C4D & Social Mobilization Consultant For COVID-19 Vaccination, Banjul, The Gambia (6months with possibility of extension))

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Health

UNICEF is the lead agency for the UN on risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) in the COVID19 response and co-chairs, with WFP, on Social Services Pillar covering social protection, WASH, education, protection, and education, and is an active member of all other coordination mechanisms and their sub-committees. UNICEF’s involvement and leadership in the RCCE and Social Services pillars at the national and decentralized level is important to ensure that trust is built with communities by mobilizing and empowering them to be partners in the response to COVID19 while contributing to system strengthening for sustainability and building-back better. This process will include addressing the main barrier of human resource capacity and limited technical expertise available within the programme. To address these urgent needs, UNICEF has successfully mobilized two project grants from USAID, namely “Prevention and Response to COVID-19 in The Gambia through RCCE interventions” and “COVID-19 Vaccine Roll Out”, amounting to a total of US $2,000,000. The main objective of these grants is to raise awareness around the risks regarding COVID19 and information sharing on preventative measures, and at same time support the Ministry of Health in the effective and timely roll out of the COVID19 vaccination campaign. The grants include a comprehensive component of supplies and also Infection Prevention and Control to ensure the protection of health care staff, effective data management and information sharing. The grants also include resources to address capacity gaps in the areas of coordination, data management and social mobilization/advocacy. The duration of both grants is for one year from September 2021 to September 2022. Considering the above, this TOR for position of Social Mobilization/Advocacy Consultant are being circulated as there is an urgent need for this expertise at national level as part of UNICEF Gambia COVID-19 support to work closely, support and guide the key stakeholders including the Government, UN Agencies, and other partners ensuring quick uptake of vaccines.

How can you make a difference?

Objective of the assignment

To support The Gambia to further improve its COVID-19 vaccination, this TOR is launched to seek an individual consultant who will support the Ministry of Health staff members and UNICEF Gambia Country Office, specifically in the field of Social and Behavior Change Communication and Advocacy with the following areas;

1. Technical support for the operationalization of the UN-RCCE support to the national/regional RCCE COVID-19 Response Plan.

• Active participation and technical support in the regular RCCE meetings, activities, and other coordination mechanisms (including joint coordination meetings between RCCE and logistics subcommittee at national and regional levels), or as instructed by the RCCE Convener (UNICEF Gambia CSD Manager)
• Collaborate/consult with UN-RCCE working group and MOH (EPI and Health Promotion Teams) to ensure synergy, integration, coherence, and harmonization of C4D activities and messages across partners.
• Support in the operationalization of the terms of reference agreed in the UN-RCCE Working Group, in a wide range of areas as per the TOR in details

2. Technical support for the implementation of recommendations following the Intra-Action Review (IAR), Second National Deployment & Vaccination Plan (NDVP2), and Joint WHO- UNICEF Surge Support Mission for COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake

• Provide technical guidance and support on way forward suggested during the IAR workshop for vaccine acceptance, demand/risk communication and community engagement, which included mapping, training and engagement of community influencers and capacity building on info emic management.
• Address bottlenecks and provide mitigating actions for social mobilization challenges, as highlighted during the IAR.
• Assess and operationalize recommendations from Joint WHO-UNICEF Surge Support Mission, which include a wide range of sub areas as further details in the TOR attached.

3. Technical support for Innovation, Knowledge Management and Capacity Building

• Institutionalize/share best practices and knowledge learned with Government and other local partners and stakeholders to build capacity
• Organize/implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders/partners (Government and non-government) in C4D planning, implementation and evaluation in support of vaccination program
• Develop and disseminate capacity building materials to MOH and other Ministries, at national and regional level for social mobilization, RCCE, and social behavioral change efforts relating to COVID-19 vaccination.

Deliverables with timelines

Under the supervision of the UNICEF Communications for Development Officer, and in coordination with the UNICEF Child Survival and Development Manager and the COVAX Project Coordination, the consultant will provide technical support to Ministry of Health in The Gambia for the preventative aspects of COVID 19, COVID-19 vaccination implementation and improvements, and coordinate with the national, regional, and UN Teams, both UNICEF and beyond (i.e. UN-RCCE Working Group Members). The deliverables will be based on a monthly submission of reports.

Payment schedule

Monthly payment will be made with DSA upon submission of satisfactory monthly report.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Advanced degree in Communications, Social and Behavioral Change, Social Sciences, Public or Environmental Health, or any technical field related to UNICEF's Communication for Development framework.
• At least 8 years’ experience of progressively responsible and relevant work experience in the specified fields above, of which 4 years experience in developing countries.*A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree
• Experience working in the UN system agency or organization or having worked in The Gambia is an asset
• Evidence of work with UN or other development or multi-lateral agencies in Communication for Behavior and Social Change, hygiene promotion, community engagement or social mobilization.
• Experience in emergency response is an asset.
• Strong analytical, oral, & written communication skills
• Fluency in English is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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 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.

Special Notice

The incumbent will be based at UNICEF The Gambia or EPI/MOH as the case may be (if the epidemiological context and physical space permits) on a full-time basis, where office space and IT equipment will be provided. UNICEF The Gambia will make travel arrangement (TA, tickets, DSA) as per policy. Attached is the TOR for further details on the task required Covax C4D Social Mob Consultant.pdf

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.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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.