Consultancy: supporting UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia in social listening and misinformation management for COVID 19 vaccine introduction in 8 countries

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, a champion!

UNICEF is supporting Governments across South Asia in the roll-out of their National Deployment and Vaccination Plans (NDVPs) for COVID -19. Key among the interventions envisioned under the crisis communication and community engagement is establishing a regional Social Listening and Engagement (SLE) strategy that aims to support ROSA and the 8 countries in the region to monitor vaccine demand and hesitancy and develop an action plan focused on supporting the NDVP roll-out.

For ROSA, this consultancy on social listening, media monitoring and misinformation management is therefore fundamental to informing a regional social listening strategy the key components of which will include i) tracking misinformation and rumors through online and offline channels ii) developing and implementing a strategy to promote COVID-19 vaccine uptake iii) supporting the region and country offices to identify trends and real-time insights into the concerns to develop response at national level. The system will serve as a tool for tracking rumors, resistance/refusal, misinformation, in relation to the launch of the COVID-19 vaccine, resumption of immunization campaigns and reinforcement of immunization activities. ToR template consultants_C4D_GL2-N.docx

It is anticipated that the Social Listening and Engagement (SL&E) strategy will enable:

• Signal detection of rumors & misinformation and distrust
• Real-time insights into concerns, perceptions, trust, sentiments, & intentions of the public
• Insights into mis-/dis-information, including origins, spread, influencers & influence on behaviors
• Development of reliable, trusted, tailored content & dissemination into online conversations

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of this consultancy is to support UNICEF ROSA’s Communications, C4D and immunization sections to garner insights to inform the development and implementation of evidence-based preparedness and crisis communication and community engagement strategies/plans to support the introduction of the COVID 19 vaccine in countries in South Asia.

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

Education

Advanced university degree or equivalent experience in Statistics, Communications, Marketing, Data Science and/or Knowledge management. Training in one of these several Social Media and/or Data Science technical competencies: Social media management, Digital monitoring, Business Analytics

A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

Work Experience:

• At least 5 years of proven experience in social media monitoring and analysis and/or digital listening
• Previous experience with social media management, trend monitoring, and influencing
• Experience in the design and implementation of interventions on rumor management/misinformation
• Excellent writing skills planning and coordination skills, with proven ability to work independently.
• Understanding of South Asia media and information ecosystems and sentiments is an added advantage

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.

The competencies required for this assignment are…

– Formulating strategies

– Relating & Networking: Excellent team player, able to work on own initiative and as part of a team

– Persuading & Influencing: Ability to facilitate mutual understanding among partners

– Applying Technical Expertise in the area of communication

– Promoting, practicing and helping others value and respect diversity of gender, culture, opinions, values, perspectives, ideas, skills, expertise, knowledge and experiences.

– Capable of working effectively under stress, on multiple assignments simultaneously and adapting to changing demands.

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.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Please include in your application, a financial proposal – indicative of your daily fees.

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 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.