Ross Sheil

I support countries to implement U-Report, UNICEF’s flagship digital initiative to engage and empower youth. We have over 35 million registered “U-Reporters” in over 90 countries.

U-Report is designed to strengthen community-led development, citizen engagement and access to and real-time monitoring. U-Report allows youth to speak out using SMS and popular messaging channels – through polls and push messages – on what is happening and to organize as volunteers in their communities.

It provides a forum to amplify youth voices locally and nationally and acts as a citizen-sourced, real-time data point for key stakeholders, service providers and decision-makers about the issues being faced in their communities.

U-Report also feeds back useful information to U-Reporters, so they are empowered to work for change and improvements in their communities. This content ranges from chatbots sharing life skills or lifesaving information to 1-to-1 support from trained human counsellors.