Consultancy: Lead Consultant SBC (COVID-19 RCCE and Vaccine Drives Demand), 11 months, Lusaka, Zambia

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...

The UNICEF Programme of Cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) is designed to address and mitigate the threat of poverty the country’s children face, while responding to the needs with interventions addressing the multiple causative factors.

To find out more about UNICEF’s work in Zambia, please visit https://www.unicef.org/zambia/.

How can you make a difference?

Under the direct supervision of the SBC Manager and the overall guidance of Chief Health and HIV, the consultant will work closely with MoH Expanded Programme on Immunisation (MoH/EPI) Unit, MoH Health Promotion Unit (MoH/HPU), and ZNPHI Communication Department, to strengthen the coordination, management, monitoring, and reporting of Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) interventions for Covid-19 response and recovery plans, specifically focused to demand generation for Covid-19 vaccines rollout

The consultancy will be expected to carry out the following tasks:

• RCCE Coordination: Coordination and secretariat support to the RCCE pillar working closely with both the MoH Health Promotion Unit (HPU) and Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) Communication Department as the Co-chairs of National Covid-19 RCCE Coordination Subgroup. This would include the use of a standard reporting templates for documenting RCCE pillar’s activities including RCCE subgroups meeting minutes and actions points; supporting planning and setting-up agenda for weekly RCCE Subgroup meetings and documenting action, the development of tools/dashboard for collating and synthesizing RCCE reports from the sub-national level (working with ZNPHI Research Department in the development of the tools) to systematically sharing of information and way-forward of addressing the needs or gaps.
• Planning and coordination of RCCE actions on Covid-19 vaccine drive/campaign: Support planning and execution of RCCE activities on Covid-19 vaccine drives/campaigns, including leading development and placement of evidence based multi-media messages, tools and materials; designing targeted community mobilization actions and activation of national rumour management; lead planning and coordination of UNICEF support areas in vaccine drive campaigns and wider RCCE; and support key national planning/updating exercises (including crisis communication plan, national Vaccine Deployment Plan etc. per advice and schedules provided by MOH and ZNPHI)
• Strengthening subnational RCCE mechanisms and activities: Facilitate the work of provincial RCCE consultants to sustain and regularize the monthly provincial/district meetings with Provincial/District Health Promotion Officers (P-HPOs/D-HPOs) and other partners for updating progress, sharing information, and addressing needs and gaps; support planning and facilitating capacity building and learning events for Provincial and District level RCCE and Health Promotion staff; and planning and implementing community engagement activities led by the P-HPOs/D-HPOs.
• RCCE Partnerships: Technical support and coordination on the implementation, monitoring and reporting of RCCE activities at provincial and district level supported by UNICEF engaged implementing partners (NGOs/CSOs) focusing on multiple target groups, especially the high-risk and vulnerable groups, working with a range of local stakeholders and partners, including interfaith networks and media institutions.
• RCCE Evidence Generation and Use: Coordinate the analysis, usage, and sharing of findings from Covid-19 behavioral research, social listening, media monitoring, and Call Center data as part of the on-going evidence generation, and the provision of updates/reports to the wider RCCE Group, IMS memberships and other platforms to inform RCCE actions
• Documentation and Learning: With guidance and support from the RCCE Coordination Subgroup, prepare monthly RCCE updates (1–2 page) on RCCE interventions/activities and RCCE coordination and management having a concise snapshot on the achievements, progresses, gaps and challenges, on-going needs or issues for further attention and planned or upcoming events /activities; together with MOH co-leads, continue to update and streamline RCCE repository website for uploading of resources, materials and documents for wider sharing and use by RCCE stakeholders, implementing partners and members of the RCCE Sub-Groups; organize wider review and learning events to exchange lessons learnt.

• Prepare and submit the Final Consultancy Report

  Please see Detailed TOR for more information on the tasks and deliverables, here ToR - Covid-EPI SBC-RCCE Lead Consultant (International).pdf

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

The consultant must possess the following:

• Masters Degree on any of the principles of Social Science, Behavioural Science, Health Promotion, Communication, Public Health, Global Health, International Health, or a related technical field in SBC (Social Behaviour Change) and/or RCCE (Risk Communication and Community Engagement).
• At least 10 years of proven experience and product knowledge on social behaviours change (SBC), communication, social mobilization, risk communication and community engagement.
• Knowledge and understanding of the principles of social behaviour change (SBC), and experience with collecting data and designing of evidence-based SBC strategies and programmes, as well as risk communication and communication engagement are essential.
• Proven experience in Public Health Emergencies and Risk Communication interventions planning and coordination in developing country context; and the experience in Zambia would be an asset.
• Strong communication skills in English (spoken and written).
• Proven ability to work effectively in cross-cultural and multi-cultural settings and teams, and to deliver high-quality results within expected time frames.

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 offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors 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.

Remarks:

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.

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.

Please remember to express your financial proposals (and/or professional consultancy fees) in USD.