Communication for Development Specialist - Immunization (P-4), Programme Group, O/P African CDC - Ethiopia (Temporary Appointment 364days))

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 171,387 USD and 220,969 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. UNICEF operates in regular and emergency contexts and responds to hundreds of emergencies every year. Whenever and wherever disaster strikes, UNICEF teams act quickly to support national actors deliver life-saving food, clean water, medicines and psychological support to children and families. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, UNICEF teams around the world and in Africa are tirelessly working to keep communities safe, strengthen fragile health systems, and share critical public health messages.

In 2021, UNICEF was called upon to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to the most remote and vulnerable communities. Years of experience and vaccine expertise help UNICEF deliver safe and effective vaccines to all. UNICEF achieves these objectives in collaboration with many partners. In Africa, UNICEF needs to work very closely with Africa CDC and other partners to strengthen health systems and supply chains to deliver lifesaving vaccines. UNICEF recognizes the value of regionalization agreements in support of country and regional ownership and long-term sustainability.

Africa CDC and UNICEF will collaborate to build sustainable immunization programs within national primary health care systems. The focus will be on reaching the unreached and leaving no-one behind through immunization. Africa CDC and UNICEF will work together to design programs, mobilize resources, and build political support for the PHC strengthening agenda in Africa. Key interventions will include building community health systems, training and deployment of health workforce including frontline workers, building community health data systems, and preparedness for public health emergencies including outbreak response.

For every child, good health….

You will be responsible for supporting Africa CDC develop a systematic, planned and evidence-based strategy and implementation plan for C4I in the African Union Member States. Through strategic social and behavioral change communication and engagement with partners, as well as the empowerment and participation of stakeholders, communities, children, civil society partners and government counterparts, s/he promotes measurable behavioral and social change programming to support acceptance and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. This subsequently contributes to the achievement of sustainable and concrete results on improving children’s rights, survival and well-being across the AU countries. You will also serve as the key focal point for technical and strategic communication between Africa CDC, NYHQ Health/Immunization section and UNICEF regional offices for ESA and WCA.

“The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the Head of the Division of Public Health Emergencies of the Africa CDC. As a UNICEF secondee, the incumbent will report to the UNICEF Representative to the AU&ECA who approves his/her performance review prepared by the direct technical supervisor, with a dotted line to (UNICEF HQ Technical Expert) for technical oversight and guidance.”

How can you make a difference?

Support to strategy design and development of Communication for Immunization activities

• Conduct, participate and/or manage a comprehensive C4I situation analysis of social, cultural, communication, economic and political issues in the African Union countries. Assess/synthesize qualitative and quantitative information and data to establish comprehensive and evidence-based information for developing tailored C4I Strategy and implementation plan for C4I activities in support of UNICEF-Africa CDC partnership objectives.
• Participate in relevant country programme planning to determine/discuss the underlying and contextual issues to be addressed (e.g. vaccine access, gender related barriers, low trust in vaccines and institutions, hesitancy, misinformation, cultural/social behavior etc) to ensure the successful achievement of planned results and provide technical advice on evidence-based approaches, strategies and plans of action for C4I to promote vaccine acceptance and uptake.
• Prepare materials and related documentations for evidence-based C4I strategies and plans to ensure optimum impact, scale and sustainability of achievements/results.
• Collaborate/consult with a wide range of partners and stakeholders to ensure synergy, integration, coherence, and harmonization of C4I activities.

Technical and Operational support to C4I activities

• Participate in high level coordination and planning working groups/committees, strategic discussions with vaccine supply and delivery, drive advocacy for vaccine adoption with heads of state and community influential, and related resource mobilization initiatives.
• Provide expert advice on the development of evidence-based strategies, approaches, policies and the planning of C4I social and resource mobilization initiatives in support of UNICEF-Africa CDC Partnership objectives.
• Collaborate with, advise and/or consult relevant internal and external partners to design evidence-based strategies and design produce and test materials and activities grounded in behavioral evidence including community engagement and human centered design approaches to maximize outreach and impact on behavioral and social change.
• Confirm/approve the technical quality, consistency and contextualization of communications interventions designed for vaccine priority/eligible groups (e.g. individuals, communities, government officials, partners, media etc). Recommend and/or select appropriate multiple media and communication format and platforms (e.g. print, digital/social media, TV/Radio, Web etc.).
• Carry out C4I advocacy activities with/for a wide range of constituents, stakeholders, partners, communities, etc. to encourage/promote engagement and dialogue, inclusion, self-determination and participation in mobilizing social, political, behavioral and cultural change to achieve sustainable programme results on vaccine acceptance and uptake ensuring that they are grounded in children and women’s rights, gender equity and wellbeing.
• Identify, establish and maintain active interaction/relations with key stakeholders including religious leaders, community influentials and local leaders, research and implementing organizations and other strategic partners and networks to communicate/advocate for vaccine acceptance and uptake to ensure their engagement, interests and support in promoting vaccines and routine immunization
• Conduct and/or participate in M & E and Evaluation exercises to assess/report on efficacy/outcome of C4I plans promoted and/or supported by the UNICEF-Africa CDC Partnership. Take timely action to ensure the achievement of results as planned and allocated. Integrate/disseminate lessons learned in development planning and improvements.

Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Identify, build and maintain advocacy partnerships with key stakeholders and country/ regional networks to ensure political will and leadership for COVID 19 vaccine uptake
• Build networks and proactive collaboration with strategic partners, e.g. academia; research and implementing organizations; media and communication networks; celebrities; journalists; media; all sectors/levels of society, and critical audiences to reinforce cooperation and/or pursue opportunities for joint C4I advocacy.

• Collaborate with global/regional/national communication partners to harmonize, link and/or coordinate strategies and messaging and use of multiple media and communication platforms to enhance C4I outreach and impact in AU member states.

  Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Develop monitoring plan and track progress, report on core indicators on a regular basis. Adapt programming as needed to strengthen vaccination acceptance and uptake

• Capture, document and disseminate innovative practices, approaches and latest technology on multi-media and social/digital platforms for C4I that are appropriate/available for the regional context and audience.
• Engage in evidence generation and research initiatives to demonstrate the attribution of C4I interventions that contribute to increased vaccination coverage, strengthen routine immunization systems and influence national and local policies and investments in C4I for sustainable results.
• Institutionalize/share best practices and knowledge learned for C4I interventions with global/local partners and stakeholders to build capacity of practitioners, local networks, and government partners.

• Organize/implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders/government and non-government partners in evidence-based C4I planning, implementation and evaluation in support of programmes/projects.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in social and behavioral science, public health, sociology, anthropology, psychology or another relevant technical and/or in relevant field is required.

• A minimum of eight (8) years of professional work experience at the national and international levels in social development programme planning, communication for development, public advocacy., or other relevant areas is required.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Fluency in English (written and verbal) is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here and Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

• 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.
• For more information on remuneration and benefits, please visit UNICEF’s Entitlements’ page. If you would like to find estimates for entitlements, you may use the online Salary Estimate Calculator
• “UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/”

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.