Youth Engagement and U-Report Officer

UNICEF is a key UN agency working in Somalia in various aeras such as WASH, Child Protection, Social Policy, Health and Nutrition, and Education sectors. With a population of 3,798,828 people and a significant youth and adolescent proportion forming a huge youth bulge, Somalia faces an unprecedented challenge in addressing the youth and adolescent needs of the people in a complex context where conflict, natural disasters and climate change divert resources from the needs of this important cohort of the population. Approximately 62% of the population is between 5-29 years old, while three-quarters (72%) of the population is less than 30 years old. The unemployment rate is high (estimated at 50%) that also contributes to poverty.

The position of Youth Engagement and U-Report Officer is to be used in the UNICEF Somalia country office. The position fulfils a critical role in the Somalia Country Office as begins the new Country Programme 2026 - 2030. The staff member will be contributing to the overall office objectives by promoting cross sectoral youth engagement, managing the U-Report platform and maintaining its RapidPro software workspace and connected mobile messaging channels in coordination with UNICEF colleagues, RapidPro vendor and young people known as “U-Reporters.”

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Social and Behavior Change (SBC), the International United Nations Volunteer (IUNV ), the role will support Somalia U-Report in achieving the three global strategic objectives of U-Report: (i) scaling, (ii) engaging, and (iii) creating impact by undertaking the following tasks: - Ensuring that youth are meaningfully engaged through the U-Report Platform - Utilizing the platform to integrate children and young people’s voices in UNICEF’s work and provide them with relevant information on key topics - Ensuring that data and feedback gathered from U-Report polls inform both their activities and decision making within the country office and by partners - Generating content both about U-Report and with U-Reporters - Working with Programme Sections to develop and deploy demand-driven U-Report polls - Supporting integration of social innovation and youth engagement approaches into traditional UNICEF work – across all country office sections – especially for adolescents and young people. Key activities and results for the period include, but are not limited to: - U-Report strategy development and implementation, e.g., polls, chatbots, quizzes, etc., based on strategic priorities. - Managing U-Report Activity Calendar (aligned with country and global advocacy dates and coordinated actions provided by U-Report colleagues from the Global Division of Communication and Advocacy (GDCA ) Youth Engagement and the country team). - RapidPro and messaging channel development. Maintenance of U-Report RapidPro workspace and messaging channels in coordination with SBC and Programme Sections, ensuring 24/7 availability, and signing and renewal of agreements with in-country mobile network operators (MNOs). - Safeguarding, privacy, and data protection, i.e., ensuring adherence to principles of child/youth participation and safeguarding when assisting in the development/implementation of all campaigns, communication products, and platforms. Coordinating closely with local U-Report Ethical Focal Point, Programmes, partners, and youth. Following global guidelines on safeguarding, data protection, and privacy – including adherence to the global Privacy Policy. - In emergencies, supporting emergency readiness by embedding U-Report within country response frameworks and enabling timely deployment. - Youth engagement and capacity building to ensure meaningful participation of youth including, but not limited to, participation on U-Report steering committee, advocacy, activities, volunteering, and capacity building opportunities. - Communication and advocacy, i.e., collaborating with UNICEF Somalia Sections, partners, and Global Division of Communication and Advocacy to ensure that U-Report poll results and activities are fully amplified, integrated into communication and advocacy strategies, and following U-Report brand guidelines. - Measurement and evaluation, i.e., coordinating closely across the country office to ensure U-Report activities are aligned to measurable outcomes including Global Advocacy Priorities (GAPs) and the country’s Core Specific Indicators (CSIs). - Supporting Child Protection, Participation, and Partnerships (CPPP ) and proposal development. - Knowledge management, i.e., ensuring timely development of U-Report Bulletin and other documentation activities. - Coordination with U-Report global team and community, i.e., participating in global U-Report coordinated actions and community of professionals, networking with U-Report Managers in other countries, and sharing knowledge, best practices, and knowledge materials. Accessing guidance and training from U-Report Global team. Ensuring continual U-Report upskilling within personal development plan. - Supporting other UNICEF digital platforms, i.e., coordinating with UNICEF digital platforms deployed in-country towards mutual strengthening, increasing results, and improved service delivery e.g., UNICARE.