Social Innovation Consultant for the One Million Opportunities (1MiO), Brasilia, Brazil.

Unlike the end of the last century, the economically active population is no longer primarily concentrated in the industrial sector of medium and large cities. This population segment is increasingly occupying positions in the commerce and services sector. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 1.1 billion jobs are subject to being radically transformed by technological evolution in the next decade.

Despite the deindustrialization process in our country, youth are increasingly taking up temporary or freelance jobs in commerce and app-based services – a sector driven by the growing platformization of employment. Between 2010 and 2019, the services sector gained about 400,000 companies (according to IBGE, 2019).

The Global Employment Trends for Youth 2022 report by the International Labor Organization (ILO) highlighted the potential of digitalization to increase productivity, wages, and social welfare. However, like any disruptive technology, its transformations also carry growing unemployment, job precariousness, and wage reduction risks.

It’s impossible to halt the impacts of technological advancement on the world of work. Nor is it desirable to ignore the implications of the technology-income generation interaction if we want to ensure that the largest generation of young people in Brazil’s history has opportunities for income generation in a dignified and sustainable manner. Therefore, UNICEF believes that inviting society to reflect on the possibilities of innovative solutions and focusing on promoting human rights for children and adolescents is crucial.

Among non-emerging businesses, the interest in innovation is also high. According to Forbes Money, almost 50% of companies with an annual turnover above R$ 300 million conduct or have conducted corporate venture capital, meaning they have set up a fund to invest in other businesses capable of driving innovation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, although the global economy generally shrank, emerging businesses continued to arise throughout Brazil. According to the Brazilian Startup Association, from 2015 to 2019, the number jumped from an average of 4,100 to 12,700 startups created, representing an increase of 207%.

Contemplating exploring this potential applied to the social impact sector, focusing on ensuring and expanding human rights for children and adolescents, is an urgent challenge that can create fertile ground for the third sector’s operations and subsidize new public policies throughout the country.

Purpose

Under the direct supervision of the UNICEF Officer for the 1MiO initiative and advisory support from the Program, Ventures Specialist at the Office of Innovation, the Social Innovation Consultant will support the UNICEF Brazil office in mapping the innovation ecosystem, focusing on social impact. This initiative is crucial for understanding the local business and innovation landscape. It’s particularly important given the limited research on the social innovation ecosystem in Brazil, despite significant attention from various stakeholders. Understanding the local business landscape will potentially identify innovative solutions for gaps in services for children, their families, and youth, with a potential impact on children’s well-being.

By aligning the program’s objectives with the innovation landscape, UNICEF can leverage potential innovative solutions for specific interventions in:

Demographics: Brazil currently has the largest generation of adolescents and youth in its history: more than 48 million people aged 10 to 24 in the country. Many of them live in over 11,000 slums and communities scattered across the national territory, and 11.7 million are in poverty or low income and depend on social programs for their subsistence.

Nutrition: Brazil faces a concerning picture of malnutrition, worsened by Covid-19. The pandemic increased food insecurity: 17% of Brazilians stopped eating at some point because there was no money to buy more food. This equates to 27 million Brazilians, according to a study conducted by UNICEF with Ipec.

Health: in 2016, for the first time in 26 years, child and infant mortality rates increased. From 2017 to 2019, they decreased but remain close to or similar to the levels of 2015. Since 2015, vaccination coverages – which had been maintained at excellent levels – entered a downward trend, worsened by the coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic.

Decent Jobs for Youth: 27 million people up to 17 years old are victims of deprivations of rights such as housing, food, and sanitation. 23% of young people between 18 and 24 years old do not study or work.

Education: Of the 48 million people between 10 and 24 years old, 1.5 million are out of school, 6 million are two or more years behind in school.

Violence: 4 out of every 10 boys who die in Brazil are victims of homicide.

The impact of climate change exposes children and adolescents to medium to high-risk levels, affecting their well-being and health.

The mapping of the innovation ecosystem will serve as the basis for the next Innovation Strategy of the UNICEF Office in Brazil and, subsequently, support UNICEF programs or other institutions in achieving innovative social impact for children. The underlying belief is that identifying barriers and designing tailored interventions will create an ecosystem conducive to child-centered innovations, and designing tailored interventions will ensure that their rights and well-being are prioritized.

UNICEF believes that these transformative changes will create space for children’s participation to reach their potential and grow as agents of change. In the context of long-term situations, like in Brazil, where adolescents and children have extremely limited opportunities, these changes will provide an important platform to protect the rights of children and adolescents.

Expected results: (measurable results)

SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time Bound

1. Conduct mapping and analysis of the social innovation and startup ecosystem in Brazil.
2. Facilitate the Officer’s efforts to develop their innovation strategy and process by creating proposals focused on youth and innovations.
3. Match and/or incubate solutions led by the Officer with the main programmatic challenges (informed by the ongoing innovation exercise) and support resource mobilization with the Office of Innovation.
4. Document case studies/human interest stories and policy briefs for social innovations and participation and development of adolescents and youth.
5. In addition to the narrative report (and supporting documents), the consultant will collaborate with the Office of Innovation (OOI) to develop a dynamic web report format;
6. The consultant needs to work with stakeholders and provide a plan to make the report a living document, where new startups can be added to the map and existing ones can update their information.

Deliverables

Duration of Contract

210 days, 7 months

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Punctuality in meeting deadlines;
• Quality of the contents;
• Timely provision of the deliverables;
• Full adherence to the workplans and diligences as agreed with supervisor.
  Immediately upon signature of the agreement, the UNICEF supervisor and the selected consultant will meet for detailed discussion of the Work Plan and the quality criteria for product delivery. Regular meetings will also be scheduled at a distance or in person to follow up the activities defined in the Work Plan. If needed, revisions and alterations may be requested by UNICEF related to quality and technical depth parameters. Only after final clearance from the UNICEF Brazil will the payment be processed.

Language Proficiency

• Portuguese and English.

Technical background, and experience required

• First University or bachelor’s degree in political science, Economics, Sociology, Communication, Public Policy, International Relations or related fields.
• Teamwork, and good communication skills.
• At least 10 years of experience in public policy, advocacy, project management and related areas.
• Availability to perform some punctual activity within one of the UNICEF field offices in Brazil.
• Knowledge or interest in topics related to youth and similar.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in a relevant field (Entrepreneurship, macroeconomics, business or public policy or related areas)

*A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with five additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

• A minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in the local start-up/social innovation ecosystem engagement, mapping, entrepreneurship support programs, and working with and mentoring tech entrepreneurs.
• Experience running consultations and successful analytical studies, especially for the entrepreneurial landscape.
• Experience working with technology entrepreneurs and a strong network of contacts in the innovation ecosystem within Brazil.
• Experience creating data/map visualizations or using relevant tools is ideal.
• Knowledge of frontier technology, open-source technology, and digital public goods are highly valued.
• Demonstrated strong project management, writing, and presentation skills
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency context is considered an asset.

The consultant will be expected to travel within Brazil to map the networks and potential resources.

UNICEF’S CORE VALUES

Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS)

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 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.

General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics

• Consultant will work from home using own equipment and stationery. UNICEF will provide office space for consultative meetings when needed.
• Consultant’s, travel costs should be included in the consultant’s fee.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant and mandatory courses are completed.
• Consultants will not have any representative, certifying, or approving authority, or supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.
• The consultant will work remotely on a delivery basis and prior authorization and/or clearance from UNICEF to engage in outside UNICEF activities is required.

Financial Proposal

• Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.
• A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum, administrative cost, travel cost and subsistence costs, as applicable.
• The payment 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.

Insurance and health coverage

• The contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expenses, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of the contract as he or she considers appropriate.
• The contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.

Restrictions

• Consultants may not receive training at the expense of UNICEF. Notwithstanding, consultants must complete the applicable mandatory trainings before the signature of the contract; 
• In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government​ or unless on leave without pay.

Remarks:

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.