Behaviour Change and Demand Creation Consultant (SSA9), 6 months contract. Harare, Zimbabwe

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WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP & THE POSITION

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

Job Title: Behaviour Change and Demand Creation Consultant

Grade: SSA-9

Type of contract: Special Service Agreement (SSA)

Duration: 6 Months

Duty Station: Harare, Zimbabwe

Vacancy Number: 448494

Date of Publication: 13 February 2023

Deadline of Application: 26 February 2023

WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply.

This vacancy announcement is for Zimbabwean nationals only.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

In Zimbabwe, WFP has a strong track record of delivering food assistance and managing supply chains during crises, while building resilience to shocks among vulnerable communities. The July 2022-December 2026 Country Strategic Plan (CSP) provides a road map to promote shock-responsive social protection and sustainable and resilient food systems.

The July 2022-December 2026 CSP articulates collaborative efforts to better anticipate future needs, improve data and forecasting and strengthen livelihoods and local capacities to withstand, respond to and adapt more readily to sudden or chronic stresses. WFP will support informed decision making on food security and nutrition in Zimbabwe, and will integrate nutrition, gender, protection and inclusion, youth engagement, technological innovation and decentralized zero hunger action throughout the plan. WFP will establish new partnerships and leverage existing ones to their full potential, including those with the other Rome-based and other United Nations agencies.

WFP Zimbabwe’s July 2022-December 2026 CSP focuses on the below areas;

• Social and humanitarian assistance for food-and nutrition-insecure populations in targeted rural and urban areas.
• Support to urban food insecure households for resilient livelihoods.
• Support to rural communities for climate resilient livelihoods, sustainable management of natural resources and enhanced participation in local markets and value chains.
• Collaboration with national actors to enhance capacities to develop, coordinate and implement well-informed, effective and equitable actions for achieving food and nutrition security.
• Services to humanitarian and development actors in Zimbabwe so they can implement their programmes and provide support to their beneficiaries in an efficient, effective and reliable way at all times, including during crises.

JOB PURPOSE

Zimbabwe has made considerable progress in reducing malnutrition in the last two decades, despite continued high levels of poverty and food insecurity. However, poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition remain high. Continued and increasing high levels of socioeconomic vulnerability and food insecurity have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and macro-economic and climate shocks, which risks reversing some of the progress made in the last two decades on reducing malnutrition. Quality of diets have been deteriorating in the recent past with a steady increase in the proportion of people consuming poor diets from 16% in 2017 to 36% in 2022 (Figure 1). Subsequently the proportion of households consuming acceptable diets also decreased over the same period. Several factors contributed to this situation ranging from increased vulnerabilities to lack of adequate knowledge on dietary diversification.

WFP in Zimbabwe is seeking an SBC and demand generation consultant to serve as an expert on social and behaviour change programming on nutrition as a cross cutting theme in the Country Strategic Plan (CSP) (2022-2026). The consultant will conduct formative research to determine key behaviors of interest, barriers and enabling factors for change across nutrition, resilience, SHA, and CBT portfolios in the CSP. The incumbent will work across the teams such as the Resilience, Social and Humanitarian Assistance, Cash-Based Transfer, Food Systems and Supply Chain. The consultant will be responsible for developing an integrated SBC strategy for the CO CSP (2022-2026) that addresses SBC needs across various program portfolio. The consultant will be based in Harare with frequent travel to the field and will report to the Nutritionist under the Human Capital Development Lead.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1.Lead SBC formative research a. Develop a study protocol b. Conduct document review and consultation with stakeholders to identify SBC needs, and information gaps c. Design and conduct formative research to inform design of SBC strategy and interventions. Compile report summarizing the findings, with recommendations d. Engage with Government and other relevant UN agencies, NGOs, and civil society organizations to collaborate on SBCC interventions as necessary.

2. Lead the development of an evidence-based SBCC strategy and activities focused on WFP’s nutrition as cross cutting in the CSP (2022-2026) a. Develop an SBC strategy for the WFP CO CSP (2022 – 2026) that includes an implementation plan, M&E plan, a message guideline, with consideration for gender and accountability towards affected populations b. Facilitate development of nutrition messages and, materials and activities in collaboration with MOHCC c. Develop technical guidance on how to integrate behaviour change for nutrition into WFP programs and SBC training for government stakeholders

3. Lead the development of an M & E framework for all SBCC interventions a. Develop an integrated monitoring and evaluation log frame that includes SBC specific indicators, ensuring alignment with existing results frameworks and performance indicators. b. Engage CPs, WFP programme and M&E units to ensure data collection is aligned to approved log frame

JOB DELIVERABLES

1. Approved study protocol 2. A comprehensive report on the formative research with recommendations and presentation made to WFP/stakeholder 3. SBC strategy for the WFP CO CSP (2022 – 2026) that includes an implementation plan, M&E plan, message guideline and with consideration to gender and accountability towards affected populations 4. Technical guidance on how to integrate behaviour change for nutrition into WFP programming including capacity strengthening initiatives for government stakeholders in collaboration with other critical partners Key deliverables of SBCC strategy Development: 5. Presentation of research findings to technical reference group and other critical stakeholders 6. Revised formative research that incorporates input from stakeholders. 7. M&E plan and tools developed in consultation with stakeholders 8. Material Pre-test report

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced degree in social or behavioural science, public health, marketing and communications, psychology, education, or other relevant university degree

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience designing, implementing, and evaluating behaviour change strategies and/interventions for nutrition required Experience conducting SBCC formative research Experience implementing large scale SBCC programme WFP/UN experience would be an added advantage Experience working with multi-stakeholders is required Experience working in a humanitarian setting and in communications is an asset

Knowledge & Skills:

• Advanced knowledge of behaviour changes for nutrition-related programming Knowledge of food systems and market-based approaches Knowledge of cash programming including social protection and emergency relief Knowledge of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions Strong interpersonal and communication skills required Demonstrated ability to work effectively in complex, multicultural settings, particularly supporting governments Excellent technical writing and oral presentation skills

Language: Fluency in both oral and written communication skills in English and the national language (s).

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Has deepened technical knowledge through exposure to technical teams.
• Has taken leadership of implementing programmes.
• Has provided input into policy discussions and decisions.
• Experience and exposure to implementation of national/international development programmes.
• Experience working in public health/food security/ nutrition related activities.
• Experience identifying and defining nutrition issues/problems within a country.
• Have ability to work systematically, use initiative, good judgement, and to communicate complex matters both orally and in writing;
• Proven ability to work in a team environment and achieve common goals.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Capability Name Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level Programme Lifecycle & Food Assistance Displays ability to identify the main hunger problem at the national or subnational level to design and implement context-specific programmes that integrate complex analysis and the full range of food assistance tools. Transfer Modalities (Food, Cash, Voucher) Demonstrates ability to analyse and consolidate quantitative and qualitative information from different sources (e.g., market studies) to inform transfer modality selection and programme development. Broad Knowledge of Specialized areas (i.e. Nutrition, VAM, etc.) Demonstrates the ability to interpret basic data in the context of WFP specialised fields to contribute to technical programme design, implementation and monitoring. Emergency Programming Displays ability to translate understanding of programme principles in emergencies and protracted conflict situations into relevant, effective, and context specific approaches. Strategic Policy Engagement w/ Government Develops thorough recommendations using multiple inputs (e.g., government counsel, research, own experience) to strengthen national or subnational entities and government owned food and nutrition security programmes.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• WFP offers a competitive salary and other benefits, including annual leave, parental leave, and health insurance for staff and eligible dependents.
• WFP recognizes the positive potential of flexible working arrangements to enable staff members the opportunity to select and alter their work schedules to better fit personal needs and help balance work, personal, and family responsibilities whenever operationally possible.
• WFP is committed to gender equality and parity (50% women and 50% men) and to diversity among employees across all grades, functions, and contract modalities.
• WFP Work Environment: WFP is committed to ensuring that all its workplaces are free from abuse, offensive behaviour, harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. WFP does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS and disability status. WFP is also committed to promoting a work culture in which every employee understands, and is able to carry out, his/her personal responsibilities for maintaining the dignity of work colleagues. We believe our mission of fighting global hunger worldwide can only be achieved if women, men, girls and boys are offered equal opportunities in terms of access to resources and services, and participation in decision-making roles.

CORE ORGANISATIONAL VALUES

All WFP Employees are expected to demonstrate the competencies and standards of behaviour aligned with our core values and defined in the WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK, namely:

• Leading by example with integrity,
• Driving results and delivering on commitments,
• Fostering inclusive and collaborative teamwork,
• Applying strategic thinking,
• Building and maintaining sustainable partnerships.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

To be considered, interested candidates are invited to apply via (https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings).

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Deadline for applications: Midnight, 23 February 2023

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WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.