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, Protection
Italy remains a key entry point into Europe for refugees and migrants fleeing conflict, violence, and deprivation. As of June 2025, around 16,200 unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) are in reception centers, with many more having recently turned 18. These young people continue to face significant challenges, including limited access to their rights, and lack of support for their physical and mental well-being. Many report not feeling heard or having trusted adults to turn to—despite their right to be informed and involved in decisions affecting them.
To help address this, UNICEF launched U-Report On The Move in 2016, a digital engagement platform tailored for UASC, young migrants, and refugees. By June 2025, over 19,000 youth registered, and the platform is now considered a global best practice, with features replicated in other country platforms.
Since 2020, UNICEF has expanded outreach through a team of Social Mobilizers who work directly in reception centers. They engage youth through workshops and psychosocial activities, explain the platform’s tools, and promote participation—ensuring young migrants and refugees can access vital information, express themselves, and connect with support services.
Key responsibilities include:
- Promoting the U-Report On The Move platform and related digital tools in reception centres and alternative care (case famiglia, comunita’ educative, gruppi appartamento etc.) reaching unaccompanied and separated children, young migrants, refugees and frontline workers;
- Planning of social mobilization activities, oversight of day-to-day activities of the social mobilizers team and reporting on results.
Specifically, the consultant will:
- Strengthen and expand the network of reception centers and alternative care (case famiglia, gruppi appartamento etc.) for the promotion of U-Report On The Move and related tools;
- Prepare and co-facilitate mobilization sessions;
- Regularly track & report on mobilization sessions, registration & engagement of UASC and young migrants and refugees.
- Work location: Home-based in Italy
- Payment schedule: The consultant will be paid based on satisfactory and timely submission of deliverables.
- Duration: 50 working days during 4 months between September 2025 and December 2025
At the end of each month, the consultant will agree on the deliverables and numbers of days to be worked during the month. The consultant will be paid against invoice, workplan for the following month and a detailed e-mail of the activities done.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- University Degree is desired in social or educational science, international affairs or intercultural communication.
- Diploma or equivalent in cultural and linguistic mediation, social mobilizer or at least 2 years of experience accompanied by professional certifications may replace the degree.
- Relevant professional experience of at least 2 years in youth engagement is required;
- Experience in working with vulnerable groups of youth (e.g., children and adolescents with a migration background or with low socio-economic background, etc.) is required;
- Fluency in Italian and English are required;
- Demonstrated social mobilization skills are required;
- Good computer skills (Office package) are required
- Have a solid understanding on the local context where the activity takes place;
Desirable:
- Language skills in any other languages, such as Arabic, Wolof, Mandinka, Bambara would be an asset.
Skills:
- Proven ability to present and communicate new projects to a varied audience, including children and adolescents;
- Strong communication skills;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Proven ability to work flexibly and independently and deliver quality results against tight deadlines;
Commitment to UNICEF principles and mandate, commitment to the role, creativity, passionate about making a lasting difference for unaccompanied and separated minors.
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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.
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.
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.
