Re- Advertisement- Home-based Consultancy: U-Report Steering Group Mentor Consultant (23.5 days from May 2026 to December 2026) ECARO, O/P Italy

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Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The purpose of this activity is to engage an experienced Steering Group member in an advisory, mentoring, and coaching role to strengthen the effectiveness, continuity, and sustainability of the U-Report Steering Group and its Youth Leadership Network.

Under the supervision of the UNICEF Adolescent Development Manager, the mentor will provide guidance and structured mentoring support to Youth Consultants and Steering Group members, enhancing their capacity to design, implement, and lead U-Report activities.

The activity aims to reinforce youth leadership by offering strategic advice, facilitating knowledge sharing and reflection, and supporting coordination with UNICEF focal points, while ensuring that decision-making and ownership remain youth-led. It also seeks to improve the quality and impact of U-Report polls, campaigns, and engagement strategies through informed feedback and capacity building.

Overall, this role contributes to fostering inclusive and meaningful youth participation across all thematic areas, while providing continuity and institutional memory to sustain and strengthen the long-term impact of the U-Report initiative.

Scope of work

Under the supervision of UNICEF Adolescent Development Manager, the U-Report Steering Group Mentor will provide guidance and mentoring support to the Youth Consultants and members of the Steering Group.

The consultant will not serve as a peer youth representative but rather as a mentor, supporting the Steering Group with strategic advice, capacity building, and knowledge sharing, while ensuring that youth leadership and youth-led processes remain central to the initiative.

The mentor will:

• Provide mentoring and guidance to Youth Consultants in the implementation of U-Report activities.
• Support the development of youth leadership and participation capacities within the Steering Group.
• Provide strategic input and feedback on U-Report polls, campaigns, and engagement strategies.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing, reflection, and learning among Steering Group members.
• Support coordination between Youth Consultants and UNICEF focal points when needed.
• Encourage inclusive and meaningful youth participation across all thematic areas.

While Youth Consultants are expected to engage directly with young activists as peers (generally aged 24 years or younger), the Mentor role is designed to provide continuity, institutional memory, and mentorship, supporting the effectiveness and sustainability of the youth-led structure.

Work Assignments Overview

Deliverables/Outputs

Delivery deadline

Total Number of days

1. Attend Monthly Steering Group mentoring and meetings

Provide 8 documented contributions (e.g. written inputs, chat summaries, or post-meeting reflections)

31-Dec-26

2 days

2. Attend Monthly check-ins with assigned UNICEF Programs

8 brief written inputs (1–2 pages each OR bullet summaries)

31-Dec-26

2 days

3. Co-design U-Report polls

6 finalized poll questionnaires and 6 short design notes (rationale, target group, expected insights)

31-Dec-26

6 days

4. Provide strategic input on U-Report polls and engagement strategies

6 short recommendation notes (key findings + suggested actions)

31-Dec-26

9 days

5. Youth engagement and partnerships support

6 coaching session summaries for Youth Consultants

31-Dec-26

3 days

6. Participate in key Online/Face-to-Face fora and meetings

3 short event reports (key outcomes, lessons learned)

31-Dec-26

1.5 days

23.5 days

- Work location: Home-based in Italy.

- Payment schedule: The consultant will be paid based on satisfactory and timely submission of deliverables.

- Duration: 23.5 days from May 2026 to December 2026.

- Travel: The Consultant will be expected to travel within Italy.  The Consultant will be responsible for organizing their travel. Travel expenses (tickets, accommodation, public transport, meals) will be reimbursed. The maximum amount allocated for travel will be EUR 180.

• All UNICEF rules and regulations related to travel of Consultants/ Individual Contractors apply.
• All travels shall be