National consultant to provide technical support to social media monitoring and development of the misinformation management platform with UNICEF in Uzbekistan

UNICEF is supporting the Ministry of Health/ Committee on sanitary-epidemiological wellbeing and the public health in the development of the misinformation management platform to regularly monitor questions and concerns raised by the population regarding immunization and COVID-19 vaccination. This will support UNICEF and national partners in the development of effective communication interventions, including communication materials in line with the questions arising from the population. Development of the system involves collaboration with various stakeholders including the Ministry of Health and requires effective management and liaison work.

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, visibility!

UNICEF is supporting the Ministry of Health/ Committee on sanitary-epidemiological wellbeing and the public health in the development of the misinformation management platform to regularly monitor questions and concerns raised by the population regarding immunization and COVID-19 vaccination. This will support UNICEF and national partners in the development of effective communication interventions, including communication materials in line with the questions arising from the population. Development of the system involves collaboration with various stakeholders including the Ministry of Health and requires effective management and liaison work.

Scope of Work:
Under the direct supervision of SBC Officer and overall guidance of the Communication Chief the consultant will be responsible for the following:

• Liaise with UNICEF teams, government bodies, and other stakeholders and organize bilateral calls for the system set up.
• Facilitate the integration of system components and data sources in close collaboration with the international consultant and national partners.
• Support the international consultant in the capacity building activities for national partners.
• Conduct regular manual social media monitoring of public channels including in the Telegram Messenger application with the purpose of identifying incorrect information and rumors regarding COVID-19 vaccination, routine immunization, shared through social media platforms in Uzbekistan.
• Consolidate and finalize bi-weekly reports highlighting key issues, topics, concerns raised and addressed online both through the public platforms on the Telegram Messenger application and other relevant social media, providing recommendations for better engagement.

Work Assignments Overview – Deliverables/Outputs – Timeline

1. Liaise with UNICEF teams, government bodies, and other stakeholders and organize bilateral calls for the system set up –
Meetings with relevant stakeholders is organized for the system set up – March-April 2024

2. Facilitate the integration of system components and data sources in close collaboration with the international consultant and national partners – All data sources are integrated to the misinformation management platform – March-May 204

3. Support the international consultant in the capacity building activities for national partners – Capacity building training package and introductory pack for newcomers is available in Russian language; Capacity building trainings conducted per approved plan – March – December 2024

4. Conduct regular manual social media monitoring of public channels including in the Telegram Messenger application with the purpose of identifying incorrect information and rumors regarding COVID-19 vaccination, routine immunization, shared through social media platforms in Uzbekistan; Consolidate and finalize bi-weekly reports highlighting key issues, topics, concerns raised and addressed online both through the public platforms on the Telegram Messenger application and other relevant social media, providing recommendations for better engagement – 24 bi-weekly social media monitoring reports – March 2024- March 2025

Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

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

• Advanced university degree in social sciences, communications, media, journalism, digital engagement or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in social listening, misinformation management, risk communication.
• Good command of written English and Russian/or Uzbek.

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.