of work

Under the direct supervision of the Social and Behaviour Change Manager, the Consultant will undertake the following tasks:

1. Manage day-to-day operations of the RapidPro and IoGT systems to ensure optimal performance, safeguarding and scaling of core features, specifically:
   • Day-to-day management and monitoring to ensure technical issues do not interfere with optimal performance
   • Technical support and communication with vendors, partner platforms/referrals and services, including Child Safeguarding Mechanism and Case Management system, DBE Telehealth, and Moya, to ensure smooth operation and integration of back-end functionality
   • Effecting content uploads, chatbots, polls, alerts and analysis, liaising as needed with relevant actors. These include:
     1. Childline and stakeholders in the Child Safeguarding and Case Management system, to ensure U-Report South Africa and IoGT comply with global safeguarding and privacy measures, and operational best practices
     2. DBE’s Telehealth programme
     3. UNICEF’s emergency response focal points
     4. UNICEF Volunteer Coordinator
     5. Global Communication and Advocacy U-Report technical support team
     6. PG-Social and Behaviour Change and IoGT global support teams
2. Technically support the launch and scale of U-Report and IoGT in DBE priority public schools, specifically:
   • Support the formation of a youth advisory structure, in close collaboration with existing youth leadership structures, e.g., Representative Council of Learners, and GBem clubs)
   • Support activation of off-line U-Report communities (“U-Communities”), in collaboration with existing structures (GBem)
   • Support the co-design and implementation of a youth-led roll out strategy and promotional materials
   • Develop chatbots, polls and alerts with relevant DBE Directorates including, school safety, psychological support, nutrition and school health
   • Initiate development of a platform for real-time reporting of corporal punishment, in close collaboration with Child Protection colleagues
3. Develop and implement digital engagement activities for health, nutrition, HIV, WASH, basic education and child protection programmes, specifically:
   • Identify opportunities to promote registration, access and engagement with U-Report and IoGT resources, e.g., global U-Report campaigns, and national Health Calendar events.
   • Integrate UNICEF’s digital engagement tools to proposed strategies and offline engagements, (e.g., alerts, chatbots, IoGT)
   • Enable participation and feedback on issues of concern, including during emergencies
   • Generate data insights for programming, monitoring, evaluation and advocacy
4. Institutionalise and scale U-Report and IoGT specifically:
   • Manage and coordinate the U-Report calendar, in collaboration with all sections
   • Participate in U-Report Global Communication and Advocacy and PG-SBC team engagements
   • Co-ordinate and collaborate with the UNICEF Volunteer Programme and GBem clubs
   • Monitor and facilitate responses to comments on U-Report South Africa's social media accounts
   • Support design, translation and production of U-Report and IoGT multimedia and promotion materials, including for UNICEF website and social media
   • Support internal and external communication around U-Report internally, with UN agencies, Government, partners and the media.
   • Coordinate with UNICEF South Africa programme sections and colleagues; UNICEF regional office and headquarters; and partners, as required.

Deliverables

(1) Feb - Oct 2025 (25% of budget)

• Vendor contracts are finalized and platforms live at all times
• Bi-monthly technical reports on platform performance, tailored flows and activities, and vendor engagements.

(2) Mar - Nov 2025 (44% of budget)

• Youth advisory structure formed
• Off-line communities activated in 5 schools (Gauteng, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu Natal)
• Youth-led roll out strategy and promotional materials developed
• At least 5 activities developed and launched (chatbots, polls, alerts, quizzes) for DBE flow
• Agreed scope of work to establish a platform for real-time reporting of corporal punishment

(3) Mar - Nov 2025 (19% of budget)

• At least 2 activities identified and developed bi-monthly (e.g., chatbots, polls, alerts, quizzes, IoGT content)
• Bi-monthly progress reports

(4) Jan - Nov 2025 (12%)

• Monthly briefs for below activities
• Updated U-report calendar
• Multimedia promotional materials developed, and directory updated
• UNICEF Volunteer Programme and GBem club engaged, and activity plan developed/updated
• Feedback briefs from U-Report social media/unsolicited responses
• Meeting minutes, action points, presentations from U-Report Global Communication and Advocacy/ PG-SBC team engagements
• Internal and external communication around U-Report, with UN agencies, Government, partners and media.

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

• A first University Degree or similar tertiary certificate in computer sciences, information technology and systems, digital marketing and communications
• A minimum of three years of relevant professional experience in a similar position
• Experience with RapidPro and Content Management Systems
• Experience with direct youth and community engagement
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another local language is required

To note

Please indicate your ability and availability; and attach a technical proposal and financial proposal in ZAR to undertake the terms of reference above (including admin cost if applicable). Proposals submitted without a detailed financial proposal aligned to the assignment will not be considered.

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 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.