Deadline: 7 April 2013
If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 60 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.
Terms Of Reference
Name of Consultancy - Project Manager U-Report
Duration: The assignment will be for 9 months
Background
One of the biggest challenges facing UNICEF field operations in the developing world is access to accurate, reliable and timely information. With the recent proliferation of technology throughout the developing world, the ability to improve this access has become cheaper and the tools to do so more universal. UNICEF recognises that there is a change in the way in which people communicate and that there is a real opportunity to create conversation and dialogue between rights holders and duty bearers. The mobile phone landscape further creates opportunities for advancing UNICEF's equity-based approach that focuses on accessing the most isolated and vulnerable groups.
Mobile cell phone tools can identify the most deprived children and communities, provide cost effective interventions, overcome bottlenecks to services, and enable communities to maximise the impact of available resources. Mobile phones can help people at different levels to better communicate through voice and peer-to-peer SMS, thus also providing the opportunity for a multiplier effect.
The purpose of this consultancy is to instigate and roll out the following Technology for Development (T4D) interventions
- Implement and roll-out U-Report within UNICEF Zimbabwe CO. U-report is an SMS-based social monitoring tool built on the RapidSMS framework. It was initially launched in September 2010 by UNICEF Uganda and uses mobile technology to provide a forum of opinion and information sharing for youth and children. Using a crowd-sourcing approach to initiate an SMS dialogue with the members ('U-reporters'), the ultimate aim of the program is to stimulate citizen-led and youth-led development.
- Lay out the foundation and concept for Rapid SMS based monitoring and reporting in the health provision system. This is intended to create a robust health information system which supports the delivery of health care by providing information that is required for measuring performance of service delivery at each facility in the country. Reliable data is required on types of health services provided, coverage of health services, categories of people benefiting from those services, incidence and prevalence of diseases, diseases outbreaks, and availability of human, financial and material resources to support the delivery of health services.
- Lay the foundation and concept for connecting classrooms, a concept based on knowledge-sharing and connecting children from different communities through basic IT facilities such as computers, internet connectivity, cell phone technology, and related tools.
The U-report will be the trigger of the other two T4D interventions in the Country Office.
Introduction
UNICEF Zimbabwe is establishing a free SMS service to give young Zimbabweans an opportunity to have their voices heard on critical development issues. In Uganda, U-Report gathers information from participants and informs citizens of their rights and available services. Apart from offering a way to monitor education and child protection, U-Report has also been a catalyst for more responsible and responsive governance as members of parliament and media are engaging with it.
U-Report members will be engaged via SMS to solicit opinions and information on development issues that are important to Zimbabwean young people and children, such as justice for children, children's rights, violence, human rights, early marriage, participation, employment, health, education, water availability, and equity.
Once the information is collected the data is instantly analysed. The information will be subsequently utilised in advocacy work across all media channels, many UNICEF programs and through general political engagement.
The process would also require the application of the information gathered to having a positive impact on the livelihoods of youth and children throughout Zimbabwe. This will be achieved through increased political engagement and partner mobilization. Removal of barriers for participation within the U-Report program and on-going recruitment will also be a key to the scalability and impact of the program. Subsequent communication of lessons learned will be utilized to increase international exposure and potential adoption.
This initiative also envisages furthering into:
- A multi-channel advertising campaign including television and radio programmes
- Nationwide participation and exposure to over 500 children and their affiliate organisations
- Service Delivery Impact Assessment
- Advocacy & Issues Response System (AIRS)
- Expansion and growth of political engagement modalities
- Corporate partnerships
- Institutional engagement and sponsorship
- Disability and increased equity focus
In order to achieve the aforementioned aims, UNICEF Zimbabwe seeks to fill the position of Project Manager (PM), U-report, to lead in the areas of youth participation and engagement, data analysis, political engagement and media and campaign planning for the U-Report Platform. The PM will further explore opportunities for a broader cell phone and computer-based programme that aims to use cell phones, text messages, computers, internet and toll free calls to communicate, share information and promote dialogue and collect data on issues (health, education, protection and participation) affecting children and women in Zimbabwe, especially the most disadvantaged groups.
Local, national and international partnerships will become critical to the significant expansion of the U-report program: the consultant will outreach to and support coordinated work with like-minded innovative donors, open-source development communities, local innovators, youth organizations, cultural and religious organizations, NGOs, the private sector, local media, and national and foreign academic institutions, to provide a space to nurture and test new and innovative ideas as well as to build local capacity and encourage shared resources.
Objective(s)
To lead, advice, develop and oversee implementation and activation of all significant U-report initiatives and strategy for 2013-2014.
Methodology & Expected Outputs
- Coordinate all technical and administrative aspects involved in setting up the U-report program, including dealing with telecoms, aggregators, and communications commissions as necessary to obtain connections and short codes as required.
- Lead development of a multi-department U-report support network by working alongside section heads and implementing partners to build a process of addressability for specific child and youth issues raised within the U-report system.
- Working alongside Members of Parliament, Commissioners, Parliamentary Committees, ministry officials, and Zimbabwe Youth Council to improve political accountability, increase U-report engagement and involve the aforementioned parties in specific U-report advertising campaigns.
- The consultant will lead the development of the 2013-2014 communications and advertising strategy.
- The consultant will direct the production of over 40 television and radio programmes in multiple languages to air throughout the year.
- The consultant will guide the concepts and oversee development of 12 television adverts, 14 radio adverts and 40 print advertorials.
- The consultant will support digital communications strategy and build the U-report into the social media program within UNICEF.
- The consultant will lead and produce campaign performance and evaluation reports as well as apply the lessons learned to the ongoing campaign activity.
- The consultant will support public relations with key news editors and journalists, both national and international, to highlight the issues faced by young people as solicited via U-report, and the steps taken to address said issues using mobile technology.
- Directing the developer team, the consultant will work towards improved systems operations and interface performance for enhanced user experiences both online and mobile.
- The consultant will design and initiate a U-report ambassador program to empower highly engaged U-reporters and enable higher levels of accessibility to those without access to a mobile phone.
- The consultant will lead the development of new and existing partnerships with multi-lateral institutions, NGOs, FBOs, national youth groups, corporate sponsors, donors and UN agencies.
- The consultant will work with a team of internal technical consultants (software programmers, engineers, etc.) and external companies to develop a framework for using Rapid SMS and computers in creating connections and online knowledge sharing and systems monitoring.
- The consultant will direct the organization of a quarterly conference to be held in partnership with NGO partners for U-reporters.
- Prepare regular packaged information for program sections within UNICEF and government partners; provide regular analytic reports to UNICEF.
Consultancy Requirements
Education and experience
- An advanced degree in International Affairs, International Relations, International Development, media or a related field. A combination of an advanced degree and relevant practical experience may be substituted for the particular fields mentioned
- 8-10 years' experience leading advertising campaign strategy, media planning and implementation.
- Experience working across multiple communication mediums (TV, print, radio and online)
- Experience of project management in digital specific programs with a successful track record.
- A good understanding of UNICEF programmes and policy, including knowledge of communication, technology, youth participation and partnership goals.
- Experience in supporting and coordinating project activities across a large organization and with other international organizations.
- Good understanding of development issues, world affairs and current events
- Proven ability to interact diplomatically with high-level decision makers as well as working directly with community-level partners
- Proven ability to manage relationships with global organizations
- Proven skills in negotiation, networking, strategic thinking and advocacy
- Proven ability to conceptualize, plan and execute ideas as well as to transfer knowledge and skills
- Strong writing and communication skills and the aptitude to handle competing messages and priorities with multiple audiences
- Ability to travel and work in remote locations
- Fluency in written and verbal English is essential
- Residence and work experience in East Africa, current or past, is advantageous.
Applications
If you have experience of working in a similar capacity, meet the above profile and want to make an active and lasting contribution to build a better world for children, send your application letter together with curriculum vitae quoting consultancy notice number to the following address.
Human Resources Manager(Consultancy Announcement No. Zim/2013:01)UNICEF, 6 Fairbridge Avenue,P O Box 1250Belgravia, Harare
Or email: hararevacancies@unicef.org
Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff.
Well qualified candidates, particularly women are especially encouraged to apply.