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For every child, a Champion
Adolescents (10–19 years) make up 18 per cent of the total population of Lesotho. Like young people elsewhere, they face complex and changing environments. However, in Lesotho, many of their challenges are particularly acute and concerning, especially in the context of widespread poverty where 67.3 per cent of adolescents aged 13–17 years are deprived in multiple dimensions of well-being such as healthcare, nutrition, education, safe water, housing and information.3
Lesotho has the second highest HIV prevalence in the world. A quarter of its entire population is living with HIV/AIDS.4 While HIV related outcomes improved for other age groups, the rate of improvement has not translated for adolescents. Adolescents, and in particular girls, are especially at risk. Every week, 28 adolescent girls 10-19, and seven adolescent boys are newly infected with HIV.2 Comprehensive knowledge of HIV is also worryingly low among adolescents – 35 per cent for girls and 30 per cent for boys. Overlapping risk factors such as high teenage pregnancies (1 in 5), early sexual debut (2 in 5), low contraception use, (1 in 5) and never testing for HIV (2 in 5) place adolescents in high risk of HIV. The nexus’ between HIV risk among adolescent girls and mother to child transmission of HIV are clear. Over 50 per cent of all pregnancies in Lesotho are among adolescent girls, and young women (15-24) and 1 in 5 ANC attendees are adolescent girls 15-19.
Education often plays a protective role in reducing adolescents’ vulnerability to HIV infection and other risks. However, only 46 per cent of adolescents are in secondary school. Children with disabilities, rural adolescents and rural boys, in particular, are most disadvantaged. Only 16 per cent of adolescents with disabilities attend secondary school. Rural boys who become herd boys – a cultural obligation in Lesotho society – are especially likely to be deprived of an education. The poor quality of education is linked to high youth unemployment, another major obstacle to a meaningful life for many adolescents and young people in Lesotho. The broad unemployment rate is estimated at 28 per cent, and it is as high as 43 per cent for youths aged 15 to 24.18
Sexual violence against children and adolescents is a tragic but common occurrence in homes, schools and institutions. At least 10,000 adolescents and children are believed to experience sexual abuse in Lesotho, according to a 2011 Situation Analysis of Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children, which remains the best available source of specific data on the subject.13 More than 24 per cent of women are married by age 18, while almost one in five girls aged 15–19 years have begun childbearing.
To address some of the above mentioned challenges and in line with the national policies and strategies, UNICEF would like to support civil society organisations (CSOs) in the deployment of Rapid Pro /U-Report in Lesotho to support achievement of results for children through adolescent and youth engagement and participation. Rapid Pro in Lesotho will help curb such challenges by allowing a flow of information to adolescents and from through digital platforms—facilitating adolescent engagement in the country.
Rapid Pro/U-Report is a program designed to empower young people to speak out on issues that they care about in their communities, encourage citizen-led development and create positive change6. By continuous engagement, youth and youth leaders, are able to identify challenges, objectives and goals, and design questions which will be broadcasted via U-Report. U report is currently implemented in over 22 countries across Africa. With over 6.5 million users globally, U-Report has supported both development and humanitarian interventions, advocacy and awareness raising amongst children, adolescent and youth.
The assignment will be led by a consultant with relevant set of competencies to focus their attention on setting up the platform, the U-Report Manager. In addition to the U-Report Manager, an intern is required to support the U-Report Manager in the development of a sampling frame, calculation of sample sizes and data analysis. These competencies are not currently available in LCO, thus the need for short term technical assistance.
How can you make a difference
Goal and Objective:**
Under the supervision of the the HIV Specialist, and in close collaboration with the U-Report Manager, the intern will support the planning and implementation of U-Report. Specifically, the intern will support the U-Report Manager to create a sampling frame and produce sample size calculations to allow a representative sample of youth and adolescents recruited into the system. Upon implementation of U-Report, the intern will support with U-Report data analysis for stakeholders’ use. Under the overall supervision of the HIV Specialist, the intern will be expected to provide guidance on data use and analysis for U-Report.
Provide details/reference to AWP areas covered:
The activity aligns to the rolling work plan (2019-2021) signed by the Ministry of Health and UNICEF under output 2.1: Adolescents living with or at risk of HIV have increased capacity to demand quality prevention, identification, care, and support services.
Activities and Tasks:
The intern is expected to:
- Provide technical guidance and leadership on statistics and data analysis for U-Report in Lesotho.
- Calculate sample sizes, sampling frames, and sampling methodology for U-Report, using 2016 Lesotho Census Data
- Develop U-Report Data Dissemination standard operating procedures, including data dissemination plan
- Develop a standard U-Report Data Dissemination template
- Support back-translation of U-Report questionnaires into English and Sesotho
- Set up a system to ensure that the information collected via U-report is available to the program sections to guide their activities
- Identify best practices for U-Report programme and RapidPro application from other offices for replication in Lesotho
- Provide capacity building around data analysis for UNICEF focal points, government counter-parts, and NGO partners
- Develop capacity building material for UNICEF and partners
- Engage in the timely preparation, maintenance, and provision of U-Report data in support of the Lesotho CO programmes
- Document U-Report progress, challenges and lessons learnt
Outputs/Deliverables:
Tasks
Deliverables
Due Date
Provide technical guidance and leadership on statistics and data analysis for U-Report in Lesotho.
U-Report Data Analysis reports
Monthly
Calculate sample sizes, sampling frames, and sampling methodology for U-Report, using 2016 Lesotho Census Data
U-Report Sampling Methodology
U-Report Data Dissemination standard operating procedures (SOPs), including data dissemination plan
15 August 2019
Set up a system to ensure that the information collected via U-report is available to the program sections to guide their activities
U-Report Data Dissemination template
30 August 2019
Provide capacity building around data collection, analysis for UNICEF focal points, government counter-parts, and NGO partners
Training Reports
30 October 2019
Document U-Report progress, challenges and lessons learned
Document the deployments, capturing the lifetime of the project, lessons learned, and best practices throughout the Phase 1 of the project
Develop a project life cycle from inception phase to closure phase.
Provide recommendations for Phase 2 of U-Report implementation
16 January 2020
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- University student or recent graduate (last 2 years) with a degree in statistics, or related subject with a strong component of data analysis and sampling methods.
- Fluency in English and Sesotho
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
The competencies required for this post are….
- Data collection and maintenance experience would be desirable and an added advantage but not a prerequisite.
- Experience with RapidPro or other SMS-based engagement pilot is an added advantage.
- Some professional or academic background in one of UNICEF’s sectorial areas (preferably Health or Education) is desired
- Experience with processing large amounts of information and synthesizing it
- Familiarity with information systems and communication technologies
- A strong understanding of UNICEF’s mission and vision as well as its programmes through direct or indirect work experience with UNICEF
- Ability to conceptualize, plan and execute ideas as well as to transfer knowledge and skills
- Capacity to work with teams across different locations and with different technical skills
- Very good interpersonal skills, influencing, relating and networking
- Creative, innovative thinker who can also translate ideas into practical applications
View our competency framework at
http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
Administrative issues
The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for interns
- A monthly allowance will be paid for this internship, the exact amount will be discussed with the successful candidate.
- The intern will be provided with a computer and materials in the execution of this assignment.
- The work of the intern is office based; may require visiting districts for monitoring activities;
- Interns have to demonstrate a proof of medical insurance prior to the beginning of the internship.
- As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary.
- Monthly payments will be made upon submission of a monthly report and invoice.
- Please also see UNICEF’s Standard Terms and Conditions attached.
How to Apply
Qualified candidates are requested to complete an application including profile to the respective advertisement on https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/
If you have not been contacted within 2 months of the closing date please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Regret emails will be sent only to shortlisted/contacted candidates.
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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
Remarks:
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. **